Corrupted Illustrator files

Recently our IT department copied files from one drive to another on our server. A lot of our files are now corrupted. We are using Windows XP and Adobe CS3. The error I am getting is "Acrobat PRF File Format is having difficulties. Expected a dict object." That is the error I get when trying to open it in Illustrator.
I have tried the following.
Changing the number in the pref file from 0 to 1 and then holding ctrl/alt/shift when error pops up trick.
Tried placing the file in every program I could think of.
Tried Distiller.
Won't open in text editor.
Tried changing from .ai to .eps and .pdf
Normally redrawing isn't that big of a deal except we have a lot of files that got corrupted and that is too much to redraw. I would appreciate any help or suggestions. Thanks.

ms,
Apart from the future precaution of your trying to avoid its happening again by saving to your harddisk rather than externally, as Monika is referring to as a quite likely source of file corruption,
you may try this Recovery Toolbox for free,
http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
and licence it (for a year) if it proves to work.
There are ways of trying to recover files yourself, but they are rather difficult and hard to bring to succeed.
You can read on here,
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator-files.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/

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Unknown/corrupt illustrator file

I accidentally deleted an Illustrator file last week and used Disk Drill to recover it. The only problem is some of the files I recovered won't open for two reasons. One gives me the "file is damaged and could ot be repaired" and another gives me "the file is in an unknown formate and can't be opened" error. A few other .ai files open fine.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do? Are there any programs or techniques out there that can repair or force open a file? The files show the proper file size (500k) and the right illustrator icon.
Thanks for any help or suggestions.
I'm running OSX 10.6.8 and CS6.

Hi timnancyk,
If you see this message, please contact with me by email: [email protected] for our project that you selected me. My nick:bestsoftvn.
Thank you

My Adobe Illustrator is CS6 and it corrupts the file if I save it using accents

My Adobe Illustrator is CS6 and it corrupts the file if I save it using accents. How do I fix this?
I mean, if I save a file called "crachá" I'm using an accent on "a" so it showed as "á" but if I do this Illustrator says the following error:
"The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different foulder"
and when I try to open it says:
"The file "Crachá.ai" is in an unknown format and cannot be opened."
So, my solution is to create a new file and call it "Cracha", without the accent. But it never happened before. How can I fix this legitimately?
Thanks.

As for the resolution problem: upsampling an image doesn't improve its quality, because there's simply not enough information there.
As for the warning you get: it's most likely caused by RGB color mode or by placed RGB content that interacts with other content in the file (e.g. because you applied transparency)
In English it's this one:
As far as I see it there's no alternative to learning the basics of printing, color management and transparency. This is nothing that can be done by some forum posts.
Printing:
http://rufus.deuchler.net/2011/06/adobe-publishes-a-new-creative-suite-555-printing-guide. html
You need to understand what's happening on conversion of RGB to CMYK color space, which will happen when printing to offset presses. When you print on office printers, something else happens and all kinds of color may come out, because these machines sometimes do their own color correction and everything depends on how you set up the machine.
Provided you check the PDF in Acrobat: you need to set up color management there as well. This might lead to the differences (greenish) you're seeing.
Find a good book on color management and read the manual:
Creative Suite * Understanding color management (there's more about the subject)
As for transparency:
http://partners.adobe.com/public/asn/en/print_resource_center/Transparency-DesignGuide.pdf
http://partners.adobe.com/public/asn/en/print_resource_center/TXPGuide.pdf
Before sending files to a print service provider you need to get information on how they need the file. Most providers won't accept PDFs generated with "No color conversion". Or they won't guarantee for the output.
What you see on your monitor won't necessarily match the printed result unless your system is correctly calibrated and color management set up. And even then there might be differences.
Can't you contact this former colleague, pay him an amount of money and let him teach you the tools of the trade?

Illustrator CS4 - frequently generates corrupt EPS files that will not parse

I have used many versions of Illustrator prior to and including the CS lines. I am currently running CS4 and this is the first time I have experienced this issue. Approximately half of my EPS formatted illustrator files will not parse. I use Quark Xpress 7 for my layout (never liked any of the Indesign programs). If I try to generate a PDF with my CS4 generated EPS files placed at least 60% of the time the placed file will corrupt the PDF export resulting in no PDF being generated.
Further to this PDF export issue, if I attempt to parse the same EPS file into Photoshop, Photoshop will give me the error message "Could not complete your request because Photoshop was unable to parse the PostScript" and it will abort the attempt to open the file.
Anyone else having Illustrator EPS file issues?
Background info (if needed) Dual 2.0 Ghz, PowerMac G5, 8 gb RAM, running Tiger 10.4.11
I have attached a sample Illustrator file that will not Parse. It will open in Illustrator but not parse into Photoshop or if placed in Quark will not parse and allow for a PDF to be exported.

Thanks for taking the time to write Steve.
I understand that I can drag and drop between programs. Ultimately, when attempting to parse an EPS in photoshop I am merely doing it to confirm that the EPS is indeed corrupt.
As mentioned previously, I predominately use Quark Xpress for my page layout program and until I installed CS4 I have had zero complications with using EPS files. Now I quite commonly can not export PDFs due to corrupt EPS files.
My question to the public is I am alone in this glitch or do others experience the same issue. My first thoughts are that CS4 has a glitch and I should be expecting an update in the near future. But, if I am the only person suffering from this issue than maybe I should be looking at my own software.

Illustrator files containing graphs corrupt and will not open after saving

I have created a series of graphs in illustrator and after saving when I try to reopen them, I get the following error message:
Can't open the illustration. The illustration contains an illegal operand. Offending operator: 1#INF
This happens whatever format the file is saved in.
I am using CC.
Any ideas why and how to prevent it happening in the future?

vnqaa,
If you are saving elsewhere than your own harddisk, that may be the cause. Otherwise, something else has obviously corrupted the files, possibly related to graphs.
One thing often tried first is to create a new document and File>Place the corrupted one to see how much may be rescued that way.
Here is a website where you can see whether it can rescue the file, and if it can, you may pay for a subscription to have it done,
http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
and another similar website,
http://markzware.com/adobe-software/fix-illustrator-file-unknown-error -occurred-pdf2dtp-file-recovery/
As far as I remember, the former is for Win and the latter for Mac.
Here are a few pages about struggling with it yourself:
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-ill ustrator-ai-file/
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator -files.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html

Adding keywords in Bridge, causes illegal operand i.e. corrupts the illustrator files.

Upon adding keywords to a large amount of illustrator files in Bridge (mainly .eps but also some .ai), more than half of the files are now corrupt, giving me the following message:
Can’t open the illustration. The illustration contains an illegal operand. Offending operator: {eps_metadata_stream}
Context: ‘5
It should be noted that ALL of these files were 100% okay prior to adding some keywords in Bridge.
Does anyone have an idea how to repair corrupt files, and whether this is a known bug?
setup:
I haven’t yet had the time to update to CC2014, and am still using the previous CreativeCloud setup running OSX 10.8.5.

We just started using Bridge and I am on OS 10.9.5 and using Creative Cloud and we are running into the same situation. I load the images into the Bridge and have no issue with Photoshop files, but the Illustrator .eps files get corrupt when I add in keywords to Bridge for them. Haven't been able to find a solution to fix this so currently I'm just not adding in keywords which makes it difficult for our designers to search for these files to use on their projects.

Illustrator files with Charts in them become corrupt

I keep running into an issue where I create a file in Illustrator (some of them are detailed infographics), and if they contain a chart, such as a bar or pie chart, they become corrupt and Illustrator gives me an error "Can't open the illustration. The illustration contains an illegal or misplaced operator."
Then it opens the file, but much of it (anything below the chart) is missing. I've been able to restore *some* of my work by exporting a PDF version of the file to an EPS, but I lose a lot of my formatting. This is extremely frustrating, as I am losing hours of work each time it happens. I spoke with a customer service agent about the issue months ago, and even sent her a corrupt file, but never heard anything back.

The last time I made one of these infographics that ended up being corrupt, I saved as both an .ai and .eps. Both ended up being corrupt when I re-opened them. The best fix I've been able to find is to turn all charts into regular graphics by ungrouping them, and saving that. But it's not a great fix since sometimes, I need to go in and adjust the data later on, which you can't do if it's ungrouped.
I work from my hard drive, not a server
I use a legal version of helvetica
No plugins
I (luckily) do usually create PDFs but if there was a corrupt graphic in them, they won't open in Illustrator. I have to open in Adobe and export as an .eps, and when I open that, the text is often outlined or each line of text is a separate object.
When you say "link to another illustrator file," do you mean using the Place command? This might be possible but as you said, not very practical since with an infographic, I'll want to have multiple charts and will need to edit and adjust them on the fly, not open a different file each time then go back and forth to see if it looks right.
I don't have CS6
Basically I am really hoping Adobe comes up with a fix for this bug. I've been creating charts for a long time, but have never had this issue where the file becomes corrupt until now. And when you pay monthly for upgraded software, you expect better, not worse, performance :-/

Opening a corrupted Illustrator .ai file

We have an Illustrator CS2 file, that a co-worker has been working on for the last month, that is now telling us unknown error has occured.
We have tried opening it in Acrobat and saving like we read on the Behance Network, but couldn't get it to work. We can see the thumbnail but when we try opening it, it gets about half way through the Reading Illustrator File and then gives us the error message.
We would really like to get this file open and not loose a months worth of work. Please Help!!

Have you tried placing it into a new .ai file? Sometimes works.
If it doesn't work, try:
Illustrator Recovery Toolbox is highly efficient Adobe Illustrator recovery tool to protect corrupted AI documents from any danger, caused by external issues or internal problems. This AI file restoration utility can fix data corruption threats
in all AI documents so you can perform the following tasks:
Fixes corrupted Adobe Illustrator documents of any version and size;
Offers artificial intelligence for the reconstruction of graphical content and execute integrity checks;
Automatically recognizes specific errors, caused by popular graphic editors and applies necessary fixes;
Saves the PC memory by swapping data when processing selected AI files;
For more information: http://www.illustratorrecoverytoolbox.com/
As you can look for the answer here:
http://www.filerepairforum.com/forum/microsoft/microsoft-aa/exchange-server/100-my-mailbox-files-or-folders-are-been-corrupted

To place an item in illustrator cc 2014 the command repeats itself at least twice before i can place an item. would this indicate a corrupt preference file?

to place an item in illustrator cc 2014 the command repeats itself at least twice before i can place an item. would this indicate a corrupt preference file?

Monika
Thank you for taking the time with this issue. I do use a Mac with the latest OS X.
I have solved the issue simply by deleting all Adobe apps (cc 2014) I ran the Adobe app cleaner tool and deleted all traces of my Adobe software.
Then I re-installed all my apps and the issue has been resolved. In fact my Adobe apps (cc 2014) appear to be working better than ever before.
I think I may have had a corrupt preference file stored somewhere on my system. However, that was deleted and all is working fine now, better than ever before.
Thank you.
Stephen McCourt
Assure Design
6524 Blackcomb Place
Vernon B.C.
V1B 4E1
Tel: 250 545 2192
Cell: 250 540 3713
[email protected]
www.assuredesign.com

Error while opening illustrator file : The illustration contains an illegal operand.

Few of the production machine at our office is showing error while opening some of the illustrator project files which were working fine a day before.
If the Executive continues to open the document after this error all the work is lost and it becomes blank document.
Has some one been through this issue and suggest any solution.
System Configuration
Mac OS 10.9.3
Intel CPU Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz
8 Gb Ram
%00 Gb HDD

sanket karalkar,
One thing often tried first is to create a new document and File>Place the corrupted one to see how much may be rescued that way.
Here is a website where you can see whether it can rescue the file, and if it can, you may pay for a subscription to have it done,
http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
and another similar website,
http://markzware.com/adobe-software/fix-illustrator-file-unknown-error-occurred-pdf2dtp-fi le-recovery/
As far as I remember, the former is for Win and the latter for Mac.
Here are a few pages about struggling with it yourself, in addition to the ones you mentioned:
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator-files.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html

Illustrator files cannot be opened: Could not read the file because an error has occurred.

I cannot open some files from Illustrator which contain PNG files placed. When I try to open the file, I get a message saying: "this png contains addtional data for Adobe fireworks, which will be discarded upon save." When I press "ok" I get the same screen again. When I press "cancel" I get: "coulld not read the file because an error has occured". I am currently working on a Mac Mavericks. Using Illustrator cc and Fireworks CS6.

Eliana,
If you have some file corruption, one thing often tried first is to create a new document and File>Place the (PDF contents, if any of the) corrupted one to see how much may be rescued that way.
Here are some websites where you can see whether it can rescue the actual file, and if it can, you may pay for a subscription to have it done,
http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
http://markzware.com/adobe-software/fix-illustrator-file-unknown-error-occurred-pdf2dtp-fi le-recovery/
http://www.illustrator.fixtoolbox.com/
As far as I remember, the first one is for Win and the second one is for Mac, while the third one should be for both.
Here are a few pages about struggling with it yourself:
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator-files.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/enable-content-recovery-mode-illustrator.html

Recovered illustrator file from a hard drive will not open

Hi,
I just recovered some illustrator CS2/CS3 files that were accidently deleted from a hard drive using Recuva version 1.39.509. The files were detected as being in excellent shape and they are recognized as illustrator files in windows. But I can not open them!
Please help! These are months of work that could be lost!
Dear Jacob - I dont know why the previous discussion disappeared. I have tried all your suggestions, including following the instructions for recovering illustrator files... None of them worked! I am at a loss! Again, every single one of the recoverd illustrator files can not be read, are supposedly 100% healthy from the softwared used to recover them, but they do not open! Other files such as word adn images were recovered successfully - I dont understand what is missing here!

TG,
As you can see on the pages mentioned in post #3, you can open the AI files as text files, and then you can see and compare the lines of code building each file.
The first part of each file is the wrapping defining the structure, folllowed by the part defining the artwork. Some of the artwork part may be corrupted, but more likely the structure part at the beginning is (it may be as little part snipped off at the very start).
So you can copy (at least some of) the part of code defining the artwork from the corrupted file and insert into the sound file after the initial part.
You may compare the two files and try to work out which part to move and where, using the file parts shown on those Adobe pages as guides.
I hope this was not too woolly.

Can't save illustrator file with text. Can't update, uninstall or reinstall.

I suddenly cannot save a simple illustrator file that contains any text. Also, I am unable to update, uninstall or reinstall illustrator. This is frustrating when you have projects due. Mac Mini - OS X 10.8.3

Run the Creative Suite Cleaner Tool, reinstall. Also check your fonts. You probably have a "bad" font i nthere somewhere that is corrupting all font operations.
Mylenium

"This is an Adobe Illustrator file that was save without PDf content."

I have a client that has been working on a file in AI CS, never left his machine, but when he went to open it today he gets a message that says this file "was generated by a newer version of Illustrator. Would you like to import this file? Some data loss may occur".
And when we click the "Import" button, we then get:
"This is an Adobe® Illustrator® file that was saved without PDF content. To place or open this file in other applications, it should be re-saved from Adobe Illustrator with the "Create PDF Compatible File" options turned on. This option is in the Illustrator Native Format Options dialog box, which appears when saving an Adobe Illustrator file using the Save As command."
However, even though this was created in AI CS, all other machine and all other versions of AI (even CS3, 3.3, 2, etc..) we get the same exact error message. How it can be newer than CS 3.3 when it was created in CS is strange to begin with.
I assume this is some sort of corruption, but was wondering if there were any cures. It seems our backups have backed up this file in it's current state (corrupt), which is a huge issue at this point.
Thank you very much for any help!

I have sometimes had this trouble since I updated Acrobat.
"This is an Adobe® Illustrator® file that was saved without PDF content ..."
Not sure what's wrong - it seems to happen even though the Illy file is saved with PDF content and everything embedded.
Another thing: When viewing pdfs under Advanced>Print Production>Output Preview I repeatedly get an RGB simulation preview even though I know that the file is CMYK. So I have to choose a CMYK simulation preview and then things look o.k.
Is there any way to stop the RGB preview coming up? I note that Convert Colours messes things up completely, so it's only the preview that's wrong.
Any ideas, Wade?

Illustrator file contains pdf text rather than graphic

When I open an illustrator file I created about a year ago I now get a file that is filled with text saying:
This is an Adobe® Illustrator® File that was
saved without PDF Content.
To Place or open this file in other
applications, it should be re-saved from
Adobe Illustrator with the "Create PDF
Compatible File" option turned on. This
option is in the Illustrator Native Format
Options dialog box, which appears when
saving an Adobe Illustrator file using the
Save As command.
When I follow the instructions it literally saves the warning text that is shown, and there is no graphics.
When I try to "place" the file into a new illustrator file the preview shows my graphic, but when it is place it is just the repeating message.
Has anyone seen this or know a work around to get my graphic back

Looks like the file is corrupt.
Either you didn't save it with PDF compatibility or both parts of the file got corrupted.
When following the instructions did you save it under a different name or did you overwrite the existing file?
If you overwrote it, then your file is most probably gone forever. If you still have the original file you could try and recover it using third party tools. See a list of tools inthis post by Jacob Bugge: Re: How to recover an Illustrator CS2 file that crashed, with Illustrator CS5.5 ?

Corrupted Illustrator files

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