Illustrator CS5: Can't open the illustration. The illustration ended unexpectedly.

Saved, closed and renamed the file. Once opened it gave this error and i've lost all the work. Any way to recover?

diacritically,
You have to follow the instructions very closely.
However, reports in this forum seem to indicate that this is a way that only works in a limited number of cases because it is rather difficult to spot (all) the errors in the file.
There are some instructions here:
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/
The simplest solution you may try first is to try to place the file into a new AI document and see whether enough (or anything) can be saved that way; remember to tick Paste remembers Layers in the Layers palette before that and untick afterwards.
You may also try the trial to see whether is is possible, and feasible, to pay for the recovery here:
http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
That trial may also show whether there is hope in trying to recover.

Similar Messages

  • Can't open the illustration CS5

    This solution worked on my Windows PC.
    The problem:  Illustrator CS4 or CS5 wouldn't open EPS files in a particular folder.  Would get the error message -- Can't Open the Illustration. Or, the application would shut down or just wouldn't open when trying to open one of the offending document.  After thinking I had to recover each of over a hundred files, I realized that the problem might be a font.
    The solution (for my equipment, anyway):  Open a new document.  Type a few characters and assign the text the font that you used in the offending document that you think might be the problem.  Try opening the offending document. After doing this once, it allowed me to open every file with that font perfectly.  Somehow, it's like Illustrator lost connection to that font, in this case Cooper Medium BT.
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    diacritically,
    You have to follow the instructions very closely.
    However, reports in this forum seem to indicate that this is a way that only works in a limited number of cases because it is rather difficult to spot (all) the errors in the file.
    There are some instructions here:
    http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/
    The simplest solution you may try first is to try to place the file into a new AI document and see whether enough (or anything) can be saved that way; remember to tick Paste remembers Layers in the Layers palette before that and untick afterwards.
    You may also try the trial to see whether is is possible, and feasible, to pay for the recovery here:
    http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
    That trial may also show whether there is hope in trying to recover.

  • Can't open the application "Adobe Illustrator CS6.app" because it is not supported...

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    I had the same issue and resolved it
    I first remove the prefs folder and the plist files for illustrator in ~/Libary
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    then I uninstalled illustrator using the adobe uninstaller(http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/cs5-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html)
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  • ERROR! can't open the illustration. the illustration contains an illegal operand. Offending operator '((((((((((((((((((((((( 1Gm

    Hello, good people. Please help!
    I am working on a project that consists of one .ai file that contains 27, letter sized art boards.
    I am using Adobe cs5-Illustrator on a macbook pro.
    I have opened and closed and save this file many, many times—I have been working on this for the last 2+weeks.
    Today, when I tried to open the file I received an error message that read: "can't open the illustration. the illustration contains an illegal operand. Offending operator '((((((((((((((((((((((( 1Gm
    A screen shot of the entire message is below. Can anyone please help me to ward of this "offending operator?"
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    AAhlene,
    It is strange that the offending operation is not shown in context within the message.
    Are you saving to your own harddisk( see below)?
    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.
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    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
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  • Can't open the illustration.

    I have a fresh installation of MC CS5.
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    Can't open the illustration.
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    If I try to use Place for my PSD-file, nothing happens.
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    Apparently, thanks to suggestions solicited in other locations, the resolution turned out to be renaming the documents and settings/[username]/Application Date/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator CS Settings folder, so that Illustrator would recreate the folder upon opening (similar to the common InDesign fix which I had been looking for an equivalent). Specifically, after testing, it was the AIPrefs file in that folder that caused the problems.
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  • Problem report: "Can't open the illustration. The image has already been specified, it cannot be changed."

    I got a problem with my files I created in Illustrator CS6. After I closed them and wanted them to open up again, this problem report popped up:
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    If I click OK, there is a white site with nothing on it. No object, no pictures, nothing.
    The Illustrator file has still the right size and when I start ArtFiles to collect all used pictures and fonts it's no problem.
    In Adobe Bridge there is still a preview of the original file and I can see what HAS to be placed in the file.
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    We had to make all the work again for a presentation but this is not the solution for this problem if that will happen in the future again.
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    Thank you for your answer!
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  • Illustrator CS2 error message : Can't open the illustration : The illustration contains an incomplet

    Hi,
    I am getting this message once in a while in Illustrator CS2 :
    Can't open the illustration : The illustration contains an incomplete or garbled object description.
    Offending operator ''Bg''
    Context :
    357.2139 668.8398L
    357.2139 669.8477L
    161.228 669.8477L
    Bb
    1 (Unnamed gradient 1) 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 Bg
    Is there something which is done wrong in illustrator to get this message ?
    What can prevent this to happen, because unable to open the document, the document is blank when opened ?
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    We have tried both saving the files on our company server and on our individual desktops - neither of which will open the files.
    Fonts are ok - they are all created and saved in CS6.
    Printers, I believe are all correctly set up.
    We tried a complete reinstall on one PC - still running into the same random files ending up 'lost' with the same error message.
    Originally, the cs6 design standards (6 licenses total) were loaded to the server/shared drive and then downloaded onto each PC from there - we believe this may have something to do with the corruption, but this problem has just begun within the last month and the programs were all downloaded over 6 months ago.

  • You can't open the application "Adobe Illustrator CS2.app" because PowerPC applications are no longer supported.

    You can’t open the application “Adobe Illustrator CS2.app” because PowerPC applications are no longer supported.
    what can I do?

    Adobe Creative Suite 2 (CS2)'s Photoshop running in Snow Leopard Server installed into Parallels 8 for use in Lion or Mt. Lion:
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    Apple is now selling Snow Leopard Server for $19.99 + sales tax & shipping costs at 1.800.MYAPPLE (1.800.692.7753) - Apple Part Number: MC588Z/A (telephone orders only).  Smarmy, self-important forum members will have to pay extra!

  • Error message: Can't open the illustration. The illustration-

    Can't open the illustration. The illustration exceeds an implemention limit.
    Offending operator: '%%HiResBoundingBox: -1229.2598
    -6416.8828
    I might have mis counted the number of brackets.
    Any idea what is up with my file? It worked yesterday, and for 3 days proir. 3 days of concept designs for a client. Regulary saved.
    Very frustrated and anxious.
    Mac 10.6.4   CS4
    Caspian

    Caspian,
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    2) You may try to mend the file, using this approach:
    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html
    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html
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  • Why am I getting the error message "Can't open the illustration. The illustration contains and incomplete or garbled object description."

    I work in a graphic design firm and 4 separate people have received these messages on separate days using separate files on separate MAC computers. We are all using CS6.
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    "Can't open the illustration. The illustration contains and incomplete or garbled object description."
    After clicking ok the file will open; however, most of the illustration is missing. We are interested in repairing our files, but we are more interesting in figuring out why this is happening and fixing it. We are nervous to even open anything for fear this will happen again.
    Please help!

    brittanyesparks,
    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 (remember to tick Paste remembers Layers in the Layer palette flyout/dropdown first, and to untick it afterwards).
    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:
    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

  • Error message: Can't open the illustration. The illustration contains an illegal or misplaced operator.

    Hi,
    I was working on an Illustrator file and saving as I went. It all seemed to be working properly. When I was finished I saved it one last time and then also saved a PDF of the file. I closed the program momentarily while I typed an email that I wanted to attach the PDF to and then tried to open the Illustrator and the PDF one last time to check everything was done correctly. The Illustrator file came up with this message: Can't open the illustration. The illustration contains an illegal or misplaced operator.  The PDF also didn't work. Any ideas what's going on here? I would greatly appreciate any help! Thanks!

    Simply get used to the thought that the file may be unrecoverable. you can try placing it into a new document or rasterize it in PS, but that pretty much may be the extent of what you can do. And in the future:
    Work File Safety | Mylenium's Error Code Database
    Mylenium

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    We have tried both saving the files on our company server and on our individual desktops - neither of which will open the files.
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    Printers, I believe are all correctly set up.
    We tried a complete reinstall on one PC - still running into the same random files ending up 'lost' with the same error message.
    Originally, the cs6 design standards (6 licenses total) were loaded to the server/shared drive and then downloaded onto each PC from there - we believe this may have something to do with the corruption, but this problem has just begun within the last month and the programs were all downloaded over 6 months ago.

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