Illustrator files opening with all layers flattened into 1.

http://tinypic.com/r/afhcg5/5
This image is directly from a customer’s email. An Illustrator template for custom candy bags is sent to the customer and has about 10 layers on it. Somehow they always come back as Layer 1, flattened. I am opening them up in CS5. Can anyone advise on why a multi layered file constantly comes back from our customers as a single layer? Having all layers is very important for these bags to print properly. Any help would be appreciated!

Yes, we are sending a layered .PDF that was created from an .AI file. We are also sending the .AI file as well. I am trying to save the .AI file back to CS3 so our customers can open the files.
We are not zipping anything though, and we are not requiring our customers to zip anything back either. We are going to start doing this....

Similar Messages

Why does a my layered Illustrator file open with only one layer, when opened by someone else?

I am using CS6, as is the other user. When they open the file in Illustrator all the artwork is on one layer, even though the original file has numerous layers, and opens with these layers when I open it even now.
I have never come across this problem before in all the years I have used Illustrator and have had no joy when trying to search for this problem.
Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated as it is confusing us!
Thank you.

Hi Mike, Wade & Larry,
Thank you so much for your replies.
Since I posted this issue, I was later informed that the other user is infact opening my files with CS5 and so a quick solution to this was saving it down to a previous version! Sorry for the confusion!
This problem then becomes clear that it was a version error, but I have always had an error message come up if I try to open something that was created in a newer verion - is this no longer the case?
I have been assured no pop up messages appear when opening the file which I find odd, and also that this layer compression has only just started happening even though many files have been back and forth previously.
A little mystery! At least for now it is all working ok again
Thank you all very much, greatly appreciated.

Files open with expanded layers

Anyone know what causes some illustrator files to open with certain layers expanded?
Should I be concerned?

Thanks, but it seems like at some point in building a file, a particular layer will keep expanding after the file has been saved, closed; the app is relaunched and the file is reopened.
I haven't had any problems except the hassle of reclosing layers that have expanded for no obvious reason.
Yes, I am chagrined.

CC file saved in cs6, won't open with all layers in both versions

Hello there,
I really hope you could help me.
Recently i designed a scetch in illustrator CC and saved it as usual (without extra options).
Yesterday i worked on this same file in illustrator CS6, which i found acting weird but not paying attention and i saved it again as usual in the same file.
Today i wanted to work on it again in illustrator CS6, but there are missing layers and all the layers i made yesterday are grouped and are in clipping masks.
The worst part is i'm missing my sketch i made in illustrator CC!
I've tried to open the file in illustrator CC too but it shows exactly the same, no sketch and all layers grouped and in clipping masks.
I now know i had to save the file in illustrator CC with the extra options for multiple versions of illustrator
Could anybody help me?
The only positive thing is you can see the sketch etc. i made earlier in the preview when you want to open the file in illustrator cs6, that is why i hope it is not really gone!

When opening a new file with an old version (CC file with CS6 in your case) you always open the PDF part of the file. In this PDF almost everything is flattened. There are no live effects, brushes or stuff. When you then edit this file in the legacy version and save you alo effectively delete any live stuff that once was there in the AI part of the file.
Please read this:
http://rwillustrator.blogspot.de/2006/11/whats-in-file.html
When you want to edit newer files in older versions you always have to downsave. And even then things might get flattened, depending on which version exactly you save down to which other version.
So unless you have a backup of the old file, your content is lost.

Broken Illustrator CS4 "Open With" File Association

I want to open an SVG file, using Illustrator CS4. (I have the Design Premium Suite.) I cannot get it to open from Windows Explorer in CS4. Double-clicking the file opens it in CS3. Here's what I do and what happens:
1. Right-click on the SVG file in Windows Explorer.
2. Choose "Open With." A menu of programs pops up. Illustrator CS4 is not in the list, but CS3 is.
3. So I click on "Choose Program" to find CS4. The "Open With" window opens.
4. "Adobe Illustrator CS4" is not in the "Recommended Programs" list, but it is in the "Other Programs" list. However, I note that its listing has a generic icon, instead of the "Ai" CS4 icon.
5. I click on "Adobe Illustrator CS4" expecting the program to load. Instead, an error message pops up: "<filepath and filename.svg> is not a valid Win32 application."
So I started over:
1-4. Same as above.
5. Click on "Browse" to find the Illustrator.exe program file directly. I did this twice:
     a. First with the "Adobe Illustrator CS4" shortcut at: "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS4\Adobe Illustrator CS4.lnk". This takes me back to the "Open With" window, with the bad "Adobe Illustrator CS4" listing highlighted.
     b. Then with the actual program at: "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS4\Support Files\Contents\Windows\Illustrator.exe". This takes me back to the "Open With" window with "Adobe Illustrator CS3" highlighted.
What can I do to fix this?
Additional notes:
1. I was able to use "Open With" to specify several browsers to open the SVG file. So the problem seems to relate specifically to the links to Illustrator CS4, rather than any overall "Open With" functionality.
2. Right-clicking on an EPS file, and choosing "Open With," behaves exactly as right-clicking on an SVG file.
3. Right-clicking an AI file show two instances of "Adobe Illustrator CS3"-- one with a CS3 icon and one with a CS4 icon. Clicking on each entry opens the correct program for the icon, however.
How do I also fix this?
Mike
Message was edited by: Mike Wickham

First an update: I compared registry entries with the CS4 installation on my laptop. I saw that quite a few of the Adobe.Illustrator.<etc> keys were
missing, and many of the ones that were there had CS3 paths listed instead of CS4. So I uninstalled Illustrator CS4 and reinstalled it. That fixed some
problems. I also, in Windows Explorer, used Tools> Folder Options> File Types to change Illustrator CS4 to the default program to open AI, EPS, and
SVG files. I chose "Advanced" and "Edit" in the File Type dialog and noticed that some of the entries for open were missing the "Open" action. So I fixed that.
I've got the AI, EPS, and SVG files where I can open them with the correct programs now, but there are still some weirdities using right-click and Open With:
For AI files:
    There are two instances of Adobe Illustrator CS3 listed. One has a CS3 icon. The other has the CS4 icon. The AI file opens with the program
associated with the icon. If I choose Open With, then "Other Programs, there is a listing for Adobe Illustrator CS4, but it has a generic window icon and does not work. I get the "<path><filename>.ai is not a valid Win32 application" error.
For EPS files:
There are also two entries for Adobe Illustrator CS3, again one with a CS3 icon and one with a CS4 icon. Again they both open the program that matches the icon. There is also an Adobe Illustrator CS4 listed, but it has the shortcut icon for CS4 (the one with the arrow). It opens CS4. If I choose
Other Programs, the non-working, generic icon Adobe Illustrator CS4 is also listed.
For SVG files:
There are also two Adobe Illustrator CS3 listings, one with a CS3 icon and one with a CS4 icon. There is also an Adobe Illustrator CS4 listed, but with the shortcut version of the icon. They all open the program associated with the icon shown. If I choose Other Programs, the listings and icons under "Recommended Programs" are correct for both CS3 and CS4, plus there is a CS4 listing with the generic icon.
Is there any way to fix this stuff without uninstalling/reinstalling the whole Design Premium suite? While the reinstall of Illustrator CS4 did fix
some things, it also broke some. It reinstalled a bunch of ancillary programs, like ExtendScript that I didn't tell it to reinstall. I ran Adobe
update and now ExtendScript and and Adobe Drives service update fail to update. I ran the update from Acrobat. Looking in Illustrator, the update
button is grayed out and completely unavailable.
Mike

CC14, all files open with asterisk in file name.

CC14, all files open with asterisk in file name, need to save or cancel to close file. Is there a way to change that?

No. It happens to any InDesign file. I created a new file in CC14, saved, closed, opened and it had the asterisk.
If it is a time synchronization, how do I correct that?

How change the File Open With list of apps?

In Bridge CS3, how does one edit the list of applications in the File > Open With menu (also available from the contextual menu for any image).
The list contains a number of applications that I would never use to open an image, and I would like to add to it, a new image editor (pixelmator) that does not appear in it. I have looked in the Bridge Help and the Preferences dialog and don't see any option to do this.

OK, I have now learned that Mac OS keeps the list of which apps to open what, in the "launch services database."
This database can be cleaned up and reset which somewhat simplifies the list that is displayed by the Finder OR by Bridge CS3.
Here is an article on how to reset the launchdb:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031215144430486
Be sure to read all the way to the end as there are updated instructions down among the comments.
Here is a thread in the Apple Support forums discussing the same issue, and it includes links to some 3rd-party programs that can reset launch services without use of a lengthy Terminal command:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1289317
Even after rebuilding the launchdb, I find that a large number of apps are "registered" to open JPG files, including Camino, Opera, TextWrangler and others with only a tenuous connection to JPG. I don't understand why this is, and I would still like to find a way to limit the JPG Open-With list to a few graphics programs. But cleaning up the launchdb as described in the linked pages, did get rid of some programs and added some missing ones.
Hope this actually constructive info is useful to others.
Dave Cortesi

Flash files open with no timeline

I just uprgraded my Mac OS from 10.4 to 10.6. Now some of my Flash files open with no timeline and nothing on the stage. If I try to open a library item it crashes. I tried reinstalling Flash and installing all updates to the OS… no luck. Help!

I was able to open it on an OS 10.3 machine. After deleting the preloader from the stage, the fie works again on a 10.6 machine.

What does the error - file open with write privilege mean?

When exporting an iMovie, I received the error message, file open with write privilege - what does that mean and what causes it?

Hi
Error -49
Error -49 opWrErr File already open with write permission
Trash the preference files while application is NOT Running.
Yours Bengt W

Why are the videos sent from my daughter's iPhone 4 to my 4S in 3gp format? i need to drag to desktop - open with QuickTime - convert - reimport into iPhoto.

why are the videos sent from my daughter's iPhone 4 to my 4S in 3gp format? i need to drag to desktop - open with QuickTime - convert - reimport into iPhoto. There must be another way. Plus

Hey joshuafromisr,
If you resintall iTunes, it should fix the issue. The following document will go over how to remove iTunes fully and then reinstall. Depending on what version of Windows you're running you'll either follow the directions here:
Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1925
or here:
Removing and reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1923
Best,
David

How can I make a CC Illustrator file open in CS6? Save as does not give an option to save as a CS6.

How can I make a CC Illustrator file open in CS6? Save as does not give an option to save as a CS6.

TS3276 Hi. Just started using Mac Mail on a macbookpro v10.6.8. I tried to send a message with two excel (for mac) files attached. One attached as a file, one inserted all the text into the message body. Help?

Just started using my Mac Mail program instead of web mail. When I went to attach two pdf files, one attached as a file, the other inserted all the text into the body of the email message. How do I get it to attach both pdf's as files?

I think you're confusing two different things. If you attached PDF files and one of them displayed the PDF icon in the message window, that means it was more than one page. If you saw what appeared to be the actual document for the other PDF file, that means it's only one page and it's normal for it to display that way.
However, I seem to recall there may (or should) be a button at the bottom-right of the message window that allows you to display those files as icons, even if they're one page. If not, there's a third-party addition you can use to add that feature:
http://lokiware.info/Attachment-Tamer

EPS files open with unusual line slices

We have roughly 4500 eps files that were created in freehand years ago. The files contain both raster images that were embedded as well filled vector paths which were created in freehand. The embedded raster image opens flawlessly as wells as some of the filled paths. I say "some of the filled paths" because there are other filled vector paths that were created using the freehand auto-trace function (similar to AI's live trace)- these filled paths open incorrectly. They open with unusual lines that perforate the entire filled object- a strange slicing effect that appears to happen only to the filled paths that underwent freehand's auto-trace function. The other art appears to be fine.
Is there a method to correct this problem in AI? I'm using A mac os 10.6.8 cs5, When I open the eps in photoshop I don't see any slicing- but photoshop also converts it to a raster image and I would like to preserve the paths. When I open the image again in freehand it opens fine.
Below are examples showing the sclicing effect.

Hello Mike
Yes, I was able to arrive at that solution as well- converting the paths to a raster image then running a live trace on that raster file. I haven't tried uniting the paths though... good suggestion! Thank you!
The only solution I found so far to keep the eps in a proper vector format was opening the "corrupted" eps in illustrator and selecting all paths and convert that selection into raster art, then convert the raster art back into vector art (live trace). This action can be automated in a batch sequence (4500 files are a bit to much to open individually). The lines will vanish! However the paths will all be one layer with varying color (color differs depending on the artwork), not ideal but it is the best solution that I can think of.
Do you know any way to release the paths after you preform the live trace function. It seems (in the case of multiple colors especially) that when a raster image undergoes the live trace option the end result is one object with multiple paths that appear to be grouped together. Is there any way to release these paths? So one could identify them separately by mousing over them?
Thank you for your help.

Xmp files open with textedit, can I make it stop?

Greetings,
I've gotten into the habit of opening up dozens (or hundreds) of RAW files directly from Finder, with a quick command+A, command+O. On previous machines this has been fine. On my new machine (new to me), doing that causes TextEdit to open up all of the XMP files as well.
I have tried repeatedly to use the "get info" function to set XMPs to open with PS or even with nothing at all. So far I am failing miserably and am forced to take additional steps to either avoid this or to close a ton of XMP files.
I know I can use Bridge, or sort the file types then select just the raw files, but that, for me at least, is quite a bit slower, and I do this every day, so, I'm open to any suggestions.
I'm using a dual 2.3 G5 Power PC, OSX 10.4.10, and CS3 with the latest updates.
Many thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some guidance.
Best regards,
Michael

Thank you for taking the time to respond Mr. Castaneda.
Using Bridge in this context, while obviously an effective work-around, only serves as an unnecessary resource hog.
The simple issue is this: What used to take half a second in keyboard taps now requires either the use of an additional program (Bridge) or several additional steps in Finder.
I can't help but to suspect that there is some way to configure my system to behave in the desired manner.
I do use Bridge regularly, but when all I want to do is process hundreds of RAW files in the largest batches possible, I don't see the need to waste resources on it. And it does slow things down noticeably.
I like to use Bridge for sorting, renaming, editing, labeling, etc. But to use it just to open up files seems a little inefficient.
Maybe I'm picking at nits here, but I'm just baffled that this system behaves differently than the one I used a few days ago (same OS, programs, and updates).
Many thanks!
Best regards,
Michael

Resetting pref files open with to none

All my preference files have turned into excel files. I would like to reset the "open with" setting to <none> Can anyone help me do this?
thanks.

That's odd.
Have a look at this thread concerning RCDefault:
http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=-1&messageID=2513014
eMac Combo 1GHz/1GB/60GB Mac OS X (10.4.7) CanoScan D646U, Canon iP1600, CrossFire 120GB, DSL, D-Link DI-624

Illustrator files opening with all layers flattened into 1.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for