Manipulating text & objects of a pdf in Illustrator CS6

In the past, I've been able to take a pdf file, place it in Illustrator and then manipulate the text, objects, etc. For some reason I've been unable to do so with my new Illustrator CS6. Would this issue have something to do with the way the file has been scanned? Is there some way to open a pdf file in Illustrator in order to make edits?

After opening the PDF in Illustrator:
WIth the black pointer, select the chart.
Look at the Appearance Palette and see what kind of object it says is selected. If it says Clipping Mask or Group, then select the chart with the white pointer and see what kind of object is says is selected.
JET

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Text Object Error in Pdf based print forms

Hello Friends,
I am trying to include a text object in Adobe PDF-based print form.
In the context, I have created a node for the text. I chose the Text Type as Include Text. I am able to choose the required Text Object and Text ID from the respective search helps. When trying to activate the form, I am getting an error saying that I did not specify a text name. I tried to rectify this error but could not do so.
Please help me out on how to rectify this error.
Points will be rewarded for useful answers.
Thanks,
John.

There is no need of activation for standard text... save will do...
Also note: standard text is client dependent... you need to attach to your transport request manually to move between clients...
Close the thread once your question is answered.
Regards,
Sairam

Invert a pdf in illustrator CS6

I have architectural detail drawings in pdf. In photoshop CS6 I can invert them but the quality drops, it becomes pixilated. I want the background to be black and lines/writings to be white. How can I achieve this in Illustrator CS6?

utopia,
Sorry, it is Edit>Edit Colors>Invert.
For hidden things, you may try a search in the Help(file).

How can I create an accessible tagged PDF in Illustrator CS6?

I have put alt text on the slices but when I save the file as a PDF it isn't tagged. How can I use these alt tags to make the PDF accessible? How can I tag the text in the Illustrator file so it is tagged in the PDF?

I do wonder why there are instructions on how to add alt tags in Illustrator, and they only work if you create HTML. It sounds like Illustrator is going to be a legacy product in favour of InDesign, if it can't create tagged PDFs with Alt Tags for images. In this case, the Illustrator file is placed in InDesign, so even though InDesign can create tagged PDFs, the tagging doesn't work for placed Illustrator content. So it sounds like we either do the tagging from scratch in Acrobat, as you say, or we try to bring in the content directly into InDesign and tag it there.
If only Adobe wholeheartedly supported accessible documents so we could more easily use it to meet WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards which are mandatory for our organisation. We are looking at CommonLook software to make the process of creating accessible PDFs easier and quicker. It's just hard to believe the lack of support from Adobe on this. Acrobat doesn't even come close to checking against WCAG 2AA and the online help is very hit and miss and full of broken links. For such an expensive product it's very disappointing, so thank goodness for other companies who see this as an opportunity to provide a better service.

Secured PDF from Illustrator CS6

I've been banging my head against the wall on this for awhile and I can't figure out what I'm missing. My script updates the filename and date on an Illustrator file and exports a secured PDF that will not allow anyone to edit or print the pdf. I can get it secured and but I can not figure out how to disable printing.
Here is my scritp as it stands:
-- System Date
tell (current date) to get (it's month as integer) & "/" & day & "/" & (it's year as integer)
set mgDate to the result as string
tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
-- Filename
          tell application "Adobe Illustrator" to set mgName to (name of document 1)
          set theFilePath to file path of document 1 as string
          set the oldDelims to AppleScript's text item delimiters
          set AppleScript's text item delimiters to ":"
          set thePathItems to text items of theFilePath
          set AppleScript's text item delimiters to the oldDelims
          set parsedPath to items 1 thru ((count of items of thePathItems) - 1) of thePathItems
          set AppleScript's text item delimiters to ":"
          set parentPath to parsedPath as string
          set AppleScript's text item delimiters to the oldDelims
          set text item delimiters of AppleScript to ""
          if mgName contains ".ai" then
                    set aCount to count every character of mgName
                    set aCount to aCount - 3
                    set mgName to characters 1 thru aCount of mgName as string
                    set mgName to mgName as string
          end if
          set savePDFPath to parentPath & ":" & mgName & ".pdf"
-- Date
          set contents of text frame "date" of document 1 to mgDate
          set contents of text frame "filename" of document 1 to mgName
--PDF Save Options
          set pdfSaveOptions to {class:PDF save options, compatibility:Acrobat 8, enable access:false, require doc password:true, require perm password:true, preserve editability:false, permission password:"Test", allow printing:pdf 40 print none, changes allowed:pdf 40 no changes}
save current document in file savePDFPath as pdf with options pdfSaveOptions
end tell
It will create the pdf and it is secured but the printing is still enabled and I can't figure out how to disable it and help would be appreciated. I have included a screen shot of the security panel in Acrobat showing that printing is still allowed. All I want the end user to be able to do is view the pdf.

I tried with javascript and it didn't work either, I also found a post that went unanswered
http://forums.adobe.com/message/2306439#2306439

Text Object Error in Adobe forms

Hello Friends,
I am trying to include a text object in Adobe PDF-based print form.
In the context, I have created a node for the text. I chose the Text Type as Include Text. I am able to choose the required Text Object and Text ID from the respective search helps. When trying to activate the form, I am getting an error saying that I did not specify a text name. I tried to rectify this error but could not do so.
Please help me out on how to rectify this error.
Points will be rewarded for useful answers.
Thanks,
John.

Are you giving the text name in single quotes.

PDF created in CS6 now produces a "Cannot Open File" error when I try to reopen it :(

I created a file in Illustrator CS6 (v. 16.0.0), and saved it as an (editable) PDF. When I try to reopen that same PDF inside Illustrator CS6, however, I get a "Could Not Open The File" error.
The file opens in Acrobat just fine, but I need to continue editing/working on it. Opening it in 5.1 works but it's all flat and not ideal for editing. Renaming the extension to .eps or .ai didn't work, either. I also looked into potential font conflicts (none) and restarted my Mac (OS 10.7.5) to no avail.
Thoughts/suggestions most welcome!

Illustrator is not designed to be a pdf editor, so save a .ai file backup always.
A restart, as you did, of Illustrator or your mac will allow you to open the .pdf, or resetting your font cache with fontnuke.
Update to 16.04, and especially check if acrobat needs updating.
I have had and so have others problems with making .pdfs if you do not have a printer chosen, usually you get an error could not save .pdf but check you have a printer chosen in system preferences >> Print & Scan .

Illustrator CS6 - Selection Tool drag lag?

Does anyone else experience lag when dragging the Selection Tool around (for instance, when dragging to select multiple objects on the screen) in Illustrator CS6? When I drag the Selection Tool, Illustrator takes a second to show the dotted line. It doesn't prevent me from working, but it is pretty annoying.
The weird part is, it only seems to happen when I create a new document using a "Video and Film" profile (any of the sizes). When I create a new document using a "Print" profile or "Web" profile (again, any size), the Selection Tool acts fine— there's no lag.
I'm on an iMac 3.4ghz 32gb ram, so I don't think it could be the computer itself.
Any help would be appreciated!
Derek

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the tip! I tested out creating a new document with no preset profile, and it worked— no Selection Tool lag. I guess the problem I was encountering was only specifically with the "Video and Film" profile, so I'll just avoid using that. From now on, I'll stick to creating a custom profile when making a new document!
Thanks,
Derek

Text moving when opening a pdf in illustrator

I opened 2 separate hi res pdfs (the front and back of a postcard) in illustrator 5.1. The type on both sides had been outlined and we just relinked the background image on both sides after we did some color adjustments to it. The only type on the front was the name of the company and the headline. Both were white type in separate magenta bars. The type was centered both horizontally and vertically in each bar.
When I opened the front, the headline text moved from being centered horizontally on the pdf to EXACTLY flush right with the company name. There were no problems with the text moving on the back side.
We have been receving files from this client for several years and always make color adjustments due to the uncoated paper stock we print on and have never encountered this before. The original files that the supplied pdfs were made from were also created in illustrator 5.
Is this a known issue? If not, is it acrobat or illustrator problem.

Was the original PDF created in Illustrator? To find out, open the PDF in Acrobat and go to File> Properties, it should show you what program created the PDF. Illustrator is not a universal PDF editor. A safer work flow would be to use Edit Object in Acrobat to make your color corrections. If you decide to use Illustrator, go to Select> All text objects, I suspect there are some un-outlined and un-embedded type elements.
If the fonts are properly embedded, there is almost no reason to outline the type.

I have a PDF with a diagram, I need to translate the text so I open it in Illustrator. The document opnes up vertically oriented I try to put it horizontal to be able to read and change the text However everything I have done is not working The artboa

I have a PDF with a diagram, I need to translate the text so I open it in Illustrator. The document opens up vertically oriented I try to put it horizontal to be able to read and change the text However everything I have done is not working The artboard does change, but the diagram stays vertical.....Please help I need to finish that for today..Please help

A PDF usually consists of one to an indefinite number of clipping masks inside each other.
You need to be very carefull with selecting stuff.
So you need to read the manual on how to select stuff and on the basics of Illustrator.
On top of that: because of the complex hierarchy of PDF files, it is kind of difficult to help you without seeing anything.

Importing PDF to illustrator. Text does not display.

I am using Illustrator CS6 on windows 7. I created a document on Illustrator CS4 on mac osx and exported the file to a pdf. Now when I want to edit the pdf in illustrator the images and drawings display correctly, but only certain text is shown. Not any text in particular, but just random lines of text within paragraphs. The rest of the text does not show up at all. What could be the issue?

Why not open the AI file?
In any case, as Monika points out, the PDF really needs to eb created with the AI editing capability turned on. That way, AI is opening the AI data contained in the PDF, not the PDF data.
Take care, Mike
***Oops, cross-post. I see you did preserve the AI data now.***

Moving text entered into a PDF without moving other objects

Sometimes, I add text to a pdf through the following:
-         Click Tools to the top right of Acrobat, beneath the X.
-         Under Content | Edit Text & Objects, select Edit Document Text.
-         Hold down ctrl before you place the cursor on the pdf.
Often, the text is not placed in the correct spot. To move it, I go to Tools | Content | Edit Object and then select the text and move it. However, this often causes other text in the document to shift along with the text that I entered. It seems somehow the text I entered gets linked to other text and I can either move all or none of it. How can I get only the text that I just entered to shift without getting other text to shift with it?

Test Screen Name: I think Add or Edit Text Box might be more practical than Edit Document Text if I need to move the text after I add it. With Add or Edit Text Box, moving the text box does not cause other elements to move, which is unlike what happens when I add text via Edit Document Text.
I think the PDF creator needs to allow the option for users to use the Forms Tool. This PDF does not have form fields. As for adding text via Comments, Add stick note creates a conspicuous text box that I want to avoid, as does Insert text under Comment | Annotations.
So Add or Edit Text Box appears to be the best option.
I believe the sender expects me to print this PDF, handwrite my entries and then scan and email it back to him. But I am trying to find ways to save time, paper and ink by adding text without printing this PDF and the many other PDFs that I must routinely fill out.

Need to edit text in pdf file created in Illustrator CS6

I need for someone else to be able to edit text in a pdf I created from Illustrator. They have full acrobat and should be able to edit it. I have tried it myself to test before sending it but it's not working. The original file was created in Illustrator CS6 and saved as a pdf (text has not been created outlines). I opened the file in acrobat and saved it out as an extended file to be able to edit the text but no luck. Need to be able to highlight existing text and change it. I have tried edit text tool but instead of a selection box around each line of text, it puts a selection box around all of the text. I can highlight the text and delete it but am unable to change it. Each individual text line needs to be editable. Is there something I need to do differently in Illustrator to get it to work correctly in Acrobat?
If it helps- the file is a calendar and they need to be able to change the dates and events that are already there.

This really isn't a suitable use of Acrobat. You should all be using the same editing tool (i.e. Illustrator).
Extending files reduces the amount of editing Acrobat can do, it does not increase it.
The tool to edit text from Illustrator would be Edit Document Text. There is no guarantee it will break up nicely into lines, it's trying to help by making paragraph text.
Conceivably you could use a form for this (fill in the blank for dates) but really, you should be using the same tool. Not necessarily Illustrator, more Excel or specialist Calendar software.

I am trying to convert an Illustrator cs6 file to a PDF and every time I do it, I lose all text and images. Can someone provide some assistance? Thank you!

I am trying to convert an Illustrator cs6 file to a PDF and every time I do it, I lose all text and images. Can someone provide some assistance? Thank you!

It's always a good idea to supply platform and AI version info.
How are you "converting" the file? Are you choosing "Save As" and selecting PDF from the file format options? This will bring up additional save options. I would suggest "Illustrator Default" setting unless you have specific needs.

Gradients dropping out when opening PDFs in Illustrator

Hi everyone. I work for a large format printing company. We receive thousands of files every year from many different designers. We started to notice that gradients would drop out of some PDFs when opening them in Illustrator but they would preview fine when opened in Acrobat. I searched high and low for an explanation for this glitch. The only response I received is "Stop opening exported PDFs in Illustrator." This is an unsatisfactory answer for someone that needs to preflight directly in the Illustrator program. I've done a ton of research and have been racking my brain for the last 2 years and have finally found sufficient workarounds for this issue. The downfall with these workarounds: all spot colors located in the gradients will convert to CMYK mixes. I'm still researching to see if there is a way to keep spot colors intact in these areas.
A little back story: InDesign is converting the gradients into something called NChannel. It enables more accurate handling of color blending by including additional dot gain and color mixing info. Both InDesign and Acrobat have the ability to display these elements whereas Illustrator, from what I’m finding, does not. Which is why we’re seeing gradient elements drop out when opened in Illustrator.
Workaround for CMYK Gradients
Open PDF exported from INDD in Acrobat
Go to Tools > Print Production > Convert Colors
Object Type: Smooth Shade (this tells Acrobat to hone in on Gradients only)
Color Type: DeviceCMYK
Check Embed next to Conversion Profile (should be SWOP)
Expand Document Colors on the right and Select DeviceCMYK in Color Spaces then click ok
Save the PDF
Workaround for 1 Spot Color in Gradients (Converts Spot Color located in Gradient to CMYK – all other Spots stay intact)
Open PDF exported from INDD in Acrobat
Go to Tools > Print Production > Convert Colors
Object Type: Smooth Shade (this tells Acrobat to hone in on Gradients only)
Color Type: Spot Color
Check Embed next to Conversion Profile (should be SWOP)
Expand Document Colors on the right and Select the Spot that is located in the Gradient in Color Spaces then click ok
Save the PDF
Workaround for 2 Spot Colors in Gradients (Converts Spot Colors located in Gradient toCMYK – all other Spots stay intact)
Open PDF exported from INDD in Acrobat
Go to Tools > Print Production > Convert Colors
Object Type: Smooth Shade (this tells Acrobat to hone in on Gradients only)
Color Type: Spot Color
Check Embed next to Conversion Profile (should be SWOP)
Expand Document Colors on the right and Select the DeviceN spot color that is located in the Gradient in Color Spaces then click ok
Save the PDF
Please test it and let me know if you run into any issues with these workarounds. I'm always looking for new problems to solve!
- Jenny

you said--"...needs to preflight directly in the Illustrator program. I've done a ton of research and have been racking my brain for the last 2 years and have finally found sufficient workarounds for this issue"
Your workarounds seem time consuming and (possibly) unnecessary for the following reasons:
1. large format printers use 4-8 colors to achieve color (so spot colors shouldn't be an issue)
2. Acrobat Pro has it's own 'preflight' function that works fairly well
additionally (don't know if you know this) there is an add-on to acrobat called 'Pitstop' (google it) that allows just about any change/correction/alteration to be made to a PDF
...and...opening a PDF in illustrator (that wasn't created in illustrator--do you know how to determine this?) can lead to many problems i.e. gradients dropping out, text reflow, etc.
as far as testing your workarounds, seriously, who has the time when there are tools available that make using them unnecessary (this assumes that you have created these 'workarounds' to match your worflow--but a nearly pure PDF workflow should work in this day and age, depending on your RIP and software).

Manipulating text & objects of a pdf in Illustrator CS6

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