Illustrator is no longer saving in AI. Solved

Question

Hello, I’m using Illustrator CS but it no longer wants to save in AI format, while saving as GIF or JPEG is possible...
It shows a window with a red cross at the top left saying "an unknown error has occurred"...
I don’t understand anymore... and it saves fine in PDF...
it’s very annoying, I can’t recover unfinished work...
please help me.

Gil · Accepted Answer

Nice to meet you Mia!

DF, if you're on a Mac, you're looking for a little house with your name, that's the home folder.

At most, do a Spotlight search on your machine (Command-F) by entering the words "flattening transparency".

You shouldn't find 50 of them, the one we are interested in is located in an Illustrator preferences folder.

Apparently, on PC, it's pretty much the same thing, see bmini's post above.

IN SHORT, IT'S AN ILLUSTRATOR PREFERENCE THAT'S MESSING UP, you just need to throw them all in the trash and empty it. These files will reappear on the next startup, and it usually resolves this kind of issues.

This works for other applications too, especially those that won't start. Before reinstalling everything, it's worth trying to delete the prefs and relaunch the app, it generally works.

[by the burne]2K6] · Answer

Using Illustrator as well, I understand your problem, but in my opinion, the only thing to do is to reinstall your product, which will fix any errors if there are any.  +

yonyox · Answer

Naturally, I was expecting this answer...  I forgot to mention that I have reinstalled several times...  but with no results...sniff!

yonyox · Answer

So I created a website by leaving the computer on for almost a month, unable to save my work in AI, which was a disaster, and now that I want to update this site, I need to redo quite a few pages, which is really frustrating...
Have mercy!!! Lol, no I'm not kidding, help me... :-(

Gihef · Answer

Hello,   A lesser evil would be to save in .eps to preserve the vector.  ?   --  -- > Can we help you? Then help us, say so and  -- > • check the issue as resolved. Thank you.

yonyox · Answer

king I have already done it but without positive results...

thank you gihef for this great idea I hadn't tested this format it records perfectly... thank you :-)
it saves me in the meantime while I resolve this... :-))

Riwalenn · Answer

Tell me if your Illustrator CS is a cracked version from a trial or the original version?

But apparently the problem seems to be generalizing:
adobe illustrator cs2 impossible to save

Do you think you can make this change:

"We were having the same problems and we changed the "Plug-ins and Scratch Disks" preference for Primary AND Secondary to "MAC HD" instead of "Startup" and everything is wonderful"

Otherwise, for your information, when you uninstall Illustrator CS, apparently some files remain... follow this too:
"You can find the AIPrefs file in WinXP under Documents and Settings - (user) - Application Data - Adobe - Adobe Illustrator CS2 Settings."
Before uninstalling, and reinstall once the files are deleted.

If you don't understand English, let me know! ;)
--
Regards,
Riwalenn

mirador · Answer

I have the same problem on CS2, and to be honest, I don't understand English very well... can someone help me with the process?

Otherwise, my problem is that I am working on files intended for offset printing, and saving as .eps alters the quality of the file if we save too often in this format and edit it each time...

Gil · Answer

Hello,

I'm not following you regarding the loss of quality with Illustrator.

This applies to pixelated EPS files from Photoshop, but I would like to see Illustrator's vector graphics deteriorate.

Having experienced the saving issue, it's a corrupted Illustrator preference that causes the problem. Therefore, you need to clear the preferences, restart Illustrator, and everything will return to normal (in homefolder > Library > Preferences >, there is a folder and a plist file).

In desktop publishing, when we import Illustrator files into InDesign, they need to be in .ai format to avoid displaying the white background, especially for logos or illustrations imported onto a colored background.

bmini@mit · Answer

Hello,

I have the same issue with saving in ai format.

Has anyone found a solution?

Which file or folder needs to be deleted?

Do we need to reinstall everything? And clean the registry?

It's really a hassle!!!

Thank you for your responses
See you!
Sylvie

Gil · Answer

Hello,
according to my previous post, I quote:

it's a corrupted Illustrator preference that is causing the issue. Therefore, you need to clear the preferences, restart Illustrator, and everything should be back to normal (in homefolder > Library > Preferences >, there is a folder and a plist file).

In our case, it was a file named "flattening transparency".

Just quit Illustrator, move this file to the trash, empty the trash, and restart Illustrator. Before making any modifications to a document, try re-saving it as .Ai; if there's an issue, follow the indicated procedure.

See you later

G.

bmini@mit · Answer

Hello,

It’s fixed!!!

I deleted the whole folder “Adobe Illustrator CS Settings”

It’s located at “C:\Documents and Settings\Your_Name\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS Settings”

Phew!!!!!!!!

Thank you all

Mia · Answer

Thanks, Gil.  I was tearing my hair out until I found your instructions that work perfectly!

df · Answer

I don't quite understand the maneuver, where do you find the application data? I can't find this thing...

Jenay10 · Answer

Hello Gil, if I understood correctly, I need to delete the file "predefined transparency flattening" in the folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Artis Pub @ XP\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CS2 Settings. I'm afraid to mess up, it's my work PC, and I don't want to get fired for deleting something that makes the Illustrator software work.

Gil · Answer

hello Jenay10,

first of all, to cover your bases, copy this file to your desktop or in a folder like "documents," so you have it handy. In the worst case, you can put it back in its place.

Secondly, these preferences are reinstalled every time the software starts up or shuts down.

When a software doesn't start anymore, the first thing to do before considering a complete reinstallation is to delete the prefs, which will automatically return to their original state (especially the arrangement of the palettes). It's usually a corrupted pref that prevents the software from functioning properly.

There you go, I hope this answers your question.

bmini@mit · Answer

If you are on Windows, you need to show hidden folders and files...

tess · Answer

Well, I must say bravo... I was in a tough spot and within two minutes (it's an expression because it took me less time than that) I solved my problem thanks to you. The only thing is that for a Mac user working on Illustrator in XP through Parallels (I know, I’m looking for trouble but I have my reasons that reason ignores) you just need to know how to show hidden files, but that's okay. You just need to go to the Tools menu > Folder Options > View.
Thanks again

neotheonee · Answer

Hello

Same problem for me, unable to save as .ai or .pdf as soon as I integrate text, and despite having deleted the Illus CS2 Settings folder
The only solution a friend suggested to me, which works, is when saving as .ai, in the dialog box that follows, you need to uncheck Create a compatible file and Compression. And then it works
We're not there yet with the pdf, but we're getting closer slowly ^^

segata · Answer

Hi,
same problem:
I am running Windows 7 and I've just uninstalled and reinstalled CS2 but I'm still unable to save in .ai format with Illustrator.
In the meantime, I saved as .pdf while keeping the editing options with Illustrator.

Where can I find the preferences to delete?
Because the path indicated is for XP and is different on Windows 7.

Thanks, saving as .pdf will have its limits, I believe.

P.S.: I created a separate folder on my system partition.
I didn't find the preferences to delete there either.

Illustrator is no longer saving in AI.

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