Expert: Amy - 4/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have about a thousand files to transfer from corel to illustrator and I dont know how to make a batch command or whatever was mentioned in another question that will automatically save them as illustrator over top the coreldraw files?  I just wish I could select all and right click "save as"....

I appreciate any help and I thank you for even reading this question!

Steve
ANSWER: Hi Steve,

If you can open the Corel files with Illustrator, you can create an Action that saves them as AI format and run it on a batch of CDR docs. If you cannot open the CDR files in AI, you need to convert them to PDFs or EPS docs first... using Corel. Some Corel files are more complex than others and some CDR doc versions cannot be opened in AI at all. Some of your files will not convert smoothly - there will be omissions and glitches. It won't be perfect.

To run a batch:
Using the Action Window, record a New action that:
1) opens a CDR document
2) Saves it as AI format.
Then stop recording. It's a very simple Action.

Using the flyout menu on the Action window, do a Batch using your new action.
Choose your source folder.
DO override open options.
Choose your destination folder (make a new folder).
Do *not* override Save In commands or files will save as the same format you opened them in (CDR).

It's pretty simple but there will be some trial and error making the action and running it on a batch if you've never done it before. Run a test with 2 dummy folders and a few documents.

One note, you'll want to create copies of all your CDR files to work with!!!

I hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!
Amy





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Does that not defeat the purpose of opening every file individually and saving them as pdf or eps to then save them as ai?

Is the batch command in corel or illustrator?
I'm definitely new to this and need help...

I went on the corel site and it says in corel rave I can make a batch command, or something that records a process.

Would you know how that works?

Thanks again,
Steve
ANSWER: Hi Steve -

When you run a batch command on a folder full of files, you start the batch, then walk away and it opens every file automatically, saves it in a new folder... saving in whatever format you chose in your Action... all while you eat a sandwich or fold the laundry.

I was talking about doing it all from the Illustrator side but if the COREL files are complicated, contain special effects, gradients, etc, you may need to run two batch commands on the files to obtain your final results, one in Corel and one in Illustrator. AI and Corel were never meant to work together... or even to share files.

Step 1 would be
- creating an action/process in COREL that exports/saves each CDR file as EPS or PDF.
- Then using Corel's batch function, run that new action/process on a folder full of CDR files, creating a new folder full of EPS/PDF files.

I'm sorry but I don't have Corel or Corel Rave, so I can't give you much more info than that.

The second step would be to
- create an Action in AI like I described in first email
- use AI's batch command and run it on the files that you get in Step 1.

Hopefully, Corel's Help files and Illustrator's help files will be thorough enough to help you write the actions you need and step you through the batch processing. It's a lot of trial and error and very specific to the types of files you've got.

-Amy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm sorry this isn't working,
I found where to do the automating actions in both the programs, but what do I write for an action statement?
Is there anyone you could forward this to that could tell me what to type in the corel automating task window that will:

-open a folder with corel files
-convert them to AI
-save them in a new folder

Corel is garbage and not user friendly in this department.

There must be someone who knows though.

Thanks for all your help,
Steve

Answer
Well, I don't know anyone who uses Corel, actually.  I wonder if you could find an answer in the user forum at Corel.com.

I searched there and found that Corel versions 11 and 12 have a macro that automatically converts to other formats:

CorelDRAW® 11 and 12 includes a VBA macro that allows you to batch covert CDR files to other file formats.

Click on Tools, Visual Basic, Play.
In the "Macros in" drop-down list, select "FileConverter".
Click the Run button.
Set the Source and Destination, select the desired file format and other options and click OK to run the macro.

HEY!  Maybe that's all you need?  Seems like there are a lot of format choices to choose from when you run the macro.
-Amy