Expert: Tom Rouze - 5/27/2005

Question
I have a problem on new and old versions of adobe illustrator...

am i able to open the file from new adobe illustrator to my old version of illustrator?...

are the illustrator files able to open on any version of adobe illustrator?


Answer
Hi Tina,
Here's the eaisiest answer.  There are a couple other solutions but it's much more difficult if you want to change anything later.
Usually the way it works is newer versions of programs can open older but the reverse is not true in many cases.  This is one of those cases.  AI 10 is where I first had a problem.  I couldn't open any 10 files in 9.  Here's what I had people do. When saving the file I asked that they do a "save as" then select AI 9.  That worked.
Then when I began working in 10 and CS(11) came out I had the same problem.  
In CS (11) I had everyone do the same thing by saving down to 10 or 9.  however it's done slightly different.  
Here's how it's done in CS:
Go to File, then select Export.
at the bottowm of the window pull down Save as Type and select Illustrator Legacy (*.AI) or Illustrator Legacy EPS(*.EPS).  Then another window will open and you can save to 10, 9, 8, or 3.
I hope this helped.  If you have any other questions please fell free to ask.
Thank you,
Tom