Main artboard window is not visible 1

[meldraw]

I'm brand new to the forum, but have been using Illustrator for years. I just ran into a technical problem I've never seen before:

When I open certain AI files, the artboard window never opens! All other options and windows seem to be fine, but my artboard (and everything on it) is nowhere to be found. I created and edited these files only a couple days ago, and they were working fine. They preview just fine, and the file does not seem damaged. This problem does not occur with all AI files I try to open, only a few. Where did my window go?

Am I missing something here? I have already tried uninstalling and reinstalling Illustrator. Ideas?

 

[itchybug]

Mel:

I suspect you need to delete your aiprefs file. This file is not replaced when you re-install, you have to do it manually.

The aiprefs is a file that Illustrator uses to keep your preferences (not just the ones in the Edit>Preferences menu, but also palette locations, specific tool settings etcetera) and each time you close Illustrator it writes to that file. For some reason, after a while the aiprefs file can become corrupted. Then, you need to delete it, which will restore Illustrator to factory defaults. Some people keep a good copy of aiprefs in a separate folder to simply drop it into place over the top of a corrupted one, some people (like me) make the prefs read-only to avoid having to re-customize everything each time a problem occurs.

What you need to do:

1. Close Illustrator (ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL);
2. Locate aiprefs. It has no file extension, and if you do a search you have to enable search for Hidden and System files. In XP, the location is:

File:///C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application Data/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator CS Settings

You can copy and paste that location directly into your browser's address bar, you may have to change "owner" to your user name. It will take you to the containing folder;
3. Delete the file;
4. Open Illustrator, customize, and then save a backup or make it read-only.

Hope this helps.

Bert

Bert Philippus

http://www.itchybug.com

http://www.amenpackaging.com

 

[meldraw]

Thanks for your suggestion Bert. Unfortunately, it didn't do the trick. It seems the AIPrefs is not the problem. I made the changes you mentioned, and the artboard window is still lost.

Any other ideas? Anyone? Bueller?

 

[itchybug]

I'm assuming you've tried repeatedly hitting the F key(cycling through screen modes)?

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[meldraw]

Actually, I hadn't tried that! Lo and behold, I found my artboard. I still can't locate it in the normal mode, but at least now I can work with it in a full screen mode. Thank you so much! (I knew it was something obvious I was missing.)

Also, Bert, now that I have made my prefs file read-only, will I always get a "can't save to this file" message when I close Illustrator?

 

[itchybug]

Yup. Hey it's just a click, and think of it as saying NO to corruption. What could be better?

Honestly, you'll find yourself frequently unlocking and saving little changes to your preferences initially, but once it's exectly the way you want, you'll never go back. My aiprefs has been read-only across at least the last 3 versions, and I'm happy as a clam.

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

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http://www.amenpackaging.com

 

[itchybug]

Benefits (other than lack of corruption) are:

1. The recent file list will be exactly the same every time you fire up the program, so you can populate it with all files you like to access regularly;
2. The startup folder is always the same, so pick your main art directory and set that up as your permanent first place to look;
3. You can really mess up your settings during a session and be assured that an exit/start up manoover will set you straight again.

There are more, but those 3 came to mind right away.

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

-

http://www.amenpackaging.com

 

[itchybug]

In reply #5, "exectly" should be "exactly"

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http://www.amenpackaging.com