[art_director]

The situation:

Got a project that was built in Illustrator CS. The files need to be handed off to a client using Illustrator 10. The problem is that the type -- on a number of paths -- can not be edited in Illustrator 10.

Anyone ever have this happen?

Anyone know of a work around other than rebuilding the type layers in Illustrator 10?

Thanks for any and all responses.

[art_director]

Dang, this blows.

Some research has scared up a lesson for anyone saving legacy files from Illustrator CS or CS2.

The new Illustrator type engine will not allow type to be read in older versions of Illustrator ( pre-CS ). When confronted with this problem you have two choices:

1. Rebuild your file(s) in an older version of Illustrator. Obviously this is not a deadline-friendly option.

2. Open the legacy document in the older version of Illustrator, select the type in question -- it will have been converted -- copy it, create a new text box and paste your copy into it. This is not a perfect solution, especially if you have your text on paths and the like, but it's a lot better than starting over.

Enjoy.

[siMac]

It's true that the lack of full compatibility between CS and 10 can be frustrating, but people need to accept that new technology by nature cannot always be fully backwards compatible.

We managed to get to version 10 of Illustrator without any major backwards incompatibilities with text - this in itself is not to be sniffed at. Now, with CS the entire text engine has been rebuilt from the ground up - the advantages are many, the price is editability in older versions. Technically, CS can backsave perfectly compatible files, they're just not editable. It's a bit like backsaving files with transparency from AI9 or later to AI8 or previous.

Just had to put in my two cents and stand up for Adobe before the public stoning started!

[art_director]

siMac,

Don't get me wrong, I love CS. I'm just in a position where I built files that needed to be edited in 10. Of course, I was not aware of that requirement until the damage was done. It was a slight inconvenience, nothing more. And, now that I know, it will never happen again.

[Westbo]

Originally Posted by art_director

The situation:

Got a project that was built in Illustrator CS. The files need to be handed off to a client using Illustrator 10. The problem is that the type -- on a number of paths -- can not be edited in Illustrator 10.

Anyone ever have this happen?

Anyone know of a work around other than rebuilding the type layers in Illustrator 10?

Thanks for any and all responses.

Nope, that's what you gotta do. Adobe is quite proud with the fact that they have revamped the AI type engine to be more compatible with PS and InDesign but forgot about compatability with older "legacy" versions (AI10 or older) The result is any type in files "exported back to a legacy version" will either convert to outline or become pointize. Their work around is to recreate the type boxes, cut and paste, which as you know is laborious. And let's not even touch the dumb transparency tool. Adobe's answer, keep up with the times and upgrade. Easy for them to say. Many of my clients, large Fortune 500 companies have huge investments in previous versions not only in licenses but their entire inventory of archived projects. Here's just one example, Church & Dwight (Arm & Hammer), not a huge company, requires all files to be AI8 compatible. Think of the watershed, all their vendors, printers etc., worldwide having to convert every bit of packaging, labeling, collateral, etc. because this dopey software company wants everyone to belly up and upgrade. That's huge $$$$! I have AICS and AI 10. Both are buggy with AI10 the more stable of the two. It's indeed a mess. AI8 was the gold standard to beat, and as far as I'm concerned, they haven't done it yet.

[art_director]

I'm usually the first one to skewer software companies. In this instance I will say that I appreciate the new type engine. Sure, it caused me some pain on this project but that will only happen once.

I understand your pain, believe me. I work for a number of companies who are charged with the same problems and cost issues. As much as it sucks it can, in the long term, be a good thing.

[production_coordinator]

It depends upon the complexity of the design. I think you can save the CS file as a PDF and then open the PDF in Illustrator 10. I was in the same situation with a somewhat simple file and it worked.

I'm not sure if it will work in your situation.

[art_director]

Tried it, didn't work. The new type engine renders the type uneditable. You must copy and paste into a new type box. And, if you're on complex curved paths, you need to recreate those paths.