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TICKET ARCHIVE -> corrupted files in Illustrator

notatechie - Feb 6, 2007 - 8:25 pm

I am working on an iMac (OSX 10.4.8) with Illustrator CS 11.0.0.I have 4 documents from a set of 15 that are corrupted. The reasons I think they are corrupted are:

• The files take double or triple the time to open
* The fonts look jagged and print jagged (although same fonts with same syles on other docs. look & print fine.)
* When working with the files, Illustration often quits and I have to do a force quit to get it to open again.

This said, I am wanting to save the copy and formatting (which is a lot). I've tried a "save as" and the new file takes a long time to open and the fonts are still rasterized looking. I've tried creating a new page and cutting the old copy into it and Illustrator usually quits at that juncture.

Help! Any tricks up your sleeve? I am on a deadline and am pulling my hair out trying to save the files!

Bald in Texas,
Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 6, 2007 - 9:08 pm

Hi Lucinda,

Don't pull out your hair just yet! I don't think it's the files that are corrupted... I think it's the fonts you are using in Illustrator. Hopefully that is all this is. You have plenty of RAM, and a mega hard drive and a fast processor so I'm thinking fonts.

Now, I want you to locate this file: com.apple.fontbook.plist
Here's the path: MacintoshHD/Users?Library/Preferences. Open the Preferences folder, locate that file, drag it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Now, run Disk Utility. Path: Applications/Utilities. Launch DU, select MacintoshHD in the panel on the left, click Repair Permissions. Can take up to 3 mins to run on an Intel based Mac. When it's done, Quit Disk Utility.

Now, reboot your iMac, launch Illustrator and try to open those files. If you still have problems, post back and thanks for choosing Macosx.com!

Regards,
Carolyn :-)

notatechie - Feb 7, 2007 - 10:11 am

Hi Carolyn,

Thank you for your speedy response. I followed your advise. This is what happened.

I did not find the file: com. apple.fontbook.plist in my Library/Preferences so I did a search and it still was not located.

I did run Disk Utility, reboot and open the files again. Still glitcchy looking fonts.

Any other suggestions? I'm holding my breath!

Thanks again, Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 7, 2007 - 12:54 pm

Lucinda,

Ok... when you looked for that file: com.apple.fontbook.plist are you in YOUR Users folder? MacintoshHD/Lucinda/Library/Preferences. That file cannot be located by going here: MacintoshHD/Library/Preferences... you will not get the same Preference folder. I guarantee you, that file resides on the hard drive... it has to. Every single thing you do on a Macintosh computer has preference files that end with .plist. That file is there... I guarantee it.

Another thing to try is this. Go into System Preferences. Click where it says:
Appearance. At the bottom is a pop up menu for: Font Smoothing Style. I use Automatic but you might have better luck with Standard, Light, Medium or Strong....

Carolyn :-)

notatechie - Feb 7, 2007 - 9:22 pm

Hi Carolyn,

Thank you for staying with me on this. Thank you, too, for clarifying that there are 2 Libraries. I have not used the Users one before and realize it is completely diffreent.

Now, I have tried both of your suggestions. I found the com.apple.fontbook.plist, trashed it, emptied trash, ran DU, rebooted, opened problem files and they are still glitching.

I also went to System Prefs and changed the font smoothing to Standard, Med and Strong. . . none of which worked.

Yikes! Does this mean I might have to rekey and reformat these docs or do you have some more magic?

Thanks,
Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 7, 2007 - 9:30 pm

First... you're welcome... this is a challenge and I'll stick with you one way or the other... when I was first learning the Mac OS many years ago, I asked anyone who would listen for help, so I figure it's my turn to give back. I just wish I had a magic wand to help with your fonts.

Ok... you found the preference file and you tried Sys Prefs... Lucinda... exactly which fonts are you using that are causing this?

And get Onyx. It's FREE. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...ties/onyx.html Download and install Onyx. Run the Maintenance and Cleaning scripts. Onyx will get rid of bugs, empty caches, clear out log files... you name it... if there's a bug somewhere... Onyx will find it. Takes about 10 minutes to run. I used it once a week.

Get back to me with with fonts you are using that are causing the prob ...

Carolyn :-)

LovesMacs - Feb 7, 2007 - 10:20 pm

I found a link that has troubleshooting for Adobe Illustrator and Mac OS X.... Lucinda... when you have Illustrator open, can you find a Cache file to empty?
My guess it's in the menu somewhere .... my guess is Adobe>Empty Cache...
Cache files can cause font problems like you are having... it's also something that Onyx can help with....

Here's the link: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowled....cfm?id=327791

Carolyn :-)

notatechie - Feb 8, 2007 - 10:48 am

Carolyn,

You are great. . . even if we don't get this problem fixed! I wanted to get back with you on the fonts I'm using but haven't had time to get and use Onyx or check out the website you recommended. I will do both within a couple of hours and get back with you.

The fonts I am using are Cafflish Script Pro and Gill Sans Roman, Bold, Bold Italic and Italic. The Gill San Family is the one that is glitching. . . Cafflish stays looking clean thoughout.

FYI: When I tried to open one of the problem docs. this morning, Illustrator quit and last night when I was trying to copy the copy to my clipboard in hopes of pasting it into Quark or InDesign, it quit too.

You are the best, Carolyn! Just knowing that there is a real, caring person (not a robot!) helps ease the anxiety of getting this fixed. I will keep you posted throughout the day as I get time to try your next suggestions.

Thanks!
~Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 8, 2007 - 2:04 pm

Ah shucks... now I'm blushing ;-) Thank you for the positive feedback... it's always nice to hear.

Lucinda... Caffish Script Pro is not a native Mac font but Gill Sans is and it's the Gill that is the glitch? That's unusual. Usually it's the other way around.

Question... when you are copying to the clipboard, do you have Illustrator/Quark or InDesign running all at the same time?

At this point, the project you are working on has a corrupted font, that being the Gill Sans. No matter which program you use it in, it's going to cause problems. Lucinda, can you reinstall Illustrator/InDesign and Quark ???????

Also, when you can get Illustrator open try this:
open illustrator

close appearence pallete from window menu

close illustrator

open illustrator

the pathfinder tool should work now without crashing

I have Googled for Illustrator crashing under 10.4.8 and there are quite a few hits. If I see something that might help you, I'll let you know.

Hang in there...
Carolyn :-)

notatechie - Feb 8, 2007 - 9:15 pm

Whaaaaa! Whaaaa! Whaaaaaa!

Carolyn, I hope your sleeves are very long. . . I still haven't been able to get these files fixed.

I downloaded Onyx (cool program, thanks!) and did as you said. . . ran maintenance and cleaning scripts. That didn't work.

Reinstalled Abobe CS. . . that didn't work.

Went to the site you recommended and got overwhelmed with the info and steps to follow. I printed it out and will try to study it when my head is more clear and my patience are not so frayed.

I'm thinking it's time to reconstruct the files. What do you think?

You are still the best have inspired me to open up my very tight business pocketbook to contribute to the health and welfare of this site.

Thank you! Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 9, 2007 - 1:08 pm

LOL I have extremely long arms and sleeves to go with them.

Yes, it certainly can't hurt to reconstruct those files. But run Onyx before and after you do that using the Cleaning script so the cache files get trashed.
"Cache files store information about files you use... they can also store corrupted bits used in fonts and can cause your programs to crash" ...

My goodness, thank you for a financial contribution to the site. We certainly appreciate it and I know my boss does. ;-)

Just take your time, digest as much troubleshooting info as you can and just keep trying.

Lucinda, did your iMac come with a Software Restore disk??????? That is a last resort, but might just be what you need to do.

Carolyn :-)

notatechie - Feb 10, 2007 - 2:35 pm

Hi Carolyn,

I have decided to bite the bullet and recreate the files. In the process of trying to troubleshoot this problem, though, I have learned a lot that I am sure I can use for future troubleshooting.

I haven't started to reconstruct the files yet, but will take your advise and use Onyx before and after doing the dirty deed!

Thanks again for all of your help. If you have any other ideas, let me know and I will try them out. I plan on rebuilding tomorrow, but even if you email me later than that and want me to try something, I will.

Still have hair and still breathing in TX,
Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 10, 2007 - 7:26 pm

Lucinda,

I have a suggestion. Do a test project first, just a little one. Launch Text Edit. Type in the old standby... all good men come to the aid of their country ya da ya da ... and set the font to Gil Sans. Save As (testfont or something) ... and close the file, Quit Text Edit. Now, reopen the file and see if Text Edit works like it should.

Also, did you know this? Launch Text Edit again. Then Command + T to bring up the Font window. Now, just undernearth where it says: Font there is a very small circle. (I have to squit to see it LOL) ... anyway... click that little circle and drag down... it shows whatever Font style you select. You might know this editing images and text but I saw it in the March 2007 issue of MacWorld and thought I'd send the info along anyway

If I come across any possible fixes or workarounds for you I will let you know. Let me know how it goes ...

Carolyn :-)
Volunteer tech

notatechie - Feb 11, 2007 - 9:12 pm

Hi Carolyn,

I will try this tip you gave me after I get a couple of stiff deadlines out of the way. Please keep the job open so I can respond to you after I try this suggestion. I'm thinking I will be able to by Wed afternoon or sooner. I'll be interested to see how the Command T in Text Edit works. . . I seldom use it so I didn't know about the info it provides.

Thanks again, Carolyn. . . you'll be hearing from my around Wed.

Lucinda

LovesMacs - Feb 13, 2007 - 12:17 pm

That's good Lucinda. In case your ticket gets closed by accident, you can reach me here:

macchicksf@mac.com

Carolyn :-)