Flexi no longer exports Ai files?

[JN_137]

I guess I am late to the party learning this, but I recently had to get a new computer and when I downloaded Flexi it upgraded the software to a newer version. Apparently, Flexi no longer exports to Ai? I was honestly shocked to learn this..

Is there a way to download an older version that still supports it? We have been using Flexi since 2007 and have always exported Ai files straight from the software, it is a huge part of my workflow and not being able to do so would be crippling. I can't even imagine why they would remove that feature.

I understand exporting as a pdf or eps still technically "works" but it is far from ideal as they don't really communicate as well with the types of files we are using when opening up in illustrator.

 

[Bobby H]

Do you have certain features built into the Flexi art files that need the Illustrator .AI format for exporting? For instance, EPS does not have native support for transparency effects. I don't know if Flexi will save PDF files that are friendly to open in Illustrator. Most PDFs I see exported by applications other than Illustrator will usually open as a mess in Illustrator. Even PDF files output by InDesign are awful when opened in Illustrator.

 

[IsItFasst]

Oddly enough, Flexi can't seem to import new AI (or EPS) files even if they are exported in Illustrator as a legacy format. This doesn't seem to be a problem with Flexi as I am using a version that is a few years old. It seems Adobe has done something to make the two software incompatible now when they used to play fine together.

 

[Bobby H]

Have you tried installing a previous build of Illustrator to see if its legacy version .AI files would work in Flexi? It's possible to have more than one version of Illustrator installed on the same computer.

I have the current version 30 build of Illustrator installed and am also protecting an older version 28 build to cope with a different technical problem. It seems that any .AI files exported from CorelDRAW that have any live text objects in them will not open in any version 29 or 30 builds of Illustrator. The app will display an error box saying "Illustrator could partially read this file" and yadda yadda yadda. The .AI file opens blank with no content. If I open the Corel-generated .AI file in Illustrator 28 it will open successfully. Once I re-save the file in Illustrator 28 it will open in version 30.

 

[jimdtg]

You should check your Flexi version is being used there. The problem .AI supporting was happened with FlexiComplete version 24 first then it was solved.

 

[cwstevens]

I work in the latest release of Flexi and am not yet aware of any problems importing .ai files at this time? I would of course be hammering the SAI connect / help / support demanding they get you back on track...