So needed!

if were able to convert indesign files into illustrator and still be able to edit

I believe that files should be accessible by all software ...
An Ai file should be able to be integrated and modified within InDesign (at least for simple paths) ...
How to be able from a PDF (created by ID) to open it in INDESIGN modifying it as if it were a native file ...
likewise on Ai.

I think Adobe should take some inspiration from Affinity what do you say?

Exactly!!

We export an .eps from indesign and then open it in illustrator. Then set the artboard to the correct size.

i need to convert idml to ai format

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Most printers are requesting Illustrator only files because they have purchased software to speed production.
Software only works on illustrator files.

To the fool who said don't design in InDesign... what pre-press house do you work in? Just so I can avoid it... So if someone comes to you with a 72 page brochure it has to have been designed in Illustrator? Are you nuts?

Amazingly the names do have clues in them...
ILLUSTRATOR - for creating logos, illustrations etc... as soon as it is becoming part of a flyer or poster or brochure inDESIGN takes over.

The reason why the compatibility isn't great from Id to Ai is because the expected workflow (for print especially) should be that you edit your photos in Photoshop, your illustrations in Illustrator and you bring them all together as a design in InDesign which you then export to your final pdf file for print... its not rocket science.

I have had the misfortune of freelancing at a company where the previous designer did EVERYTHING in illustrator and it is a nightmare....as soon as you try and overload it with too many high res images it just can't handle it like InDesign can. And for speed laying out type... no contest.

On the same note I would never try and design a logo in InDesign... different tools, different jobs.

The statement that you 'DO NOT accept Indesign files for production files. Period!' baffles me!

lol

so is there a solution???

I think I would like InDesign better if it had more common features from Illustrator. For instance, when I move and duplicate an item in Illustrator, I would press <Ctrl>+<M> to enter the distance I want to move an item, click the copy button, the press <Ctrl>+<D> to duplicate that item continually in that same distance. In InDesign, <Ctrl>+<M> opens the Paragraph Tools Window while <Ctrl>+<D> opens the "Place" window. Uggg!

Copy / Paste from InDesign to Illustrator is more reliable than PDF. Outline fonts and embed all links before you do, depending how much editability you need.

Easy fix!!
YOU DON'T DESIGN INSIDE OF INDESIGN..!!
Indesign is a page layout tool.. Illustrator is a design tool!.. Photoshop is an image tool..
It stinks you loose layers but as you said.. use the program thats designed for what each is.
I work in a prepress house NOBODY designs in Indesign!! We DO NOT accept Indesign files for production files. Period!
That being said.. select all copy paste or export to PDF is the only way to go between the two programs..
I think you can purchase plugins for it but not worth the money.

The biggest problem here is that some print vendors request to provide final files in a vector format, which we then need to convert our file into Illustrator, thus loosing all the actual layers we had in InDesign.
I agree that each app (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator) have their unique feature, and designer should be using them appropriately for creating great design.
On the idea that InDesign and Illustrator have their own individual utilities and logic, I would disagree. They both have so much in common that you might think. I love some features in Illustrator, like the no frame text, that I would like InDesign to have.
Having the ability to work in one single space would save so much time when designing.

At some point there could be indeed like a common document definition that could ease the process of sharings docs. However, that might be pandora box. Photoshop, illustrator and InDesign have their own utility and logic. Layout Design shouldn't be done in PS, image color correction not in InDesign and Catalogs not in Illustrator. Maybe it's for the greater good that there are walls ;)

Agree. Designers use Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign in tandem. It is inconceivable to me that you can not natively export or save a file in Indesign so that it can open in Illustrator.