Batch convert to AI format
I would appreciate a way to batch convert multiple vector files (eps, svg, etc.) to .ai format.
I get a lot of eps files, and I would like to convert them to Illustrator files all at once without having to open them individually and saving them one at a time. I thought this used to be possible in Bridge, but I can't find anyone else who remembers this.
Thank you!
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Peter McMonagle
commented
Thanks Igor for your reply. Unfortunately, the method you mentioned no longer works on the latest operating system: Sequoia 15.3. I was on Ventura before and it worked on that.
Is this method something Adobe came up with and are you planning to update the code so it works on the new operating system.
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Peter, if the problem is only about previews on Macs, there is a solution to get them back.
Try this — https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/eps-files-not-showing-preview-in-finder/m-p/13333766/page/2#M342867
(or these pages at Apple’s:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253307271
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254424837) -
Peter McMonagle commented
This is a critical feature needed since apple has stopped supporting EPS file format. The best solution would be to avoid opening any EPS file in Illustrator but instead have a desktop right-click feature that would convert EPS to AI there and then. Or, a droplet.
Egor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) suggested setting up an Illustrator action to overcome the issue, but It doesn't work, I tried it, it keeps on stopping because of various issues, eg color profiles, fonts, saving etc. It also, it takes too long to setup and process. As mentioned, what's needed is a quick desktop based feature. Sometimes, I have loads of files hat need converting, other times I just need the one file converting.
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Nik Metaxa Schwarten commented
@Egor Admin -- your solution seems to work - thank you !
I just had a long session with support -- Bridge is failing hard, so man y bugs. They even asked me to downgrade. Since After Effects cannot read svgs (important format) natively we desperately need this.
unfortunately, subfolder structures are not retained - so a well-structured directories ends up as one big mess if trying to send to a new folder. :-) Scripting would be the only way. -
Illustrator is able to batch actions for a specified folder.
Open one SVG (or any other format) file.
Open Actions panel.
Create a new action (it also starts recording it).
Run Save As and choose .ai format. Save the file.
Stop the action.
Then open the Actions panel’s flyout menu and locate Batch command (the very last item).
Make sure you have the correct set and the action chosen.
Choose the folder which has the files you want to convert to .ai
Specify all other options. You can also force another folder here — otherwise Ai will use the same folder you used to save the file while recording the action.
Hit OK and just let Ai to open and resave all the files one by one automatically for you.
Please reply back if it works.
