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AI displays the START SCREEN on opening the file and the document view do not switches (refreshes) the file content.

v 22.1

When trying to open an existing file while Illustrator is closed, the software will lag and then hang on the opening screen. The file appears to be opened in the background, but there's no way to access or see it. The opening screen will give options to open additional files or create a new one (as usual) but when trying to do either, nothing will open and no New File Options menu will appear.

Everything will work normally only if I open Illustrator first and then the file.

This happens will every file I've tried, so this isn't an issue of corruption.

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Resolved (Comments Open)  ·  AdminAnkit Goyal(Illustrator Team) (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) responded  · 

Thank you all for reporting this issue and providing us your valuable feedback.

What we have found out so far is that this issue can happen in multiple workflows. For clear tracking, validation and closure. We will closing this thread for given below two scenarios which we believe are fixed now:

1)Double click any Ai file to launch Illustrator
2)Placing files in Illustrator via Bridge.

For two other scenarios that we know of that can cause this, we have created a separate thread :https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-bugs/suggestions/39220189-ai-displays-the-start-screen-on-opening-the-file-a .If you are encountering the below mentioned issues with latest Version (24.0.1 on Mac and Win), then please vote on newly provided User voice thread and provide Test File via File→Package, Video and steps via dropping email at sharewithai@adobe.com along with this thread link so that we can identify and fix the root cause.

1. On opening a file in Illustrator the START SCREEN do not gets dismissed and the file’s content is not visible.
2. While working on a file and opening a new one the document view sticks to the old file and do not switches to the new file artwork.

Please remember to update graphic driver. We are also seeing cases where updating graphic card driver fixes the issue. You can update your driver via https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/illustrator-gpu-performance-driver-update.html .

With Best Regards,
Ankit Goyal
Illustrator Team

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  • Jotham commented  ·   ·  Report

    Can confirm this happens. It appears to be an issue where the file tries to open before all the plugins load so the file opens blank as it doesn't have the plugins to render the image. I'm assuming selecting float in window refreshes the file allowing it to be rendered.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I also noticed it's opening the files "dirty" as if they need to be saved, though no edits have been made yet...

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Same problem here. This issue started for me on Mac OS El Capitan with one of the recent updates.

  • Chris Phillips commented  ·   ·  Report

    When I open Illustrator and open an existing document either from the thumbnail view screen or file>open, it is not visible. Opening from finder says document is open already (it shows under 'Window'). The only workaround is to select Float In Window, which then makes the document appear.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Yes - same here. A bug. Initial file you try to open is not editable/viewable on an artboard. To fix this I need to open another file then toggle back to the file I want to edit.
    I am running a Mac version - Illustrator 22.1

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    This is a HUGE problem!!! We cannot get our work done if files cannot be opened!! I am also having this exact problem with every ai file I try to open. Im on MAC Sierra 10.12.6. Also when I'm in InDesign and I try to edit an original AI file illustrator will open but the file does not! I'm going to call and ask for free service until this problem is resolved.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Workaround...works for me at least.
    Preferences>General>
    Uncheck "Show the Start Workspace When No Documents Are Open"

  • Carol Michele Busse commented  ·   ·  Report

    I'm having the same problem as well, but it's not just with Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign also do this. Very frustrating and time consuming. Please fix this.

  • Rob Schechter commented  ·   ·  Report

    When opening a document from the Finder (Mac) or from within the application, the window does not appear. However, the document title does appear in the Window menu.

  • Betty Taylor commented  ·   ·  Report

    Same problem here.

    Illustrator CC 22.1
    Mac OS 10.12.6

    When I open a file, I can see the workspace but not the actual file.

    The file shows in the list at the bottom of the Window menu, but clicking on it does not reveal it.

    I can use Window>>Arrange>>Float in Window to reveal the document but the display remains messed up. There are no tabs visible (but they must be there, because I can click where they should be and change documents). Instead of tabs, I see the top half of the bar on the start screen with the AI icon on the left and my avatar on the right.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    When I open .ai files in Illustrator, the layers load, and the file is supposedly open. But all I see is blank white space.

    I've tried restarting, locking and unlocking layers, turning layers on and off, playing with view zoom, etc. Sometimes I catch a brief visual glimpse of the content when rearranging file windows, but it quickly disappears.

    Windows 10, Illustrator CC, trying to open file.

  • MarkR commented  ·   ·  Report

    Same problem! I can't see the .ai document when I open it. I can see it in the Navigator and in the Layers menu and in the Windows list menu, but not on the screen. The only thing I see on the screen is that annoying "Recent" files list. Restarting both Illustrator and my iMac over and over and over does not fix it. I'm on a 2017 2015-edition iMac running Sierra and the latest version of Illustrator CC 22.1.

    The only thing that has worked is a suggestion on the forums by RepulseMonkey, and that is to perform Window/Arrange/Float In Window and then the .ai document appears. Then perform Window/Arrange/ Cascade and the .ai document arranges into the normal tabbed presentation display.

    PLEASE fix this, Adobe.

  • ritika patel(Illustrator team) commented  ·   ·  Report

    Hi,

    Thanks for reporting this issue .We are looking into this. I have tried the above steps for a couple of .ai files,but didn't encountered the issue.
    Kindly provide me the file on which its happening for you.

    Regards,
    Ritika

  • Lee commented  ·   ·  Report

    Can't access the document directly after double clicking on the file and it gets stuck on the "recent CC files" page.
    Even tried to double click on the document after the Ai screen pops up with the recent CC files page, but still can't access them. Same goes to the Create New and Open buttons.

  • Rachel commented  ·   ·  Report

    When I open any file and Illustrator is not already running, instead of opening the file it shows the toolbars as if I have a file open, but where my file and pasteboard should be is the intro screen asking if I want to open or create a new file. I have to exit out of Illustrator and open the file again to get it to actually open the file.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Please sees the links below for images:
    1- Opens an EPS file with Illustrator, but sees the start screen instead. The file is not showing
    https://imgur.com/bzZXiLR
    2- Trying to drag the top left side of the start screen and the file window comes out
    https://imgur.com/bLzvefP
    3- After putting the window back, the top file tab is not showing, but covered by the start screen instead
    https://imgur.com/H50cVkF

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    This occurs to me nearly every time I launch Illustrator by double clicking a file. If Illustrator is already open, then it doesn't occur. Not sure how to attach a screenshot — I'm not the OP?

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Also having the same issue, glad it's not just me as I know others who are not experiencing this issue. Although not a debilitating bug, definitely a frustrating one.

  • Stephen Kelly commented  ·   ·  Report

    Get exactly the same problem every time I try to launch Ai by double-clicking an Ai file.
    Illustrator 22.1, macOS Sierra

    Seriously, how could nobody notice this while building the release? It's not like it's hard to spot. If I presented work like this to clients they'd look at me like I was a totally incompetent monkey and I'd be sacked.

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