Error Opening older AI files in AI CS 11.0.0

[speidel]

When I open older Adobe Illustrator files I get the following message:

"Acrobat PFD File Format is having difficulties. Expected a non-negative integer."

Anyone who knows how to stop it??
My old illustrator file is illustrator 9

[mwenz]

Often it can be a bad or poorly encoded font, or the like. Usually opening the offending file in Acrobat itself and saving the file as a PDF will allow the opening in Illustrator.

Mike

[JKuntum]

Try to place the files in a blank AI CS document instead of opening them.
But you have to choose show all documents from the place dialog window in order to be able to select the AI file you want to place.

Also trash the AI CS preferences before attempting this!
If you are still experiencing the issue after applying this fix you can try Illustrator Fix Toolbox (link removed by moderator)

[handrawn]

Also trash the AI CS preferences before attempting this!

meaning what exactly?

[mwenz]

Personally I think all these posts about repairing or recovering an AI file from 1st time posters being answered by first time responders are spam for the toolbox thing.

In any case to anyone finding this thread it should not be necessary to trash the preferences to recover an AI file.

[handrawn]

agree 100% - and I thought first-time post links were not allowed anyway

[speidel]

thanks for replies!!