new to inkscape from old Illustrator CS

[SandraH]

I upgraded my iMac and that killed the use of all my Adobe CS products. Inkscape had come highly recommended as an alternative for non-pros, which I now am. I am stymied as how to open or place the .ai files I kept in Inkscape. Done all the File>Open and click on .ai file, got to File>Open With but none of these have opened anything but the .jpg files. I even chose several of the selections from the box (Illustrator 8.0 and below, Illustrator 9.0 and above) so I'm up for any advice out there. The artwork does have a few layers, but no text.

[brynn]

Welcome to Inkscape Community!

As far as I understand, Inkscape is supposed to be able to open AI files.  But I'm not clear what you're doing.  You use File > Open, choose the AI file that you want, but a JPG is opened instead?  I'm not sure how that could happen.  And I don't have any AI files, that I could test with.

Could you show me a screenshot of the Open With dialog?  Or if you might happen to have a small AI file you could attach, that I could use for testing?  Also please tell us each step you take.

Aside from AI, there are some issues when using Inkscape with a Mac.  You may already be aware, but here is some info, just in case.  https://inkscape.org/en/learn/faq/#Mac_OS_X_specific_issues  It doesn't seem like any of those could apply to this problem though.

I found some info in the manual:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/File-Import.html  However, the info about AI files might be outdated.  As you can see, the info given is for 0.48.x.  But it does seem to indicate that opening AI files made with version 9 and after should open fairly easily.  But for files made before version 9, it sounds like you might have to install Uniconverter (which as indicated further up on that page, might not be easy for Macs).

Oh wait, I just had a thought.  Are AI files something like PDF files, in that they can contain both raster and vector content?  If that's the case, I wonder if the file you tried to open only had JPG content in the first place?

Last thought.  How large is the file you're trying to open?  If it's larger than a couple of MB, it might be you just need to wait a little longer for the file to open (especially if you have 4 gb RAM or less).

Gotta log off for passing thunderstorm.   But I'll be back in half hour or so 

[SandraH]

On one attempt to open the .ai file, a notice box came up saying the Uniconverter was not able to open. This says to me that I'm missing that app and will hunt it up and install. This may solve my problem. Sure hope so. I'm just glad this is a personal project and not anything else.
Thanks for your input and advice. I really had not paid adequate attention to the warning boxes before now. I'll post back if that is the fix so others will benefit.
Oh, and I did a Uniconverter search and found a download page, but am confused with all the choices, non marked exactly Mac OSX. Any help there appreciated. I'm running currently version 10.10.2
Thanks again!
Oh, and yes, Inkscape instantly opened the same file I'd made a .jpg file. I just couldn't alter it. The Illustrator CS file was only 157KB so I know that couldn't be the problem.
Figure you wouldn't need the screen shots now that I've seen the warning notice. If you do, I did make them and can send along just to double check my assumption.
I don't think the .ai file would perform as a PDF. But I'm clueless about that sort of thing.
I have not been able to discern the exact version of Illustrator CS I had on my Mac, so that can be part of the problem. Just glad there were two choices for that Adobe product. Gonna go hunt up the Uniconverter!
found the download page but all the choices there are confusing. Any suggestions? I am running Mac OS version 10.10.2 I have the screen shot if needed.
but the address is:
http://sk1project.org/modules.php?name=Products&product=uniconvertor&op=download

[brynn]

Oh yeah, I surely don't see any downloads for Macs there.  Is your OS X version current?  If not, it may be that a current version would be helpful for this.

I'm pretty well Mac-illiterate.  I searched a different kind of forum for Inkscape, where sometimes developers will answer, and found a response from 2012.  At that time, Uniconverter didn't even make Mac versions.  But it said it was being rewritten, and might provide Mac support in the future.  Here's a link to that, although again, it's outdated.  https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/193774  The last comment is the most helpful.

However, I see that Uniconverter has a forum:  http://sk1project.org/forum/index.php  Surely you can get very current info and support there?

Good luck!  And let us know how it goes 

[SandraH]

Yes. I too found no good information on Mac compatability for Inkscape and its attendant apps. I may be screwed and will have to restore my laptops old mac OS and then hunt up a version of Illustrator that will work on it. Man! It's always something! ha!
Thanks for the advice and help. Adios, amigo.

[brynn]

Well, before you give up -- I wonder if the AI files could be converted to another format, which Inkscape can open.  Like maybe PDF?