Iport Ai file with layers

[Sondzin]

I am importing an Illustrator file that has layers.
I want to import the Illustrator file and have only ceratin layers viewable each time I import it. As with a Photoshop file, I select Import Options. However, it does not appear that I can specify which layers to view from the Illustrator file when I import into InDesign.

Am I doing something wrong or is it not possible?

Thanks,
David

[DCurry]

You can do it if you save your Illustrator file as a PDF with layers intact. Be warned, though, that even though InDesign says that you can turn off layer visibility locally and then update the Illy PDF and retain the visibility options specified in InD, it doesn't work. I had a job where I thought this was a great solution - one Illy PDF with multiple layers, then placed into InD where I would turn layers on or off depending on what version I needed, but alas when I made an edit to the original Illy PDF, all the placed ones updated to the file's current layer visibility. I believe it is a bug.

[Sondzin]

That sounds like a little more work than i need to dal with. My needs are simpler than that for this particular job.

Why can't Adobe make the same functionality throughout the suite. Some things are like that and some not--it's the ones that are not that drive you buggy!

David

[eugenetyson]

I remember doing this, and it worked for me. I simply dragged my artwork from Illustrator straight into indesign, you might have to separate the layers again, but you have a completely editable image in InDesign.

Perhaps you could group your layers and bring them in one at a time to InDesign or something?

Other than that, I remember someone else telling me that AI only imports the PDF that Illustrator makes, not the actual editable AI file, which is misleading from Adobe promo.