Gsdll32.dll error message opening .AI files

[Paultx]

That happens with most but not all .AI files. For instance, I downloaded this .AI file from Pixabay and it opens without any error message.
?


So I wonder what causes that error message. Different programs and images specifications, versions or the like, maybe?

Any ideas? TIA.

Versions
IrfanView 4.57 32-bit
Windows 10 Pro 20H2 19042.928 64-bit

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Some AI files contain PDF data, others do not.

[Paultx]

Some AI files contain PDF data, others do not.

I don't get it. What exactly does that mean? Is there a fix? TIA.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

If you are getting a Ghostscript error the file contains PDF data.



The error dialog suggests downloading files from here, but they are command-line tools for non commercial use. I don't see how it solves the problem.

https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/g...loads/releases

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

From the Serif Forums

Most applications that can import AI files require the AI file to be saved with PDF data, which is the default in Illustrator unless someone disables it. The PDF portion is what is actually being opened. The PDF portion is the one "standard" format in AI files--the AI file format changes with just about every iteration (dot releases included). Which is why even say AI 5.5 may have issues opening a CS6 file.

I don't know of any non-Adobe applications that actually open the AI native format since about AI version 10 or so. AI since then has been PDF-based in its file format, before that it was EPS-based.

Mike