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Importing text files


    You can import text into Adobe Illustrator from a file that was created in another application. This allows you to format and spell-check your text in a word-processing application before you bring it into Illustrator. (For a list of supported text formats, see About imported artwork.)

    One advantage of importing text from a file, rather than copying and pasting it, is that imported text retains its character and paragraph formatting. For example, text from an RTF (Rich Text Format) file retains its font and styles in Illustrator. You can also set encoding and formatting options when importing text from a plain text (.txt) file.

To import text into a new Illustrator file:

    Choose File > Open, select the text file you want to open, and click Open.

To import text into an existing Illustrator file:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Choose File > Place. Select the text file you want to import, and click Place.
    • Drag the text file from your desktop onto the selected object on your artboard.
  2. If you selected a plain text (.txt) file, do the following, and then click OK:
    • Specify the character set and platform that were used to create the file.
    • Select Extra Carriage Returns options to determine how Illustrator processes extra carriage returns in the file.
    • Select the Extra Spaces option if you want Illustrator to replace strings of spaces in the file with tabs. Enter the number of spaces to be replaced by a tab.

    Note: If the imported text uses an outline font that is not available on your system, a message appears. If you choose to import the text, letterforms in the missing font are converted to compound paths. (See Modifying letterforms as graphic objects.) You can modify these paths as graphic objects, but you can't edit them as text.