What, nobody knows?

For the first few questions - I haven't a clue what you're talking about - the questions are nonsense. Well the first one - I suppose you might be able to download a mouse/cursor icon pack that mimicks the Autocad program mouse icons? But the other questions don't make any sense to me.


And the last question. The PDF compatible is certainly not "necessary" but if you plan to place these AI files into other Adobe programs, like InDesign - the PDF compatibility is used to preview the file within the program. Without the PDF compatible file you will not get any preview.

It is recommended that a PDF compatible file is saved with the AI file, this basically puts two file types into a package, the AI file contains both the Illustrator information and a PDF - basically two file types in one file.

If you want to reduce the size of your files then save them as PDFs from Illustrator - I wouldn't save them as AI files "without" a pdf compatible file.

Adobe doesn't exactly go out of their way to explain the relationships between the different file save options.

Vectoranvil, the easiest way to shed around 400k a file is to run the actionscript that Delete unused panel items (it's in the action panel) before saving anything. This clears out swatches, brushes, symbols, etc. that are defaults in the Ai environment, but unnecessary for general storage of finished items.

While InDesign can't seem to generate a preview for Ai files without embedded PDF duplicates, it will generate a high quality 'vector' preview for an EPS file. Even really old Ai8 EPS works. Except... if there's transparency involved. For everything else, that's what I usually go to.

If you must save transparency in an Ai file you're planning to place into ID (and if you do the professional thing, you'll minimize that need to the bare minimum) the only way to get that into ID is to use the default Ai/PDF save.

Now, there's lots of exceptions to the rules -- for instance, if you embed or link raster items in your Ai file. Or you use raster-based techniques. It then all gets into a complicated mix of the options of the save formats, versions, flattening settings, etc. But again, most of the time, I'd avoid that workflow like the plague. Probably just go straight to a PDF save and not worry about. Except, make sure you have the right PDF settings to support what you're planning to do.

A lot of this I learned by making a series of test files myself and running them through the Save Options, checking the resulting size and appearance in ID after placement. Anyone can do that. It's not really fast, or very fun. But, hey, a good way to learn.

As for the tangent stuff and other CADlike features, you might want to check out the VectorScribe plugin -- I wish I could afford this one! Here's a link to the more CAD-like features:
http://www.astutegraphics.com/produc.../designer.html

1) you can change the cursor to crosshairs by turning caps lock on. (Not really sure what AutoCAD's cursor looks like, but that is the built in option)

2) Are you trying to lock the tangents (or handles) to a straight line or break them?

3) Not sure what you are asking... Do you want the tangent (or handle) to become a line?

Check out HotDoor's CADTools plugin for Illustrator.

I really dislike people saving .ai files as plain .pdf files to save space (as opposed to an .ai without PDF). All kinds of stupid things happen, the most annoying being a large number of clipping paths that suddenly appear. And if done wrong, flattened transparency.

There is nothing wrong with saving with the default ai/PDF turned off. You can always turn it back on and resave later. You don't lose anything. I only save with the PDF turned on if I'm placing in InDesign. You need it for that.

Don't get me started on embedded images in linked Illustrator files in InDesign... Or fonts. Or colors. InDesign used to show the colors used in links in its color palette. At least I thought it did. Now it only tells you a color can't be swapped. But it doesn't list them all.

Oh how I wish InDesign could easily swap any spots used in .ai links.

As long as you save with Illustrator editing compatibility when saving the PDF it shouldn't be any problems, it's just a more advanced version of the EPS which supports live transparencies and a few other trinkets.

A press sized PDF may not be any smaller or may even be larger than your original Illustrator file size. If someone uses "smallest file size" even with editability checked, things can go wrong.

I see that CS6 has fixed the clipping path issue even on smallest file size saves from Illustrator and Indesign. I'm impressed. Still has some of the old bugs though. And a PDF from Indesign still loses its layers in Illustrator (we export PDF to illustrator all the time when pulling 3D elements out of an InDesign file.)

Very useful answers, thank you all Will check out these plug-ins a.s.a.p.

I know what you mean - there are issues with it if people don't know what they're doing.

I always save as .ai with PDF compatibility checked, but definitely if you're looking to reduce file size uncheck it.

I would prefer .ai files over PDF. I only suggest the PDF if you're placing it into other programs, like InDesign - so you get the preview.

Just a factoid tidbit: if readers don't already know this, in Windows, if you rename an Ai file which contains a PDF compatible copy from an extension of AI to PDF, you can view that file in Viewer. A sometimes useful trick -- like if you assume a recipient has Ai and they call you and they don't.

The trouble though is to be sure that the PDF joboptions used in creating the original Ai file match the output intent -- as PD said, if your embedded PDF is too low rez or incomplete for prepress, you might be risking a big pothole by using this method.

Mostly because anyone I send an Ai file to is presumed to be a production place -- if they don't have Ai, I would strongly question that assumption.