Import and export text

Learn how to import and export text in Adobe Illustrator.

You can import text into your artwork from a file created in another application and vice versa. You can also export text files to other applications.

Importing text

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 file retains its font and style specifications in Illustrator. You can also set encoding and formatting options when importing text from a plain text file.

Illustrator supports the following formats for importing text:

  • Microsoft® Word for Windows 97, 98, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007
  • Microsoft Word for macOS X, 2004, and 2008
  • RTF (Rich Text Format)
  • Plain text (ASCII) with ANSI, Unicode, Shift JIS, GB2312, Chinese Big 5, Cyrillic, GB18030, Greek, Turkish, Baltic, and Central European encoding
Poznámka:

When importing text from Microsoft Word and RTF files, make sure that the fonts used in the file are available on your system. Missing fonts and font styles—including fonts that have the same name but different formats (TrueType, or CID)—may cause unexpected results. On Japanese systems, differences in character sets may prevent text that was entered in Windows from appearing on-screen in macOS.

Import text into a new file

  1. Choose File > Open.

  2. Select the text file you want to open and select Open.

  3. You can customize the settings given in the Text Import Options dialog and select OK.

Import text into an existing file

  1. Choose File > Place.

  2. Select the text file you want to import and select Place.

  3. If you're placing a plain text (.txt) file, customize the settings given in the Text Import Options dialog and select OK.

Text Import Options

  • Specify the Character Set and Language that was used to create the file.

  • Select  Extra Carriage Returns to determine how Illustrator processes extra carriage returns in the file.

  • Select  Extra Spaces 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.

Text import options dialog box
Text Import Options

Exporting text

You can export text from Illustrator as a text file and retain all its attributes. Follow the given steps:

  1. Use a Type tool to select the text you want to export.

  2. Choose File > Export > Export As and select a location for the file and enter a filename.

  3. Choose Text Format (.TXT) as the file format.

  4. Enter the name of the new text file in the name box, and select Save (Windows) or Export (macOS).

  5. Choose a Platform and an Encoding method, and select Export.

text export options dialog box
Text Export Options


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