What is the file header Identifier EPSFART

BobHill

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Dec 3, 2002, 4:27:12 PM12/3/02

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Scott,

As with most things, I suspect the person who accomplished the EPSFART files isn't socially accepted to present society, or at least with Illustrator.

Bob

Scott Morrison

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Dec 3, 2002, 4:23:03 PM12/3/02

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I am trying to select valid EPS files, created in Illustrator, for viewing in a generic document viewer. I have been given a collection of files of which some are viewable and some are not. Those that are not have a file header with a text value in them "EPSFART". This string can be seen if you were to drop the file onto a NotePad session. Does any one know what the string "EPSFART" is and the type of file it denotes? I do have a file available if needed to be viewed.
Thanks in advance.
Scott

Scott Morrison

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Dec 3, 2002, 5:17:18 PM12/3/02

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Actually these files seem to be of a multipart construct, insertion, etc. Included in the header is the filename of a file that is viewable.

So are you joking or implying that this is not an Illustrator file.

Harron K. Appleman

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Dec 3, 2002, 5:39:17 PM12/3/02

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Scott,

I think Bob was referring to methane production... which is only marginally related to Illustrator EPS files and depends on what you ate for lunch.

I'm not sure what's going on in your case, but FYI the Mac Creator/Type string for Illustrator EPS files is EPSFART5. However, even if we assume that we're dealing with Illustrator EPS files saved out of a Mac, it doesn't explain why they would not be viewable in your "generic document viewer."

Exactly which viewer are you talking about?

Did you obtain the troublesome files via e-mail by any chance?

Can you post a link to a sample file?

=-= Harron =-=

Adam Lane

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Dec 3, 2002, 7:06:15 PM12/3/02

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I don't think this is giving away too much insider information...

There is a variable inside of the Illustrator source code called fArtStyle.

I don't think there is any relation to your file compatibility issue however...

Teri Pettit

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Dec 3, 2002, 10:37:10 PM12/3/02

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Scott,

The answer to your question probably lies in whatever application is attaching the "file header" you refer to to the EPS files.

The beginning of an Illustrator file as generated by Illustrator looks something like this (for AI 9):

%!PS-Adobe-3.1 EPSF-3.0
%%Pages: (atend)
%%Title: Matisse Artwork
%%Creator: Adobe Illustrator(R) 9.0
%%AI8_CreatorVersion: 9.0
%AI9_PrintingDataBegin
%%For: forUser
%%CreationDate: 07/20/1999
%%CropBox: 0.000000 0.000000 236.000000 220.000000
%%BoundingBox: 104 412 310 598

Any other kind of "header" is generated by some other application, and it would be hard for forum readers to guess what other applications may have had their hands on these files. Your best bet to find out is probably to ask the person who gave you this "collection" of files where they came from and how they were generated.

Your "Generic Viewer" is probably expecting a pure unadulterated Illustrator file without any "header" information attached, while Illustrator itself is capable of finding the real Illustrator content inside the wrapper.

Have you tried resaving the problematic EPS files from within Illustrator (Save As under a different name), and seeing if your "generic viewer" can open the resaved files?

Adam Lane

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Dec 3, 2002, 11:06:02 PM12/3/02

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Perhaps you could post the first few, most interesting lines of your file...we could make a more intelligent guess.

BobHill

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Dec 4, 2002, 9:00:49 AM12/4/02

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Scott,

Although obviously well disguised as bad humor, I was trying to convey that it's more than likely that the EPS file was created by a program other than Illustrator and it's EPS format isn't ompletely compatable.

Bob

Scott Morrison

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Dec 6, 2002, 10:42:53 AM12/6/02

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Forum Members,
I would like to thank you for your time spent reponding to my posted problem. The posted comments by Harron Appleman and Adam Lane led me down the garden path toward the identification of the problem. It did turn out the the client was exporting the files in question from the Mac environment. I do not know all the details yet, but at least I have a great starting point.

Again Thanks
Scott Morrison