Feel the power of Action Panel and save multiple AI files at once.

Photo by Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash

There have been so many times I had to go to every AI files on the Folder and then save them one by one as my expected output (PDF, SVG…). This was so tiresome. After finishing a large magazine or book it seemed to me like a scary task to go to every single file and save them.

After searching a bit I got the option of saving multiple AI files at once. And that can be done inside of the Adobe Illustrator! No need for any plugin or custom code! The Actions Panel can do the trick for us. Let’s see how-

So, what is the Actions Panel work actually? According to the docs of Adobe-

An action is a series of tasks that you play back on a single file or a batch of files — menu commands, panel options, tool actions, and so on. For example, you can create an action that changes the size of an image, applies an effect to the image, and then saves the file in the desired format.
… You can record, edit, customize, and batch-process actions, and you can manage groups of actions by working with action sets.

So, our approach will be —

1. Make an Action to save our file to the desired format
2. Save the Action
3. Record the action once
4. Repeat the action to all AI files in the folder

Let’s start-
Assume, we have 4 AI files in a folder to save at once-

Files to save at once

Now, create two folders. One for AI files and one for converted Files. Cut/Copy all AI files to AI Files Folder.

Two folders will work as Source and Destination Folder

Now, open one AI file you want to convert and open Actions Panel from Window.

Open Action Panel

Then, create an action from the panel and name it as you like and press Record.

Create an Action

Name the Action and Press Record

Now, the action is recording whatever you do. For our case, we need to record the Saving functionality of a file. So, save the file which you opened to the Converted files folder as per your file type.

Save the file to Converted Files Folder

If you look at the Action Panel now, you’ll see that a Save As action has been recorded under the Action we created. Next, press the Stop button to stop recording. Because we want to save the files only. If you want to do more actions then you can add those and then press stop.

Action has been recorded. Press stop to mimic that action now.

Select Batch Option of the Action Panel with selecting the Action we created.

Start Our Magic!

Now, define your source and destination folder. Check ‘Override Action “Open” Commands’ and ‘Include all subdirectories (If you have any, then you may need it)’ and ‘Override Action “Save” Commands’. And then press OK to see the magic!

Set the source and destination options

We have converted them all!

Hope, this may come to help anyone. If it does, don’t forget to clap! Good Luck.