Illustrator CS startup file page is blank

[T***@adobeforums.com]

I went to create a custom CMYK startup file (as I have done in past versions) but when I went to open the file (from the plug ins folder) there was no preview and when the file opened the page was blank and yet all of the default swatches are in the swatch palette. Has any one else experienced this? Is there a fix?

[M***@adobeforums.com]

It seems that IllCS just doesn't like to read the default Startup files, either RGB or CMYK. I like to have the doc grid and rulers there by default - but no such luck.

CS is by far the biggest step backwards as far as breaking old functionality goes in Illustrator's history, I would say. So much stuff needs to be fixed, it's just crazy... sadly though, I can't see Adobe doing anything near like what Macromedia did to Dreamweaver MX - that kind of thing really increases love for a product.

I don't think I've ever found as much joy in a software patch as I have in the DW MX 2004 one - it totally made me want to go and re-explore things in Dreamweaver and just play with stuff to see how much faster and... well... COOLER it was now.

We might get a patch for Illustrator CS. Or we might end up having to buy Illustrator 12 (I hope they don't call it something stupid like Illustrator CS 2004 Professional XP edition X) to fix this version's deficiencies :-/

[G***@adobeforums.com]

If you want to have document grid & Ruler by default, you could use the "Save as Template" feature of CS.

[G***@adobeforums.com]

Templates offer a powerful alternative to creating custom startup files. While you can only create two custom startup files (one for CMYK mode and one for RGB mode), you can create an unlimited number of templates to meet your design and production needs. In addition, you can store and access templates anywhere, as opposed to startup files that must have a specific name and location.

[M***@adobeforums.com]

But then you have to go New from Template, don't you? I don't want that... I just want to press Ctrl+N and have a shiny new document, set up the way I want it :)

[K***@adobeforums.com]

I usually have two templates stored in my hard drive, a horizontal and a vertical oriented page in A4, I use these two templates for about 98% of my work. I created and action F2 to open the vertical and F3 for the horizontal. That is the way I been using it since version 8, I hardly ever use the Ctrl-N key strokes, unless I need a 8 1/2 x 11 page or use it as a scrap pad to copy and paste objects temporarily.

Just as an alternative to you dilema.

Kevin Brenner