Hi, I have made an Illustrator file which I'd like to export or save with somekind of flattening. I mean that all my lines (just in one layer) are joined into one single file that cannot be adjusted by other persons. Joining these lines I cannot do because there are to many lines to join and also they don't anker most of the time. So my question is how to do this and still keep my vectorline(s) after saving. thanks !

You can "save as" into an EPS format within Illustrator which can be read by many page layout software like PageMaker, InDesign, Quark...

or you can open your .ai file in Photoshop (which will convert it to "raster") and "save as" pretty much any of the formats available.

If you want to retain the vector aspect you need to do a "save as" so your original file remains an Illustrator file.

:)
retrocity

Ok, I knew about the Photshop export and save as any kind of file. BUT then it will be rastered and that will decrease sharpness on my drawings. Or I have to set dpi very high which makes the files very big (50mb+) So I would like to keep the file in vector only so that the drawing that I've made is flat. With flat I mean that when the drawing is selected by my client in Illustrator, he cannot adjust anything. And I also thought EPS at first, but when i open that EPS file in Illustrator again I can still change or move lines. Which I don't want. thanks

You probably can't do it, though Flash SWF or Adobe's SVG might be a step in the right direction. With the right tools almost anything is editable.

@mew, i thought as much...

can illus open a .swf file? never tried it myself...

Dunno, I don't have Flash. My client has Corel Draw so I thouhgt EPS or AI is a nice fileformat. They can be imported into Corel. Keeps it small and keeps the vector alive. Well thanks sofar guys.

I think AI can save SWF (just checked the AICS manual, yes but see Help for details - there seems to be a lot of that in the new manuals, grrr), and then the output could be viewed with IE or whatever - after all, if you don't want the file edited it shouldn't need to be opened in Corel Draw at all. SVG would be zoomable, but there's a fair chance you would have to supply the plugin (or send the client to Adobe) since it isn't exactly popular.

maybe you casn lock the layer.. perhaps there is a way to keep the vector locked I'll be getting my dang mouse today so i'll poke around inside Illy. but I feel that if a layer is locked it won't move or be able to be selected much like in photo shopp you can lock it from being moved painted on .. or you could just save the file twice on disk one zipped and one orginal ( or equivelant ) if they move a line after unlocking it t make a change and the file is totally ruined.. and saved later the one you've wanted to produce will be safe-ly zipped and away from uncontrlable fingers.. if your lucky