Convert AI file to XY (Z?)

[Chris_Guzofski@adobeforums.com]

Hello,
I am quite comfortable using Illustrator 10 in OS X on my G4 and would like to extend it's capabilities. Therefore I am interested in learning how to convert an AI file that is a trace of a line on a graph into raw data (X,Y).
So, I import a graph as a tiff into AI that has some X and Y scale. I then scale the image to have the same origns as the ruler and to have the same units (scale) as the rulers. Then I can draw Illustrator points where the data points are. What I want to know is if I can then export the file into some ASCII format where I can then just search for the data points to import them into some other graphical package. So for example a point at pixel 200 and pixel 200 of the workingspace will have a X value of 200 and Y value of 200 in some ASCII file. Z optionally could be the RGB values of that point. Any help or guidance on where I can redirect this query would be gratefully appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

[Douglas_Habben@adobeforums.com]

You may want to try something like this:
Create the file as you described above. Create a new layer named "graph data layer" and move your traced data points to that layer. Save the file with compression and PDF compatibility off. Open the AI file with TextEdit and use the Find function to search for the layer name. You should find something like this:

%AI5_BeginLayer
1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 255 79 79 0 3 0 Lb
(graph data layer) Ln
%_/ArtDictionary :
%_/XMLUID : (graph_data_layer) ; (AI10_ArtUID) ,
%_;
%_
0 A
0 Xw
0 Ap
0 O
0 0 0 0 k
0 R
0 0 0 1 K
0 1 0 0 0 Xy
0 J 0 j 1 w 4 M []0 d
0 XR
0 0 m
33.0508 19.4912 l
90.6777 28.8135 l
102.5425 28.8135 111.8643 37.2881 v
121.186 45.7627 146.6099 77.1182 y
160.1694 110.1689 l
163.5591 130.5083 l
165.2539 177.1182 l
168.644 188.9824 l
174.5762 190.6777 l
183.0508 192.3726 l
193.2202 194.0674 l
200.0005 200 l
B

Where "0 0 m" is the first data point at 0x, 0y. If you get line with more than two values (like the third and fourth lines after "0 0 m") it means you dragged a curve point with the pen tool when you were creating the data points. Copy the list of XY points into a new text file, delete the letter at the end of each line and HeyPresto! you've got an ASCII file of your data points.

[Chris_Guzofski@adobeforums.com]

Hi Douglas,
That worked so well it is crazy. This will keep me on my Mac and away from the super expensive and cumbersome digitizing tools we have for this. Thanks so much!
Yours Truly,
Chris