I am trying to import EPS files into Inkscape.

I installed Ghostscript and edited the path in the environment variables, moving the GS lines up to the middle of the list.

Now, EPS files show up to import but when I select and click import, I get the error message: Failed to load requested file

I found directions to run Ghostscript from the command line prompt and I can convert EPS files to PDF that way. When I open the PDF, it imports with no issues. So now we know Ghostscript is working properly. Even though it is now possible for me to open an EPS, it's not really practical to keep doing it this way. Also, I can't find the site again with the command prompt instructions.

This seems to narrow down the problem to the interface between Inkscape and Ghostscript?

Any help getting this to function is appreciated.



My system: Windows 10 64-bit running Inkscape v. 0.92.3 64-bit for Windows

Can you run Inkscape from the command line, in the hopes of getting a more useful error output?

(i.e. start it from command line, then click around in the user interface to import the file)

I am not very experienced using the command line. [most of the experience I have predates Windows, showing my age, lol]

I tried to import an eps file using the command line. It may be that I had the incorrect command, but this is what I could glean from internet searches. Here is the command dialogue:


c:\Program Files\Inkscape>inkscape "c:\users\[pathname]\cosmeticsvector.eps" --export-pdf=cosmeticsvector.pdf
Can't Spawn!!! spawn returns: Failed to execute child process (Exec format error)
c:\users[pathname]\cosmeticsvector.eps:1: parser error : Start tag expected, '<' not found
%!PS-Adobe-3.0 EPSF-3.0
^

** (inkscape.exe:8468): WARNING **: Specified document c:\users\salesdirector\dropbox\jacksonfill\images\branding\cosmeticsvector.eps cannot be opened (does not exist or not a valid SVG file)

c:\Program Files\Inkscape>

###

I hope this means more to you than it does to me. I could not see a way to start from the command line and then go to the user interface, which is what it sounds like you were asking for. Thanks so much for your response!

pre-Win? That would be DOS or other text based OSs, as far as I know

This is how to start Inkscape from the command line (copied from FAQ):

..., open a command prompt (cmd.exe) and navigate to the folder containing the Inkscape executables. Then run the command "inkscape.com" and check if any warnings/errors are printed to the console.

Not sure if that will yield anything else, though. Can you try it, still?

Yes, DOS. I'm an old.

That was easy, I was trying to make it complicated. It just opened up the Inkscape GUI, no errors.

Now repeat it and then open the eps file from the GUI. I assume you'll get the same error, but maybe not.

Ok, done, same error: Failed to load file

And what does it print on the command line? This is the part that I'm interested in.

At first I thought it was just waiting as before but just now I looked again and the cursor is blinking on the line below the last entry, at the far left with no leading text. The command window is unresponsive. I can type in a command and press enter, but nothing happens - no errors, no text with the direcory - and the cursor is still on the line below.

So, let's try this step by step:

- open cmd.exe
- navigate to the folder where your Inkscape lives
- run it by typing inkscape.com
- see how an Inkscape window opens
- go to File -> Open... , select your eps file
- What is the output now? Nothing? Even when it throws an error message in the program?

Really, there's no error message in the command window, just a blinking cursor forever. That is exactly what I did before. It's just not cooperating.

The program throws out the "Failed to load requested file" error message and you can see the screenshot of the command window. Except the cursor is blinking.

Here's the entries for the Path in the environment variables. I just checked them for the 147,000th time.

Probably there is some simple solution or a simple question that can be asked, that reveals the cause - if one knows about more possible reasons for it to fail, and about ways to get useful debug messages...

What I haven't asked you yet is if *other* eps files open - but I guess you've tried that already, too... (here's a valid file, for example: http://www.kilux.de/downloads/Banner-20 ... ser_hg.eps)

Now, there are a couple of ways to reach more knowledgeable people. You could

- ask for help in the chat:
https://inkscape.org/en/community/discussion/

- ask on the user mailing list:
https://inkscape.org/en/community/mailing-lists/

- open a bug report:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape

(in order of recommendability )

Yes, I tried an assortment of files and the one you attached above, too, all with the same result.

Thanks so much for the help and the recommendations.

At least I have been able to use ps2pdf from the command line and convert the eps files that I need into pdf, which import with no problems. I will work through your suggestions above.

Thanks again for your assistance.

It seems like I saw a comment somewhere, that Inkscape like it better if the path variable is near the top of the list. Maybe try moving them up?? In the example I saw, they were moved up way past the approx halfway point of the list, to maybe about one quarter from the top. Heck, at this point, I'd probably try putting them 2nd in the list!

I have been fighting for 2 days to get Inkscape to import an EPS file. I have deleted and reloaded Ghostscript and everything else, even deleted and redownloaded the image from Freepik. I have got no further than the error message. And yes, i have been through the whole path thing and moved the lines closer to the top of the list. I am about to jump off a tall building. Please help. Anyone. Someone...

Does ps2pdf work on the command line?

Just to be clear, you mean the error message: "Failed to load file"?

Have you tested other EPS files? Maybe there's something wrong with just that file?

Is this that issue where forgetting a space or adding a space in the path breaks it? ..... Oh yes, see these notes from the FAQ:

https://inkscape.org/learn/faq/#how-ope ... es-windows

Any help there?

Hi,

I have been also facing the similar issue.

I have inkscape 0.92 version installed on my Windows 10 machine. I am able to open eps images in Inkscape GUI. But when I tried to convert the eps to SVG from commandline, I am getting below error,



The command I tried is as below,

C:\Program Files (x86)\Inkscape>inkscape D:\epstosvgimages\te.eps -l D:\epstosvgimages\out.svg

Any help would be really appreciated.

Regards,
Shabeer