Import Illustrator paths into AE 17

[siliconmana]

Currently working on an architectural projection project and thought to make nomenclature paths in Illustrator, assuming there would be something like 'dynamic link' which would update AE files if changed in AI, same as PS files in AE.
There are many complex paths in AI file, so C&P is hardly an option.
When I import the AI file directly with AICB checked to preserve paths and, importing as composition/maintain layer size, the imported file is only seeing top level folders, not even one layer down, paths seem to be converted to bitmaps, or not directly editable in AE and not linked to main AI file.
I would have thought there would be an easy solution to this issue with AI. I should have just used PS though path tools in AI are far superior to PS.

Is there something I've missed here?

[Roei Tzoref · Accepted solution]

in Ae, you should not assume too much. it's not that intuitive. you have missed preparation before you dive in. read this thoroughly:

https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/preparing-importing-still-images.html#preparing_and_impo...

[Mylenium]

Is there something I've missed here?

Yes. You haven't read the help. It very much works as it is meant to work and has so for forever. AE can only ever import top level layers from AI. You have to use "Release to layers" if you realyl want to keep things editable separately. Still, even that doesn't dynamically update any changes if e.g. the layer order changes in the AI file. And no, it's not AE's fault, it's AI's crappy file format that doesn't support persistent naming of objects, groups and sub-layers.

Mylenium

[siliconmana]

Thanks for both your replies which are both correct. I should have read the help files. In the meanwhile I found a work-around.