(ps
I can't upload a sample to this group and do not have a site that I
can upload to.
)

I am using a PC running Windows XP sp2. I have a 1.6GHZ AMD Sempron
processor, 1GB RAM, two 7200 rpm hard drives. I have Illy configured
to use the second HD as a scratch disk.

I am attempting to create "DETAILED" street maps for large areas,
counties or major metropolitan areas. I get this vector data from the
program  ArcGis (ESRI), ArcMap.
(I could edit these maps more easily in Illustrator, build layers,
etc...)

***just for info********
ArcMap generates the "full extent" files with no problem. By full
extent, I mean the entire county. Every residential street, arterial
street, major road, highway, interstate hwy, limited access ramp,
etc.... On the same map I can have any other features that I want.
Landmarks, schools, parks, golf courses, hospitals, and on and on.

If I have the map scaled to where I can see the entire map on the
screen and export as an .ai file all I get is a small document and no
detail, everything runs together

If I have a segment of the map visible on the screen to where I can
see detail and  export as an .ai file or an .eps, all I get is a
clipping mask, with what was visible on the screen. To get the entire
county in .ai format I would have to export maybe 30 files and piece
them together.

Arcmap only allows me to export the "full extent" (the entire county)
by printing to a PDF.

The resulting export has 200,000-250,000 path nodes for the streets.
They are split into individual nodes at each intersection and at each
change in direction of x/y axis, say to make a curve. There are also
probably 10,000 or so text objects. Also quite a number of polygons
(closed paths) for parks, golf courses etc...
********************

The exported .PDF is not extremely large as far as file size (less
than 5MB). Acrobat opens it with no problem.

I have been editing .PDF files with Illustrator for a long time.

Illustrator, at least on my system chokes on these .PDF files and will
not even open them. I just see the progress bar and at about 90-95%,
the progress stops. It would probably stay there forever. after an
hour or so, I just give up.

Having said all of the above.

What I was wondering was if somebody with a reasonably fast, powerful
"mac" system, would attempt to open one of these .PDF files with
Illustrator (mac version) and see if they had any better luck than I
am having on my WinXP system.

I am trying to figure out if:
This cannot be done with Illustrator at all
(Neither on PC WinXP or Mac)

PC WinXP won't do it, Mac will or won't

Aparently, unless Mac will do what WinXp will not, I just cannot
generate "full extent maps" and have to live with tiling, and piece
together maps, and the larger the area, the less detail I can include.

If a Mac will do this better, I may be doing enough of these to take a
look at getting a Mac, maybe an Intel Mac, if they ever get any
software out for it.

Thanks
jbl