I have an SVG image with a few dozen linked images, all of which are pointing to external SVG files. If I open the main SVG in a web browser, it loads up correctly with all the linked images, so I know the file is correct.
When I open it in illustrator, I get the following message:
Could not find a plug-in to read the linked file "test.svg". Choose Replace to select another file or Ignore to leave the link unchanged.
If I choose Ignore, the file loads up but the linked SVGs are removed. Obviously Illustrator doesn't really need a plugin to read an SVG file, because it loads the main SVG with no problem.
Meanwhile I have other links pointing to PNG files which all work fine. In fact I can open the main SVG, find one of the PNG links, and click Re-Link, and then link them to an SVG, and this will work! Although it doesn't work as desired, instead of making a link, it seems to import the external SVG's layers, which is not desired.
I'm pretty sure it's just one of those things that will never work, but does anyone have any thoughts on making it work?
FYI here's some source code from the main SVG, where it links to the external SVG:
<image overflow="visible" width="420" height="300" id="_x30_1_13_" xlink:href="images\graphics\SVG\test.svg" transform="matrix(0.2534 0 0 0.2534 438.8486 458.8145)"> </image>
this link, to a PNG, works just fine:
<image overflow="visible" width="420" height="300" id="_x30_1_14_" xlink:href="images\graphics\211.png" transform="matrix(0.2534 0 0 0.2534 246.3306 458.8145)"> </image>
and like I said, both links work fine when the main SVG is opened in a web browser.