FrameMaker Question: Updating Images that were Imported by Reference

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
July 9, 2025
3 replies
214 views

Hello,

I have a large number of FrameMaker books where the screen shot images were imported by reference over the years. My company is now retiring the server where the source files for these books (and the screen shot images) are stored. I understand that moving these files from one location to another would break the references to the screen images when I open the FrameMaker book in its new location.

Is there a way to update a FrameMaker book so that the screen shots imported by reference would be auto-converted into an import by copy somehow? I am hoping to avoid manually correcting each screen shot individually after I move these files, but am not sure if there is any other way to do so. Please let me know if are aware of anything like this.

Thanks,

Ben

frameexpert

Community Expert

Changing images from Imported by Reference to Imported by Copy can be done through a script. However, I would strongly suggest that you don't do this. This will make your FrameMaker documents very large and the graphics susceptible to corruption. If an Imported by Copy graphic gets corrupted, there is no way to identify the original source of the graphic. As Winfried suggested, please take a look at my PathChanger script. It allows you to update all graphic paths in a document or book with a simple spreadsheet.

B

Ben_RossAuthor

Participant

Thanks everyone for this input. This is helpful. I will begin looking into these options.
Ben

W

Winfried Reng

Community Expert

Hi Ben,

Yes. You can package everything as Matt said, so that all files are copied to a local folder. All paths are corrected.

Generally, when a path to an image changes, FrameMaker notifies you, and you can correct the path to this image. FrameMaker will update the path to all images of this FrameMaker file.

What would not work: When you have subfolders, e.g. for different file formats. Then FrameMaker would not be able to update the path for all referenced files.

Another option: Rick Quatro has an ExtendScript which could update all paths:

https://frameexpert.gumroad.com/l/iuags?layout=profile

Best regards, Winfried

Matt-Tech Comm Tools

Community Expert

Using the File > Package option should allow you to collect all the graphics into one package before you transfer the locations to the new server.

Test this on one of your projects to confirm.

-Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant

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