InDesign showing the shortname instead of the actual filename in the Links pallet.

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
April 22, 2022
3 replies
892 views

Running latest InDesign on Windows 10.

I have a document that has dozens of images placed, and I need to use captions to show the filename of that image.

I'll then export that as a PDF and then a 3rd party will pick images from the file system, referring to that PDF.

However a large selection of those images are showing up in the links pallet with a shortname, instead of the actual filename.

e.g. "Diverse iStock-1337180361.jpg"
is "DIVERS~3.JPG" in the links pallet.

and therefore the caption underneath it is the shortname which isn't it's name in the filesystem, making choosing it impossible.

Correct answer Coldd

Just an update on this, in case anyone else has this problem.

In the end, it was the Windows file path being too long.

If the path length is greater than 260, it will use the shortname.

When I moved the folder so that the file path was shorter, the problem doesn't occur (still have to replace all the images that have defaulted to the shortname though).

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

Where are you storing your images?

It appears whatever system you are on is using the old 8.3 character file name structure. This could be due to an old server software version or storing/transferring using an MS-DOS FAT formatted disk/thumb drive that has a 8.3 file name structure

C

ColddAuthor

Inspiring

I thought it might be something like that - they are all on the same network server which is odd though.

I don't manage this, so it looks like a trip to our IT dept.

C

ColddAuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Just an update on this, in case anyone else has this problem.

In the end, it was the Windows file path being too long.

If the path length is greater than 260, it will use the shortname.

When I moved the folder so that the file path was shorter, the problem doesn't occur (still have to replace all the images that have defaulted to the shortname though).