After Effects relinking missing illustrator files

[kasiab]

In my aep file, I have a few individual illustrator files that I had brought in originally through importing one ai. file by selecting "Composition - Retain Layer Sizes"

Anyone know how I can relink the individual files, example below, without it just linking as one file? (I have about 1,000 missing files). I know that if you rename the individual items from the ai. file in after effects it won't connect to the source. 

Example:

Frame 42 layers (Folder)

- Frame 42 BG.ai

- Frame 42 Icon 1.ai

- Frame 42 Icon 2. ai

What I have:

Frame 42.ai

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

If you imported as a comp and you moved the file so the path is lost all of the layers in the folder AE creates will be missing. If all of the missing layers show color bars all you have to do is select Replace Footage/File and all of the missing layers should be found. 

If one or more of the missing files is white then select one of them with color bars and it should replace all of the other layers. Then you can select the missing files that have the white thumbnail and replace them with the missing layer. 

This should work for AI and PSD files.

If you renamed the AI file or a layer, then you are stuck, but it sounds like you know that.

When you say you have about 1000 files, does that mean you have 1000 layers in your AI file? If there are then you are way above the number of layers you can work with successfully in a single timeline. 

[kasiab]

It worked! I had a 1,000 missing files from other comps with separate ai. files. But it all worked out. 

Thank you!

[mum29003060oz1i]

Thanks a lot for your guiding. it worked.