Could not find the Linked File - Mac and PC

[cbonet]

Hi, I'm having issues with broken links between Mac and PC in my adobe apps (Indesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro). We have one iMac and one Windows PC acessing a server. 

The problem is the images we “link” within the file. We have to “re-link” the file each time one person opens it on a different computer. 

When we embed the file, it works just fine, and opening the files within the "recent" files works with no problem.

The PC sees the linked file as Z:/ Graphics/18-006/Images

And the Mac the linked file as /Volume/Server/ Graphics/18-006 / Images

The disconnect seems to be happening where the PC is seeing the Mac "Server" as Z:

Any help would be AMAZING! 

[dbo7353]

Same exact problem here

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Illustrator likes the linked images in the same folder as the AI file in a folder called "Links". If you link them from other locations then unfortunately you will always end up with the situation you have now

[dbo7353]

So in the exact same folder as the AI file, put a folder called "Links" where all of the images will be held?

[dbo7353]

WHOA! IT WORKED!!! Thanks a million! Lets hope it works in Premiere Pro...fingers crossed!

[kalamazandy]

Yeah, that seems to be the solution that lots of people mark as correct. And for large projects where you have many documents going on at the same time while still developing a brand look and feel this solution is just plain bad. Not only that, but if you have storage concerns, then all of your documents either end up with duplicates of the same files in every folder OR you have All of your indesign and illustrator files in one folder, with a links folder inside that folder containing every single linked objects in one giant flat folder. Well, no one I've found likes that, so everyone just lives with having duplicates everywhere. And if someone updates something like a logo color slightly, and that logo is in every links folder that exists, then you either have to search out and replace them all, or not realize that and end up having a bunch of "final" documents that turn out to be incorrect.

It's Really annoying that Premiere and After Effects both use relative paths to find anything, and do so successfully, but InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop do not. 

[Progressive Graphics VB]

As Monika said for AI, the same goes for INDD. If the linked files are in the same folder as the document you are working on, it should find the links automatically on opening. 

While many suggest the use of a "Links Folder" for your images I personally do that at the completion of the project when I Package the job for output, transfer or archiving. This makes a tidied up final directory with all elements for the job in one place.

However while working on multiple workstations can cause link loss from machine to machine, if you keep the AI or INDD file in a directory with all the linked files/images etc., loose in the same directory then the AI or INDD file sees these links without issue on opening, no matter which machine opens the document.

I recommend copying the links to the folder rather than using links from other directories unless storage is a problem. With a server that's not usually the case but then again, I have no idea of the size the files you use.

Best of luck.

[dbo7353]

Thanks for the insight, I'll keep all of this in mind!

We just had an "Images" folder outside of the AI files folder. Now time to do some organizing.