Illustrator can't find placed images with Dropbox sync

[ori manor]

Hi,

I've started using Dropbox to sync between my PC and Laptop.

I have a problem, that whenever I switch between the computers, Illustrator can't find the placed images and always ask me to find them again.

Both computers have of course the Dropbox folder, and within that folder the structure of all folders are the same.

The only difference is that on the PC the Dropbox folder in located on D:\ and on the laptop is located on C:\.

Is there a solution for that?

Thanks

Ori Manor

[ryan_edwards]

map a network drive to a similar letter/put your dropbox folder on the same drive letter so both machines play nice

map to a networked drive (that both machines) share

or collect your project before switching machines

computers only do what you tell them to do, and as you mention you are telling it to look in two different locations (the file paths are different)

[ori manor]

Thanks for your answer.

Isn't there a way to tell Illustrator to look in a relative path, instead of an absolute path?

[ryan_edwards]

Not that I am aware of... it'd be nice if so.

I usually try to make my workspaces etc very similar so that no matter the machine I am on there's no learning curve for myself/or the machine as a far as where it can expect assets to be. (that way you can witch back an forth fast with no pain)

"A Place for Everything, Everything in its Place"

collecting projects/packaging files kinda makes it more locale (but if you link to them on drives mapped differently on each machine -- you'll be right back to the original issue)

[ori manor]

Well that's disappointing...

Since I don't have enough space on C:\ drive on my PC and I don't have a D:\ drive on my laptop, I guess I will have to deal with finding the images every time from scratch, when I switch computers

Packaging is not a good solution for me, since I want to constantly sync between the computers (that's why I signed for Dropbox).

Thanks for your help.

[ryan_edwards]

this may help you (if you are on PC)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026635/windows-map-a-network-drive

[ryan_edwards]

On one of the machines change the drive letter (hopefully wont mess up other stuff like iTunes)

then the placed 'path' to images will work on both machines (since they will both look in the same 'place')

...I feel your pain, I am always running out of disc space

[ori manor]

I have enough disk space... only on the wrong disk

I'm afraid to mess things up though...

don't know if it worth the risk.

[Ton Frederiks]

Illustrator looks for linked files in a folder named Links when that is located next to the Illustrator file, you can try to organize your projects like this in your Dropbox folder.

[ori manor]

Ahhh... so if I call the folder "Links" illustrator won't look for the absolute path?

It won't matter if the Dropbox folder is located on different drive names?

[ryan_edwards]

Incorrect -- only when you 'package' a project does it make the 'Links' folder -- this is not what OP is asking for

his situation is that of using 'place' to put linked files in the document--those will always keep the absolute path to the original source file unless you package and tick the 'collect links'

[ori manor]

But if I manually create a "Links" folder, maybe it will trick illustrator to look there first?

Worth a try anyway...

[Ton Frederiks]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/ori+manor  wrote

But if I manually create a "Links" folder, maybe it will trick illustrator to look there first?

Worth a try anyway...

Did you try it?

[ori manor]

I created a "Links" folder on my laptop, but still I have to check it on my PC. That I'll do later...

I'll keep you updated.

[ryan_edwards · Accepted solution]

if computers worked that way I wouldn't have to work a day in my life.

again as I posted before computers only do what you tell them to... they can't assume/be tricked *that easily*

a close 'fix' if you like that approach is when done 'collect' and pub that to your drop box and keep updating/swapping.

the point of linked files is so you don't have to think of stuff under the hood, it will drive to it and show the current state of whatever asset you have linked.  (if you don't want them linked, embed them into your file.. though dropbox usually implies a client etc sending several revisions to an asset)

[ori manor]

OK, Thanks, I'll try that. sound good to me.

[ryan_edwards]

I just tested Tom's approach and it does seem to work by making the 'links' folder.... but you will have to package/gather your stuff some type of way... usually when I link stuff its very disparate (though you may get stuff closer together folder/file-wise/ more local before you are uploading to dropbox)

I would recommend just keep an original of the file (in case you need to remember some odd / long paths down the road)

For me, my projects usually use files from multiple servers/computer drives (and *for me* its easier to just keep the dynamic link)

and then after assets are signed off I usually 'embed' the files and they stay in the ai.  and there's a lot of hot swapping/revisions so it helps to keep stuff where they originally live (just in my case though -- I assume you have different needs)