Batch renaming and relinking in InDesign CS4

Here's an updated link to the script: Update path names in links

Previously shared link didn't work for me but this did and the script is brilliant! A vast time saver Thanks so much!!!

he Kasyan

Just some 5c about this great script.

1. This work, but...In my workflow we sometimes have many many duplicated links across doc (formulas in mathematical layout), so manually typing name is time consuming and produce non-uniform names. Look at this example from your zip file. When ask for name I simply write some page number. But If need to write this for example 100 duplicated links this can be nightmare. What I will recommend is that script rename only first instance duplicated link by first page where is and link this to other instances???

2. Because your script write txt report here is list for undo command.

3. I think that better path for report.txt will be in indd folder.

TO_BookMaker: Did you ever resolve this to fit your precise specifications? I have the exact same needs. Thanks.

Sorry, Kasyan, did not meant to imply that you weren't busy, and I very much appreciate the help.

Would you mind recommending someone who may be interested in doing the modifications on a freelance basis?

Thanks again, Kasyan, for your help.

Is it possible to not have it pop up with a custom name box when there are multiple files with the same name, but to just name it automatically?

Also, is it possible to number files sequentially throughout the document rather than as page references?

I figured out how to add in "_r1" to the end of the file name in the previous version of the script, but I can't figure out where it would go in this version.

(I clearly need to work on my next to nil scripting skills.)

Thanks!

Thanks so much for these suggestions. I've read through the posts (and more) and I have something that's almost workable.

I've pasted it below. Is it possible to modify this to:

1. use sequential file numbers (001, 002, 003 etc) throughout the document rather than the current page number references

Generally I need all files to be named:  name_file number_r1.ext

2. update multiple instances of the same file? Currently it gives an error when trying to rename the second instance of a file that's already been renamed.

Thanks for any help you can give.

var myDoc = app.activeDocument;
var myAllLinks = myDoc.allGraphics;
var myPrepend = prompt("Example: thebook_08765", "Job description", "Please enter job description");
var response = confirm("Warning: You are about to rename all images linked to the foremost Indesign Document - proceed? Keep in mind - it is not reversible!");

if ( response == true )
{
    for ( k = 0; k < myAllLinks.length; k++ )
    {
        var myLinkName = myAllLinks.itemLink.name;
    }

    crearLabels();

    var myPages = myDoc.pages;

    for ( p = 0; p < myPages.length; p++ )
    {
        var myPageNumber = myPages

.name;

        var myLinks = myPages

.allGraphics;
        var myASCII = 97;
        for ( k = myLinks.length - 1; k >= 0; k-- )
        {
            var myLink = myLinks.itemLink;
            if (myLink.extractLabel("relinked") != "yes") {
                var myOldLinkName = myLink.name;
                var myLinkUsage = LinkUsage( myLink );
                var myExtension = myOldLinkName.substr(myOldLinkName.lastIndexOf( "." ));
                if (myLinkUsage == 1)
                {
                    var myNewLinkName = myPrepend + '_p' + myPageNumber + String.fromCharCode( myASCII ) + '_r1' + myExtension;
                    var myOldImageHDfile = new File( myLink.filePath );
                    myOldImageHDfile.rename( myNewLinkName );
                    myLink.insertLabel("relinked", "yes");
                    myLink.relink( myOldImageHDfile );
                    try {
                        myLink = myLink.update();
                    }
                    catch(err) {}
                    myASCII++;
                }
                else
                {
                    processMultiUsedLinks(myLink);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    var myMasterSpreads = myDoc.masterSpreads;
   
    for ( m = 0; m < myMasterSpreads.length; m++ )
    {
        var myMastSpr = myMasterSpreads;
        var myPageNumber = myMastSpr.name;
        var myPrefix = myMastSpr.namePrefix;
        var myLinks = myMastSpr.allGraphics;
        var myASCII = 97;
        for ( n = myLinks.length - 1; n >= 0; n-- )
        {
            var myLink = myLinks.itemLink;
            if (myLink.extractLabel("relinked") != "yes") {
                var myOldLinkName = myLink.name;
                var myExtension = myOldLinkName.substr(myOldLinkName.lastIndexOf( "." ));
                var myLinkLetter = (myLinks.length == 1) ? "" : String.fromCharCode( myASCII );
                var myNewLinkName = myPrepend + '_master_' + myPrefix + myLinkLetter + myExtension;
                var myOldImageHDfile = new File( myLink.filePath );
                myOldImageHDfile.rename( myNewLinkName );
                myLink.insertLabel("relinked", "yes");
                myLink.relink( myOldImageHDfile );
                try {
                    myLink.update();
                }
                catch(err) {}
                myASCII++;
            }
        }
    }
}

//------------------------- Functions -------------------------------------
// Check how many times the link was placed
function LinkUsage(myLink) {
    var myLinkCounter = 0;
        for (var c =  0; c < myDoc.links.length; c++) {
        if (myLink.filePath == myDoc.links.filePath) {
            myLinkCounter += 1;
        }
    }
    return myLinkCounter
}
// Relink the links placed more than once
function processMultiUsedLinks(myLink) {
    var myMultiUsedLink = new Array();
    var myPagesArr = new Array();
    var myAllLinks = myDoc.links;
    for (var d = 0; d < myAllLinks.length; d++)  {
        if (myAllLinks.filePath == myLink.filePath) {
            myMultiUsedLink.push(myAllLinks);
        }
    }
    for (e = myMultiUsedLink.length-1; e >= 0 ; e--) {
        myPagesArr.push(myMultiUsedLink.parent.parent.parent.name);
    }
    var myPageNames = myPagesArr.sort().join("_");
    var myNewLinkName = myPrepend + '_p' + myPageNames + myExtension;
    var myOldImageHDfile = new File( myLink.filePath );
    myOldImageHDfile.rename( myNewLinkName );
    myLink.insertLabel("relinked", "yes");
    myLink.relink( myOldImageHDfile );
    try {
        myLink = myLink.update();
    }
    catch(err) {}

    for (f = myMultiUsedLink.length-2; f >= 0 ; f--)
    {
        var myCurrLink = myMultiUsedLink;
        myCurrLink.insertLabel("relinked", "yes");
        myCurrLink.relink( myOldImageHDfile );

        try {
            myCurrLink = myLink.update();
        }
        catch(err) {}
    }
    UpdateAllOutdatedLinks();
}
// Clear labels in case this script has been already run on the current document
function crearLabels() {
    for (var f =  0; f < myDoc.links.length; f++) {
        if (myDoc.links.extractLabel("relinked") != "") {
            myDoc.links.insertLabel("relinked", "");
        }
    }
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function UpdateAllOutdatedLinks() {
    for(var myCounter = myDoc.links.length-1; myCounter >= 0; myCounter--){
        var myLink = myDoc.links[myCounter];
        if (myLink.status == LinkStatus.linkOutOfDate){
            myLink.update();
        }
    }
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function pad000(myNumber) {
    if (myNumber >= 1 && myNumber <= 9) {
        x =  "0" + "0" + myNumber;
    } else if (myNumber >= 10 && myNumber <= 99) {
        x = "0" + myNumber;
    } else if (myNumber >= 100 && myNumber <= 999) {
        x = myNumber;
    }
    return x;
}

I made a couple of scripts that are quite close to what you want:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/2517344#2517344

http://forums.adobe.com/message/1110103#1110103

If you are interested, please make sure to read the threads before running the scripts.

Kasyan

Some scripting going on here by Olav Kvern, a scripting master, in my book

http://avondale.typepad.com/indesignupdate/2005/09/renamerelink_sc.html