Data Merge works with text but not image import off cloud server

[Miranda25397122wbuc]

Hello Adobe experts!

I have a data merge that works when the image files are on my desktop. If I put the images on my company server and update the file path though, the merge gives me the error:

"The data source references one or more missing images. The missing images cannot be previewed or merged. At the time you create a merged document, you can choose to generate a list of all missing images."

I have two path options for my team, a Mac path and a PC path. If I drop the image off the server into the file manually (either MAC or PC), the file path matches what is in my Excel sheet.  The text in the merge is pulled with no issues, it's an image issue only.

What I'm wondering is, do my files have to be on the computer in order to perform the merge and not on a server? In previous roles I had used a server but it was in the same building, not a cloud server like Egnyte. I can't share the files as they are sensitive. I'm trying to remove path pains for a team on a variety of systems and reduce manual input.

I'm using InDesign CC 2023, the data source is a .CSV, and the server is Egnyte. The Excel is in the same folder with the images.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Can you show us an examples of the paths you are trying to use? 

But real examples, not altered in any way, otherwise, we may miss something. 

[BobLevine]

They can certainly be on a server as long as that drive is accessed as a standard drive. On Windows that would be something like r:\folder-name\filename.jpg.

If that's not working, I'd need to see it to diagnose it.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

UNC or URI path also should work. 

[BobLevine]

"Should" is the key word here. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

Checked the website of Egnyte - and it looks like "direct" linking to the resource on the server won't work. 

Unless there is some unofficial way.

[Miranda25397122wbuc]

Thank you both! You are right Engyte will not allow for direct links. For now, we will place the files on our desktops in a dedicated location so our links will work for each person's computer and upload the project file on completion. It is a less elegant solution but still works.