Help - image linking/relinking

[OFCQ]

I am working on a large catalog at work, I'd like to also be able to work on the file from my home computer but my home computer cannot handle such large files. I packaged the catalog without including the links to the images just so I could work on the text of the file at home, that worked fine but when I opened the file at work, in the folder it needs to be in, I still had to manually relink all of the image links - any way around this? I cannot access the work server from home so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[winterm]

Package your project to your local office machine, take home indd file from here. Accordingly, place modified indd file back to that local folder, so that InDesign would be able to find links locally.

The key word here is *local*. InDesign is very picky about network affairs.

Consider your files on the server as a backup.

[BobLevine]

That is an awfully general statement that may well have been valid 15 years ago but no longer is. I have not seen a serious issue with networks that were properly configured and robust enough. I can’t stress that part enough.

Moving everything to a local drive is an excellent troubleshooting step, but working locally is simply not an option for many people and a network is essential to a collaborative workflow.

[OFCQ]

I agree Bob, I wish I could access files both at home and work, would make things so much easier.

[winterm]

Bob, I'm really glad your networks are so good so many years already. Unfortunately, it's still not worldwide...

[OFCQ]

Ok so for example if I want to take home today, I package, say to my works desktop but only take home the indd file, then I place the modified from home indd file tomorrow back into the packaged folder on my work computer and it should recognize links ..... but how do I then reconcile that packaged file with the folder foe the catalog that is on the server that others are also occasionally accessing and modifying?

[BobLevine]

Don’t package it. Just copy the INDD file to a thumb drive or some other media; take it home and make your edits.

Bring it back and copy it over the file on the network.

Packaging it, relinks to the package so when you put the file back on the network, it’s looking for the other links, not the original files.

[OFCQ]

Hey Bob... I'll try that, I packaged yesterday but only took the indd file, this evening I will try emailing the file straight from the folder on the server and then placing it back into that folder - sounds logical and thank you, I've not had to work like this before, usually have remote access to the server. I will give this method a try.

[BobLevine]

Let us know how this works out.

[hammer0909]

I don't want to step on Bob's toes here but I want to make sure you understand what he's saying. DON'T PACKAGE THE FILE. By doing this you're making life more difficult for yourself. Just copy the .indd file and take it home. When you're done working on it, copy it back to the server replacing the old one or even with a new name. I typically use an _R1, _R2 naming convention so I always have an exist strategy 😉 When you open the InDesign file, all the links should be fine. If for some off the wall reason they are not being found, you can select all of the links in the Links panel and choose "relink to folder" from the panel menu.

[OFCQ]

Yep, I totally understood, no packaging

[BobLevine]

OUCH, my foot!

Not a bad idea. I always take backups for granted at this point, though.

[winterm]

BobLevine  wrote

Packaging it, relinks to the package <...>

It depends. True, if you include links in package. If you don't, it still looks in an original places.

In the first case, there's no point to package if you do not plan to use those packaged/copied links.

In the second case, the only reason - to get along fonts used. Otherwise it's identical to plain indd file copying, as per Bob's advice (not to mention useless Instructions file).

It's not clear to me how it was done, and if plain copying will make any difference.

If OP did a full package, and then copied ID file from that package to the place where original ID file resides, in hope edited indd file will catch up originally linked files from server... oh, yes, that's a mistake.

Bob is right then: it's a workflow, not a network issue.

[BobLevine]

Which is why I’ve asked the OP come on back and let us know. Could help someone else one day.

[JonathanArias]

if you just need to do text edits you just need the indesign file. you can just put it back with the package folder and next to the links folder and it will all reconcile the links.

[Bill Silbert]

You say that you have to manually relink all of the images which implies that you are doing them one at a time. If you check “Search for Missing Links in this Folder” in the dialog window you get when you relink any one of the graphics then all of the links in the folder will update at once. See screen shot:

[OFCQ]

That would be awesome if all the images on the server were in one location and if our server was searchable, which it is not (why, I have no idea)

[winterm]

On the server, you should organize your linked files better (ideally - keep in one folder). Or ask Bob how to configure network properly - seems like I missed a moment when it ceased to be a problem...

It's still a frequent / common problem in our world, though (not USA).

[BobLevine]

This is not a network problem, it’s workflow problem.

See my earlier response.

[OFCQ]

I am but a lowly worker bee winterm IF I had the powers to do what you suggested, I would.

I just need solution for the situation I am in - there should be no negativity involved.

I am hopeful and appreciative of all advice.

[OFCQ · Accepted solution]

Follow up: taking just the file home, working on it and then putting it back into the folder at work, worked perfectly, thank you for your assistance.