How do you link images to an external unconnected source?

"I was hoping to give them the InDesign files in a way that they wouldn't have to do anything, when they opened it, it would automatically link to the images on the paths they gave me."

Hi nrgzone,

try my suggestion exporting, editing and placing an IDMS file.

That will do exactly what you want:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/how-do-you-link-images-to-an-external-unconnected-source/m-p/12056881#M430199

Depending on the number of placed images it's a lot of effort, but it will work, if you have the right file paths.

You'll not be able to test the file paths and it's very likely that the placed IDMS images will lose their preview in the process.

As I said: Just give it a try.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

If all the images are in the same folder, the easiest way to relink is for them to place the ID file in that same folder, then open it, resave, then it can be moved elsewhere as they so desire.

ID's will look in it's current local folder for files first before trying the next relative sources (like a Links folder withing that folder), and then by paths, etc,

Just a small suggestion.

If images are the exact same name you can Relink from Folder from the submenu in the Layers Panel. 

Select all the links in the link panel - choose Relink to Folder - and all links with the same name will relink automatically.

I need to link images that are currently embedded in an InDesign file to the client's sharepoint folder that my PC doesn't have access to so that when the client opens it on their end the images link correctly. 

If your client can open and edit the InDesign file they must have a CC subscription? Why not put the placed assets in a folder inside of your Creative Cloud Files folder and invite the client to sync to the assets folder. In that case the links will  not be broken when they open the shared ID file. I don’t use Sharepoint, but it sounds like you can also use Sharepoint to sync assets.

If you link them all to a single folder on your system, the client should be able to point to the correct sharepoint folder on their end and relink all at the same time.

Did you try to make exactly the same path to all files on your PC? This might work as the simplest solution.

"Is there a way to do this?"

Hi nrgzone,

the answer is "no". Not from the UI in InDesign.

What you can try ( and I successfully tested ) :

[1] Export the graphic frame holding the image to an IDMS file.

[2] Open the IDMS file in a text editor and edit the file path there:

LinkResourceURI="file:

Place the edited IDMS file.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )