Links Missing Every Time I Save and Re-Open

[defaultsmko3ql8eyes]

I'm using a previously created InDesign File (new to my position) and every time I open the file it says I've got 66 missing and 53 modified links. I linked them all, saved / closed the file, and when I re-opened it the message was back. Every time I close and re-open it, it's telling me the images are missing or modified. Why? How do I fix it?

Thanks!

[Eugene Tyson]

Try exporting the file to IDML

Open the IDML in Indesign

Resave it as a new file name

See if the problem persists.

[Peter Spier]

Are you working across a network? It sounds to me like some routine task like backup or virus scan is modifying the time stamp.

[Willi Adelberger]

After relinking package the file.

Maybe that the path you connect to the server differs each time you work.

[Randy Hagan]

InDesign registers an absolute and a relative link to placed elelments within InDesign documents.

• The absolute reference goes to the exact file location at the time it's placed into the document.
• In the background, there are provisions for InDesign to search within the folder storing the document file to make those same links.

When there are situations where the absolute link won't work — virtual network folders which redefine their location upon connection to the LAN/workstation, virus checkers/utilities which automatically update date created/date modified hacks as confirmation of their process/version control, etc. — you can fall back on the relative link to save you.

Here's how:

It stinks, but open the document file and relink all the errant content links. Again. But hopefully for the last time.

Open the File>Package... menu command. If the program promts you to Save before continuing, you want to do that to ensure you will be working with the absolute latest version of the document file and all its updated links.

This opens the first Package dialog box. While you can always fix any anomalies later, it's good file hygeine to ensure that there aren't any font, link or other output anomalies with your InDesign document file before continuing.

Clicking the Package button opens the Package Publication dialog box, which looks like an extra-detailed Save dialog box. Which, essentially, is what it is.

• First, navigate your way to a new location independent of your existing file location. If you want to make it easy, create a Copyfile folder on your local drive and keep it there.
• The bottom section of the dialog has a series of check boxes, the first three of which are all important to you getting past your absolute link reference issue. They should be turned on by default. In addition I'd select a fourth to be sure, the Include Fonts and Links From Hidden and Non-Printing Content check box as illustrated above.
• Finally, in the Folder Name edit box name and version it (in the example above, the number 2 for the second version). Then click the Package button again.

You will now be working with the second version of the file. Close it, then open it. InDesign by default looks for the absolute file location for linked graphics, then to the relative location of the Links sub-folder inside your document package folder. This should be the end of that problem.

It does introduce a couple of complications, though:

• From there on out, you don't move the document file; you have to move the entire package folder with everything in it. Wherever it moves, it will always be able to find the relative link reference.
• When you work on the document in the future and place new graphic elements in the file, you will have to do the entire packaging process again to ensure you've incorporated the latest links. That's why naming the folders with versioning attributes is so important. As is periodically deleting all the older folders to maintain version control and keep old versions from creeping back into the production system.

Whew.

Hope this helps,

Randy

[Marley C.]

Wow! Thank you for the time you spent on that response. 

I have a similar situation, where the original document was built by someone else. I've been working on this same file for a year (it's an annual catalog, the document just gets updated every year). However in my case, all the links eventually update once I start clicking around - usually about 30 seconds and everything is updated. So strange! 

Your process and reasoning absolutely makes sense, but to have to package the files every single time I want to save and exit is not ideal for me. Since my links do eventually update, I'll probably just deal with it for now lol. Not sure if the OP's  links were updating on their own, though. Sounds like they actually had to manually relink every time - ick!!

[Peter Spier]

I think Randy has overcomplicated this. You don't really need to create a whole package. Once you've updated the links you can go to the links folder, select them all, and from the flyout menu choose Utilities > Copy Links To... and navigate to the folder where the .indd file is stored. You can put them directly in that folder or a subfolder, as long it's within the path where the .indd file is stored.