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Answered

Modified Link Showing Without Page Number in Links Panel

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
July 23, 2025
9 replies
1146 views

Good morning! My links panel is showing a modified link, but without any page number. I try relinking and it doesn't work. I wish I could delete it but I can't even do that. Any advice on how to fix this?
I am afraid it's damaging my file, because I have got an alert about a damaged file.
Thanks!

How to

Correct answer Peter Spier

Since .idml did not fix the issue, my next thought would be to try moving the pages to a new document.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

That is a good idea!

Mike Witherell

G

Gregory24336603tjc8

Participant

Everything that Dorcas described is now happening to one of my documents. It has many links. I deleted several frames but the linked images remained in the Links panel. There is no way (that I can see) to delete these links. As with Dorcas, moving the pages to a new document does clear the problem but ... also removes all of my Text Variables, meaning I will have to fix the running headers on 380 pages. Ugh! Is there no sort-of "check and fix the integrity of an InDesign file" utility?

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @Gregory24336603tjc8,

Could you please confirm the version of InDesign and the details of your OS? Also, have you tried saving the file as IDML to see if that resolves the issue, and does the problem with the links moving from the Links panel still happen afterward? If you can, please share a screenshot showing the current state of the links, so I can better understand what's happening.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

G

Gregory24336603tjc8

Participant

In my case, saving the file as IDML did solve the issue, thanks! The InDesign rev is 20.5. I'll attach pics to show how the problem manifested itself originally.

H

Harry_Frank6307

Participant

It sounds like the modified link might be stuck on a hidden area like the pasteboard or a parent page, which is why it doesn’t show a page number or let you delete it. Try using “Go to Link” to locate it, then embed and unembed to refresh its status. Also, check your cache folder—corrupted settings can cause strange link behavior and even damage alerts. Saving a fresh copy of your file is a smart move while troubleshooting.

D

dorcas_4738Author

Known Participant

Thanks. Yes, I tried the "Go to Link" and it never worked.

Peter Spier

Community Expert

If you spin open the other links in that screen shot, do they show page numbers?

Might just be a corrupt panel, in which case deleting the InDesign cache files follwing the instructions in @Mike Witherell's compendium might help.

Is this isolated to just this file? Does it happen if you open it on a different computer?

D

dorcas_4738Author

Known Participant

Yes, the other links show the page numbers.

I've only had this problem on this specific file.

Peter Spier

Correct answer

Community Expert

Since .idml did not fix the issue, my next thought would be to try moving the pages to a new document.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Could it be on a hidden layer?

Mike Witherell

D

dorcas_4738Author

Known Participant

Good point. But all my layers are set to visible..

I'm very confused.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Instead of cloud document, can you save-as to a local hard drive file and operate that local file?

Mike Witherell

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dorcas_4738Author

Known Participant

I did that as well and it still shows...

Frans v.d. Geest

Community Expert

Looks more like a placed InDesign file that needs to be updated (yellow is 'out of date' not 'missing'). Did you try 'update all links' (not relink) from the fly-out menu in the Links panel?.

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dorcas_4738Author

Known Participant

I did. But nothing happens. Since it doesn't show any page number I can't figure out where to find it. I can't "go to the link" nor relink it.

D

dorcas_4738Author

Known Participant

My preflight panel shows "no errors".

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Dorcas, there might be a corruption in the file. To test, export the INDD to IDML and re-open the IDML and then save-as to a new file name. Maybe this will fix it. Otherwise, you might have to reset preferences. Here is a troubleshooting compendium that discusses, among other things, how to reset preferences, with graduated 4 degrees of reset technique.

Mike Witherell