Multiple instances of same image not grouping in links panel

[Alphabet Publishing]

I'm trying to figure out why the Dyatlov Mountain Icon.psd image is not being grouped in the Links Panel, even though it's the same image. I want to use this file as a template and I want to be able to replace that image quickly and efficiently in other documents. I'd love to be able to group those images now or failing that, figure out how to place the image so that it is grouped in the document.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Check for this in the panel Options:

 

[Alphabet Publishing]

Thanks, but that option IS checked, so it's something else.

Kind of weird to mark that your answer solved the problem before knowing if it actually solved the problem!

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

I didn't mark it. Someone else did.

Regardless, I don't know what it would be then. What version of ID are you on right now?

[Alphabet Publishing]

I didn't mark it. Someone else did.

By Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Sorry about that. I jumped to conclusions because I've had bad experiences on forums with people asking to upvote every answer they give. My bad! I can see how that might have helped some people!

I appreciate your help!

I'm running 20.2 x64

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

No worries!

I tried a test file using a few different scenarios, e.g importing with different ICC profiles assigned on import, etc, but I was able to replicate this in this situation: If the file, although exactly the same, just copied to a different loaction, was placed from that different file path location, it would not group.

Like so:

 

 

[Alphabet Publishing]

I don't think that's what I did. It's theoretically possible.

However, I'm using that image as a background image with specific opacity, effects, placement and sizing. It's possible that I cut-and-pasted it onto different pages rather than placing every time.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

I'm curious what you would get if you packaged the file.

[Alphabet Publishing]

I appreciate your help, but honestly, I don't have a lot of time to mess around. I'm on a tight deadling and we're reaching the break even point where it's faster to just replace all those images individually than keep troubleshooting. Hopefully someone who has had this problem before will see it and answer. And, I'll never cut and paste again since that might be the issue.

[Eugene Tyson]

Totally get that you’re on a tight deadline we’ve all been there but I also hear that you really want to get to the bottom of this issue.

It might sound like “messing around”, but something as quick as Packaging or exporting to IDML and reopening the file might resolve the glitch. It usually takes under a minute and can clear up all sorts of weird link behaviour.

Also, it’s absolutely worth double-checking that all instances of the image are pulling from the exact same file path. Even one located copy with a different path (or if one was pasted from another doc) can break the grouping in the Links panel.

Might be faster than replacing them all manually and could save you time on future projects too.

If you end up replacing all the images anyway, you might try the Links panel dropdown > Relink to Folder feature. If the filenames are identical, it'll relink all instances in one go much quicker than manual replacement.

[Alphabet Publishing · Accepted solution]

I've double and triple checked that they are not pulling from other paths.

The relink to Folder feature did NOT work. That's how I discovered this was an issue.

I'm 99% sure the issue is that I cut-and-pasted because I'm working on a new file and not cut and pasting. It's a pain having to recreate all the effects and sizing but at least I can replace them quickly!

Thanks!