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Jon Hidden-Coley
Jon Hidden-Coley
Known Participant
March 5, 2020
Answered

Relink multiple images in one go

  • March 5, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 41305 views

Hi,

 

Is there a way I can relink a select number of images on a document in one go rather than having to relink one by one?

 

For example, in the image below, the graphic is duplicated 112 times. Let's say I want to replace 50 of the links with a graphic that has a different price on it. At the moment, I have to select the graphics I want to change and then go through the relink procedure 50 times, which is very time-consuming (and incredibly frustrating!)

 

Is there a way to do this within InDesign? Is there a script available? I'm also happy to use Illustrator if there's a way it can be done there, although I haven't found a solution for that either.

 

Thanks for any help you guys can give.

 

    Correct answer brian_p_dts

    This assumes that you have the frames selected with the regular black arrow tool, and that there is only one linked image within that frame:

     

     

    var fileToRelink = File.openDialog("Choose the file to relink to");
var selects = app.selection;

for (var i = 0; i < selects.length; i++) {
    selects[i].graphics[0].itemLink.relink(fileToRelink);
}

     

    6 replies

    J
    johnnym76669178
    New Participant
    August 7, 2025

    Even better when you get AI to help you choose the input option when linking to a multiple page document.  Script below.

    // Check if there is an active document and a selection
    if (app.documents.length > 0 && app.selection.length > 0) {

    // Prompt the user to select a file to place
    var myFile = File.openDialog("Choose a file to place");

    // Proceed only if the user selected a file
    if (myFile) {
    var mySelection = app.selection;

    // --- Step 1: Process the FIRST frame to set the options ---
    // By calling place() with 'true', you show the dialog for the first item.
    // InDesign will remember the settings you choose for this session.
    try {
    mySelection[0].place(myFile, true);
    } catch(e) {
    alert("Could not place the file in the first selected frame. Aborting script.");
    // We exit here because without the first placement, we have no settings to apply to the others.
    exit();
    }

    // --- Step 2: Process the REST of the frames ---
    // Now, loop through the remaining items, starting from the second one (index 1).
    for (var i = 1; i < mySelection.length; i++) {
    try {
    // Call place() with 'false' (or no second argument) to use the
    // previously set import options without showing the dialog again.
    mySelection[i].place(myFile, false);
    } catch(e) {
    // Skip any item that can't contain a file.
    }
    }
    }

    } else {
    alert("Please select one or more frames before running this script.");
    }

    silvercreekrealestate
    silvercreekrealestate
    New Participant
    June 19, 2024

    First, you must have all the links you want to relink in a single folder with the same name. Then, highlight all of the links in the links panel. Select the hamburger menu and choose "Relink to Folder..." to open the folder. You will receive a notice if any links are unsuccessfully relinked. You can sort by the path name in the column to see which files need to be relinked.

      L
      Laubender
      Community Expert
      April 1, 2021

      Hi Brian,

      don't know if it will be relevant, but also see into the following issue if you like to change the visibility of graphic layers of placed AI, PSD, PDF files and InDesign pages:

       

      Scripting | graphicLayerOptions : Changing visibility of graphicLayer will change ID number of placed graphic
      Uwe Laubender, Jul 24, 2019

      https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/913162-adobe-indesign-sdk-scripting-bugs-and-features/suggestions/38218423-scripting-graphiclayeroptions-changing-visibil

       

      See also this post by Marc Autret:

      https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/activating-object-layers-basing-on-document-layers/m-p/4653917#M156308

       

      Regards,
      Uwe Laubender

      ( ACP )

      brian_p_dts
      brian_p_dts
      Community Expert
      April 1, 2021

      I just encountered this bug in another, unrelated project I'm working on. It was driving me crazy. Upvoted! 

        L
        Laubender
        Community Expert
        June 20, 2024

        @brian_p_dts said: "… I just encountered this bug in another, unrelated project I'm working on. It was driving me crazy. Upvoted! "

         

        Hi Brian,

        as you can read from Marc Autret's post from 2012 there is a way to circumvent this problem:

        https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/activating-object-layers-basing-on-document-layers/m-p/4653917#M156308

         

        Also see this article by Marc Autret on indiscripts.com from the year 2013:

         

        2/ Graphics, Geometry and Coordinate Spaces
        Syncing InDesign and Illustrator Layers

        https://indiscripts.com/post/2013/05/indesign-scripting-forum-roundup-4#hd2sb1

         

        Regards,
        Uwe Laubender
        ( Adobe Community Expert )

          E
          Edefaria
          Participating Frequently
          December 3, 2020

          You just gave us a show. Thanks

          brian_p_dts
          brian_p_dtsCorrect answer
          Community Expert
          March 6, 2020

          This assumes that you have the frames selected with the regular black arrow tool, and that there is only one linked image within that frame:

           

           

          var fileToRelink = File.openDialog("Choose the file to relink to");
var selects = app.selection;

for (var i = 0; i < selects.length; i++) {
    selects[i].graphics[0].itemLink.relink(fileToRelink);
}

           

            Jon Hidden-Coley
            Jon Hidden-ColeyAuthor
            Known Participant
            March 6, 2020

            How do I use this within the InDesign document?

            brian_p_dts
            brian_p_dts
            Community Expert
            March 6, 2020

            https://indesignsecrets.com/how-to-install-a-script-in-indesign-that-you-found-in-a-forum-or-blog-post.php

             

            Once the script is installed, select the frames of the images you want to replace with the selection tool (black arrow), then execute the script. You will be prompted to select the image file you want to relink. The rest is magic. This is a .jsx script (ExtendScript).

            Eric Dumas
            Eric Dumas
            Community Expert
            March 5, 2020

            Hi,

            can you confirm the version of the software and operating system you are using?

             

            Here what I would do:

            • duplicate your file
            • in one version of the indd file,
              • I would delete half the images
              • in the Link panel, update the link to the new image
            • In the other version of the indd file, copy the other half of the image
            • paste the second batch into the first version
            • you should get the mix of images on the same page

             

            Jon Hidden-Coley
            Jon Hidden-ColeyAuthor
            Known Participant
            March 5, 2020

            Ah, yes sorry, I should have mentioned. Mac OS Catalina, InDesign 15.0.2.

             

            That sounds like a viable workaround. I'll use that method if a quicker way doesn't show up!

             

            Thanks Eric, much appreciated.

            Eric Dumas
            Eric Dumas
            Community Expert
            March 5, 2020

            Please update this thread if you find a better solution

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