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dafryxell
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Linking issue when INDD files moved to another Mac

Jan 23, 2012 9:36 AM

Tags: #indesign_cs4

We share INDD CS4 files between two Macs. When I create a file and link a bunch of images within it, then move the ENTIRE folder over to Mac #2, all the links are broken--even though the files are in the exact same relationship to each other. So we fix those links, work on the file on Mac #2, then move back to my Mac #1. Now on Mac #1 the links are still OK. But when we move the file to Mac #2 again, they're all broken AGAIN!

 

Any suggestions on how to keep this from happening?

1120 Views   14 Replies   Latest reply: SuperMacGuy, May 7, 2012 7:53 AM
 
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  • Bob Levine
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    1. Bob Levine,
    Jan 23, 2012 9:40 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    Use a dropbox folder.

     

     

     

    Bob

     
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  • CMachad
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    2. CMachad,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:05 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    Go to file > Package. It will package your original document, the links, the fonts used, and a readme file all into one folder. Then copy the entire folder to your other computer. Just replace the .indd file every time you switch it to a new computer and it will pick up the links.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    3. Peter Spier,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:12 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    Are the links showing as missing, or as modified?

     
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  • dafryxell
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    4. dafryxell,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:16 AM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    They show as missing.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    5. Peter Spier,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:36 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    And all of the links are definitely in the same folder as the .indd file? I would expect modified warnings, but not missing.

     
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  • dafryxell
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    6. dafryxell,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:47 AM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Yes. Some are in subfolders within the folder containing the INDD file, but

    all show as equally missing. We¹re simply copying the files across on our

    internal network. I even tried copying the entire folder afresh, and that

    didn¹t work.

     
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  • Bob Levine
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    7. Bob Levine,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:50 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    Why are you doing this in the first place? If you need to share, then put the stuff on a network drive accessible to both of you.

     

     

     

    End of problem.

     

     

     

    Bob

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    8. Peter Spier,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:51 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    And where are the links that are NOT in subfolders of the folder with the .indd? Are ANY links not broken?

     
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  • dafryxell
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    9. dafryxell,
    Jan 23, 2012 10:58 AM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Links not in subfolders are in the same folder as the INDD file. There are

    also a few stock images in another folder, one level up, and these show as

    missing, too.

     

    Even links to images that originate on Mac#2 will show up as missing after

    the INDD is copied back to Mac#1, edited and copied back to Mac #2.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    10. Peter Spier,
    Jan 23, 2012 11:04 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    dafryxell wrote:

    Even links to images that originate on Mac#2 will show up as missing after

    the INDD is copied back to Mac#1, edited and copied back to Mac #2.

    Is that true if you DON'T relink on Mac #1?

     

    There's something very weird about what's going on, and I bet it has to do with how the Macs are formatted, but I'm far from expert on Mac file system structures.

     
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  • dafryxell
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    11. dafryxell,
    Jan 23, 2012 11:19 AM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    What¹s really weird is that I don¹t need to relink on Mac #1‹the original

    links are all still fine after the file¹s trip to Mac #2.

     
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  • TIm - ITDesign
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    12. TIm - ITDesign,
    May 3, 2012 6:45 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    Check the Links panel for details on where the INDD file expects to find the linked files. That should clear that up for you.

     

    My suspicion is that because InDesign uses absolute links in it's file paths -- and I suspect that is the culprit -- maybe Mac #1 and Mac #2 have different hard drive names or at least different file paths.

     

    Network drives aren't perfect solutions either. We've been having a related problem where network drive filehandles are not closing properly, causing the link to show up as /Volumes/NetworkDrive-1/etc... instead of /Volumes/NetworkDrive/etc... If you can do complete passes of the file and its content, use CMachad's suggestion of using the Package feature. Otherwise, you'll have to relink back and forth.

     
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  • dafryxell
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    13. dafryxell,
    May 4, 2012 9:28 AM   in reply to TIm - ITDesign
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    Thanks. I suspect you¹re right about the file paths‹I didn¹t realize INDD

    used absolute rather than relative links. We¹ve largely gotten around the

    problem with a workflow change, not bothering to relink on #1 after main

    work has shifted to #2. Text changes can still be made on #1 and final

    output comes from #2.

     
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  • SuperMacGuy
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    14. SuperMacGuy,
    May 7, 2012 7:53 AM   in reply to dafryxell
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    in Preferences > File Handling > there is also a checkbox to "find missing links before opening document". Usually turned on I think, but check for it.

     
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