Unable to Relink Missing Files

[KinPump]

InDesign experts: I have a series of INDD documents that are compiled in the book function. When I opened the book today (for the first time since 2015), all of the icons embedded in the various documents are missing. This was expected since I have since reorganized the folder where all icons live. However, I am unable to relink the files. The “relink” button is greyed out, as well as any other menu option relating to relinking the folders, updating links, etc.

Not sure if it’s helpful, but the missing links are all Adobe Illustrator files. However, there are other .ai files which are not missing in these documents.

Does anyone know why this is happening? I’ve been an InDesign user for 15+ years and have never experienced this glitch!

Thanks!

[Barb Binder]

Are the frames locked on the page? (Object > Unlock All)

Did the version update from 2015 to 2017? What happens if you save the file to convert it to the current version?

[KinPump · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply but I figured it out! My text boxes were linked as .icml files and once I unlinked those, the images embedded within those text boxes were re-linkable. Hooray! Only took two days to discover this, but thankfully I did!

[Sandee Cohen]

This is one of those try the usual suspects. In this case try saving one of the files as an IDML file and re-opening.

Then see if relink is available.

Also, as a desperate measure, you could select each placed image and then choose File > Place and navigate to the original icon file. If THAT doesn't work you've got a heavy-duty problem. And we'll take it from there.

[Barb Binder]

Great news! And thank you for coming back to let us know what was going on.