Is there a script/utility to monitor/flag any link outside a specified folder?

Report · Jan 30, 2017

As far as I'm aware the only way to see if all images are in the proper folder is to:

Look and their paths - can take and age depending on the quantity

Copy the whole job folder to the desktop/disconnect to the server, open the INDD file and see what's missing - takes an age

Package it, then compare images - not useful if the images are in multiple folders

"copy links to" - again, not useful if the images are in multiple folders, as duplication will occur

(Mac OS Sierra / Indesign CC 2017)

Report · Jan 30, 2017

Hmmm...you really haven't stated a clear objective other than:

...to see if all images are in the proper folder...

But then it seems as though you contradict the notion of "proper folder," by disqualifying packaging, which essentially guarantees (copies of) all linked images are in "the proper folder".

It's not that I'd argue with you with regard to duplication (acknowledged by the reference to 'copies of' above), but realistically, you can't have it both ways; a single, "proper folder" containing all a document's linked images, and zero duplication. If, over the editing history of a document, images were placed from multiple folders outside of the one you'd consider "the proper folder", it's reasonable to assume the images reside in those other locations for a reason; perhaps they are placed in other documents as well.

Where most of my work is carried out, we embrace that duplication and package everything for archiving and life-cycle control; ensuring that no document is dependent on a linked graphic that could become unavailable. Storage is cheap.

Report · Jan 30, 2017

The 'proper folder' in question is the current project inks folder. I want to see if there are links from previous jobs in the current project/job.

These are live jobs and I want to keep tabs on what's linked. If a previous job is archived/moved/renamed while this one is live, and there's a link to that job, then the link will go missing.

When the job is signed off then packaging is done and ready to archive.

Report · Jan 31, 2017

It would be scriptable. You could try this AppleScript, which asks you to choose a folder then makes a list of all links not in that folder:

tell application "Adobe InDesign CC 2014"

set fname to choose folder with prompt "Select a destination folder"

set linklist to ""

tell active document

repeat with theLink in every link

set theLinkPath to file path of theLink as alias

tell application "Finder"

set a to name of parent of theLinkPath

set b to name of fname

end tell

if a is not equal to b then

set n to name of theLink

set linklist to linklist & n & return

end if

end repeat

end tell

display dialog "These placed files are not in the selected folder:" & return & linklist

end tell

Report · Jan 31, 2017

Cheers Rob, I'll give it a spin tomorrow.

Report · Mar 20, 2017

Hi rob, sorry about the long delay in responding. Gave it a whirl but this happened:

not knowing anything about scripting I really don't know what this means

BTW I'm using Adobe InDesign CC 2017, I changed that in the script you posted.

Report · Mar 20, 2017

It means you didn't get the entire code when you pasted or something happened when you edited.

Try this, paste it into the Script Editor application and click Compile. If that doesn't work I can post a compiled version

--------------------------------

tell application "Adobe InDesign CC 2017"

set fname to choose folder with prompt "Select a destination folder"

set linklist to ""

tell active document

repeat with theLink in every link

set theLinkPath to file path of theLink as alias

tell application "Finder"

set a to name of parent of theLinkPath

set b to name of fname

end tell

if a is not equal to b then

set n to name of theLink

set linklist to linklist & n & return

end if

end repeat

end tell

display dialog "These placed files are not in the selected folder:" & return & linklist

end tell

-------------------------------------

Report · Mar 20, 2017

That worked!

But,

I found that if the file has a QR coded generated within the file you get:

and if there's am embedded image this happens:

But having said that it's very rare that we use QR Codes - or - embed images! It was just coincidence that the first 2 files had them

Thanks rob, I'll send this round the studio for a test!

Report · Mar 20, 2017

Try this:

-----------------------------------------

tell application "Adobe InDesign CC 2017"

set fname to choose folder with prompt "Select a destination folder"

set linklist to ""

tell active document

repeat with theLink in every link

try

set theLinkPath to file path of theLink as alias

tell application "Finder"

set a to name of parent of theLinkPath

set b to name of fname

end tell

on error

set a to ""

end try

if a is not equal to b then

set n to name of theLink

set linklist to linklist & n & return

end if

end repeat

end tell

if linklist is not "" then

display dialog "These placed files are not in the selected folder:" & return & linklist

else

display dialog "All links are in the selected folder"

end if

end tell

-----------------------------------------

Report · Jan 31, 2017

Select all your links in the links panel and copy to folder.

http://indesignsecrets.com/copy-all-your-linked-images.php

It won't copy anything into the folder twice - it just copies what's not there + it relinks them to that folder.

Report · Jan 31, 2017

Yeah but like I said:

"copy links to" - again, not useful if the images are in multiple folders, as duplication will occur

Indesign doesn't look inside sub folders, just chucks them in one big bucket

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Is there a script/utility to monitor/flag any link outside a specified folder?

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