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Forum Discussion
Broken links in InDesign files on macOS Monterey 12.3.1
Hi there,
I've been happily working with Indesign files in Dropbox for a year now where my files are all stored Online Only. It used to be the case that Dropbox would automatically relink all the s...
Hello all together
I have the same problem in InDesign with files that are only online and despair almost every day when I have to edit InDesign jobs where I have to locate the files in the Finder first and download them every time.
Now I have discovered a workaround:
- Open a job in InDesign
- Select all entries in "Links"
- Right-click on the menu item "Edit With" > "Preview 11.0".
- After all files have been opened in Preview, quit Preview.
- Switch back to InDesign.
- Continue working.
I hope this helps some of you.
I had the idea that Dropbox works on solving the problem concerning the broken links in InDesign. A problem that has been there for more than a year. The "solution" of selecting said links and opening them or putting them on "available offline" is causing so much trouble for people working with InDesign on a professional basis. People that are dependent to work efficiently as their income depends on it. Other providers were able to work out a solution. When will there be a solution here? A ton of people have this problem: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Create-upload-and-share/InDesign-won-t-open-InDesign-files-nor-import-images-that-are/td-p/574555/page/
Also not even the workarounds work for some: https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/View-download-and-export/Broken-links-in-InDesign-files-on-macOS-Monterey-12-3-1/td-p/591064/page/3
And still this problem is marked as being "solved". Even if it did work for SOME (me not included): it's still time consuming and not at all the service I once signed up for. How about Dropbox acknowledges the problem and makes a statement when improvements are to be expected.
I would like to quote the user RobWilkins as this illustrates perfectly how your solution makes Dropbox absolutely redundant if this problem continues. This was written in May (!):
I am using the method you have outlined here (making any linked files 'available offline') but ultimately I use Dropbox because I can store all my files offline saving me space on my hard disk. With previous versions of MacOS I could happily open an InDesign file and all the links would be intact.
Now, I have to manually make a list of all the linked files, find those files on my Dropbox account and then make them 'available offline'. This is itself does not always restore the link in InDesign. I have to copy the individual files to a folder on my hard disk and then relink.
This is having a real impact on my production time and I expect many others are experiencing the same problem.
The problem has been known for quite a while now and I do hope Dropbox can find a solution asap otherwise I might have to consider another solution for my workflow.
Kind regards,
Rob
