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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 supporting files that are stored on Dropbox.com and I would be able to edit the InDesign file. Recently, upon opening an InDesign file all the links to picture files etc are broken.
Added to that, when I try to relink the files through InDesign I get a message that reads: Import Failed! (see attachment). My Dropbox App says that the files I am trying to relink are all Zero Bytes. When I access my account at Dropbox.com the files are all good.
The only way I seems that I can relink my files is if I download them to my iMac.
I'm currently using Mac OS Monterey 12.3.1.
Any ideas?
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
Same Problem here. Dropbox promised an Update for november 2022… The Support is negating the problem or offering a useless workaround. Our customer consultant at dropobx isn't even answering mails.
Microsoft one Cloud had the same problem but solved it after a few months.Hi Beauriz
Can you confirm that there is no issue when working with Microsoft OneDrive? We are currently looking for another cloud solution as dropbox does not seem to be working on a solution.We just swapped our company from OneDrive to Dropbox. OneDrive and InDesign links worked fine with online only etc. Dropbox does not. Annoying as I returned to Dropbox having used it 3-4 years ago and it used to be fine. SO ANNOYING.
- Megan
Dropbox Staff
Hi all, happy Monday!
Please keep in mind that our engineers are aware of this issue and actively working on a solution. We will provide an update when the fix is implemented.
Thanks!
When will this befixed? It is August 2023 and after the macos 13.5 I again have this issue.
All my links in Indesign are also broken now. I hate Dropbox so much right know. This is costing me hours and hours. Deadlines not being met. And why are the links broken? The path hasn't changed? Library>CloudStorage>Dropbox same as it was before the update.
- I have a catalogue of images (over 1000) to download with preview before I can use my InDesign file. This is adding so much time to my workflows - Dropbox is heavily used within the design community and I am really disappointed this hasn't been fixed at this stage. It is not a workable solution for me at all the way things have been left.
EDIT if you are opening a large amount of files in Preview as per the work around I recommend doing this in batches if you have lots of files to download for relinking to prevent crashing. Also Option + close to close all the preview windows at once when opened to save a little time.
Really hope this is sorted soon though.
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.
this workaround isn't working for me. I've made the relevant folders 'available offline', restarted the computer, still showing 50 broken links, and InDesign seems to want me to relink each one individually, which is obviously catastrophic for workflow.
in any case, we shouldn't have to be using a 'workaround' for this - Dropbox staff, any suggestions?
- Jay
HI Genie123, if you're still experiencing this issue, please try contacting the support team directly for them to assist further.
Because of this issue, my team is now testing a different cloud service. Hopefully, the new one works!
What are the alternatives? This issue is killing our productivity and since we're almost 2 years after the issue started and no solutions, we have got to figure an alternative. Any advice would be great!
HELP HELP HELP!!! Dropbox - There has to be a fix for this!? I followed the 'workaround' but this will take HOURS every time I open up an indesign files. Many files will not open in Preview so those have to be re-linked manually. Please advise on how to fix this without having to spend hours to re-link files.
If you have the possibility (enough space on your hard drive) put everything as "available offline". There is no other work-around. I know, it doesn't seem possible that there is no solution to this problem, as so many professional users are struggling with a service their paying for, but THERE ISN'T. Nothing has been done. The beta-version that is promoted to help, doesn't do anything in that regard.
Major productivity issues for our team too - looking forward to a solution ASAP
- Hello
I contacted the Dropbox support for the same reasons and they told me that the restriction come from the new MacOS so we need to load the files manually...
They concluded with « unless Apple changes its OS, this restriction will exist forever from now on ».- Megan
Hey everyone, I hope you're doing well!
First of all, let me apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused. We definitely appreciate your patience.
It's important to also note, that we're still working actively for Monterey full support on our end. You can see more about this here. Therefore, nothing is set yet and this is an active, ongoing project.
If you have any questions, let me know.
I have the same question/problem and have sent this screen recording www.dropbox.com/s/5lmtck47lk1cowt/Dropbox%20Big%20Sur%20InDesign.mov?dl=0 to support team but heave not been provided with a satisfactory response. All I get is a standard request to manually go through and locally sync linked files to fix the problem, but as you know, this would be very time consuming, and wasn't a required step when on Big Sur. It's a Monterey issue. The support staff don't seem to even be aware that pre Monterey, things worked differently. Now they are troubleshooting and telling us we don't know how online/offline syncing works rather than acknowledge that something got broken and needs fixing. Given that you can go to Mac > Word > Open... > select an online only (zero file size) file > Open and it will trigger a local sync and then open the file, is this an Adobe or a Dropbox issue? We have reverted Macs back to Big Sur until this is resolved.
I am glad I am not the only one with this issue. I am currently downloading the packaged Indesign file from Dropbox.com straight to my computer to resolve this issue. I have Monterey 12.5. Hopefully my links will work now.
Having this exact same issue after updating to Monterey 12.3.1 - looking forward to a fix QUICK. Major slowdown in productivity as a result.
I notice files originated by myself seem fine, but am unable to update links within files other team members have created. May try downloading needed images to desktop to see if that helps. Even when I select and "Make Available Offline" currently linked files, it still gives the same "Import failed" message.
I agree, it's a real pain and I hope a solution is found pronto.
I'm having to 'make available offline' files that I need to relink in my InDesign files. This obviously takes up a fair bit of hard disk space and valuable production time relinking everything.We have the same issue here. Looking forward to seeing a solution.
- Mark
Super User II
Its a known issue with 12.3.x I'm afraid as Apple have changed how files are handled.
Dropbox is aware and working on it.
This message was posted in April and there does not appear to be any improvement. Can you please update the community on the progress?
