Relative paths for linked assets
An option to use relative paths for linked assets. Because links use absolute paths, simply moving the folder your artwork is in will break the links unless the links are in the same folder. For example:
c:\artwork\project-1234\layout.ai
c:\artwork\project-1234\assets\logo.jpg
c:\artwork\standard-title-block.ai
If logo.jpg and standard-title-block.ai are both linked to inside of layout.ai, renaming the project folder will break the links. Moving the project folder will break the links.
Instead of storing the link paths absolutely, store them relatively. This way at least renaming the folder will preserve both links and moving the folder will only break links that point to file outside of the project directory structure.

5 comments
-
Ryan commented
This feature is needed especially when working WITHIN Creative Cloud's own sync'd folder. In the past I have been able to set up my two PC's with the exact same drive/path structure so using links in the CC folder would work on both machines, but my new setup requires different drive letters so any time I have to switch a project between computers I have to spend time re-linking. And the assets are not just in one folder but spread across an array of folders corresponding to the link's type. Product Photos, UPC codes, Logos..... If I could just say "Start in Folder X and then all paths are the same" that would be so helpful!
-
Anonymous commented
wow -how is this still not a feature?
-
Anonymous commented
We create design kits at work that change monthly where a photo is replaced that links across multiple artboards. We have a template folder that we duplicate and change the few elements within art file. I thought placing the linked photo in a folder with the art file called Links would allow for a simple swap of photos but the new art files link to the original photo from the template folder. Seems like a simple ability to have.
-
Glen Moyes commented
Our design agency wastes a ton of time relinking assets whenever another designer works on a project. It would be nice to have a "single source of truth" for logo files and other assets, but we can't do that with Adobe Illustrator. We don't have that problem with other graphics software that properly implement relative links by using ../ to go up the directory structure for these assets.
-
Martin Fink-Jensen commented
This is also very much needed when working on a shared drive or cloud storage.