Expert: Ken Black - 10/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: We are a large advertising agency with dozens of mac workstation running
CS3 products.
We are having problems regarding 'modified' links with indesign Documents.
In some files, we will notice that a link has the yellow triangle suggesting the
file needs updating - however, we know the link in question has not been
modified since being imported into the file. We can update the link, and then,
before we even close the page or print to a laser printer for internal proofing
– the links palette will again show that the file is modified. The linked files
are on a server. The indesign file is also on a server - very often the same
server. So far, neither Adobe or Apple have been able to provide an
explanation.

ANSWER: Hi Russell,

I have seen this occur in the past when it involved Mac workstations and PC servers. It is possible that the time synchronization between the server and the workstation is off, thus causing the time stamps within the document to be thrown off and creating the warning that your files have been modified.

Check that all of your workstations and servers are updating their clocks automatically and are syncing to the same service, as in -
time.apple.com or possibly use another network time synchronization utility. This will insure that they all are on the same time.

Let me know how things turn out.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ken,

Thank you for your reply.
Yes we are running a PC server, however, we are all time sync'd. The server is
an
SMB server and we are running tests with an afp server.
Something worth noting is that in almost all instances where this issue occurs
-
the linked file is a Vector based file from illustrator. happens with both .eps
and
.ai files. Also worth noting is this issue is intermitted or at least not
consistent,
as it does not happen with all files - only some of the links. Additionally
confusing is the fact that from day to day, the links with the issue change in
the
same doc. Furthermore, if we have the same link on two pages - only one will
have the issue. We update the links, save and close - and then upon
reopening
the file, now the link that was previously fine, has the issue and the
previously
troubled link is fine.!!!!!!!!!

Answer
Hi Russell,

While I know that Apple can have some issues with SMB vs. AFP, the only issue there that comes to mind is you should be cautious not to mix protocols - as in signing into the same server under SMB and then logging in under AFP, that will create some confusion and chaos but shouldn't be the root of this issue.

On the subject of AFP, unless you guys really need to use it due to other software such as a RIP or other legacy programs, I would try to stay away from it. Apple has been trying, albeit slowly, to get rid of AFP. Its only saving grace at this point is all the software that was never thought to get widespread pc use, like RIP software. Not that AFP doesn't work, it just tends to limit things a bit, long filenames are not allowed and responsiveness can get bogged down.

Since time-sync doesn't seem to be the culprit here and you indicate that it only occurs with certain file types, I believe the problem is with Adobe Indesign and the way it handles saving the link information.

Sorry I cannot offer an actual solution, but check to see that you have the latest updates installed for CS3. Also, try to recreate the problem by working on your machine only, not the server. This could be a combination of issues between Illustrator and Indesign, possibly in settings within the eps or ai files themselves conflicting with the way Indesign is saving the information. This of course is purely a guess at this point.

Good luck, let me know how this works out.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com