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Plugin to check external file links

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:22
by davidm_uk
Is there a Plugin that replicates the checks performed by the Work with External File Links tool in FH, and displays the results in a form which enable sorting to find the errors, or even allows export of the results to an Excel file to sort and filter? Just a report is fine, it doesn't need to allow any changes.

I know there's a wishlist item for the Work with External File Links tool to do this (filter to show only errors), but it hasn't got many votes so will probably never get done. With over 4000 media items it's quite tedious to find errors, and I'm sure quite a few users have many more items than me.

I'm aware of Jane's Plugin, Check for Unlinked Media, which does the reverse check, but I don't know enough about LUA to modify it to do the above.

Re: Plugin to check external file links

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 12:50
by tatewise
Yes, the Check and Repair Media Links Plugin will do that if you choose not to fix anything.

BTW: Have you tried the Auto Repair Links button?

Re: Plugin to check external file links

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 13:27
by davidm_uk
Thanks Mike, the Check and Repair Media Links does the job nicely.

I've not tried the Auto Repair Links button, I'm a bit averse to automatic things (except a car gear box :) )

Re: Plugin to check external file links

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 13:40
by tatewise
Check the Help regarding the Auto Repair Links button.
Essentially all it does is look for files with identical file name & type as required by the Media record File Link.
It starts looking in the Project Media folder and works out through parent folders, etc.
Also if it finds a file within the Media folder, but the File Link path uses a full absolute path starting from the drive letter, then it truncates it to a relative path starting with the Media folder.
This is much the same as the Plugin does for earlier FH versions, but is now largely redundant.

BTW: I'm surprised you are using a PC at all if you don't like automation. :o
Have you never used Tools > Re-order Out-of-Sequence Data?

Re: Plugin to check external file links

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 14:06
by ColeValleyGirl
Mike, there's a big difference beetween using a PC and not liking automatic changes to be made to your data without having complete control/a veto over the process... as you know. :roll:

Re: Plugin to check external file links

Posted: 01 Nov 2017 14:23
by tatewise
My comment was rather tongue-in-cheek.
It is a pity that the Auto Repair Links button does not produce a report or log of the changes it makes.