Bulk updating links

[joannarw]

I have to restructure the content of the files of my webhelp. It is easy to move the contents of the folders into another folder but how to I get flare to update the links? I can do it one file at a time but this isn't very practical with over 4000 files.

Is there a way of doing this by bulk?

Cheers

[Msquared]

4000 is going to take some time however you look at it.

You do know about the folder/file view in Content Explorer, which shows folders in one window and files in another (make sure the first two icons in the Content Explorer window are both selected - to show folders and files). Then, in the right hand files window, you can select multiple files/folders to drag and drop in one go.

Flare will automatically update the links if you do that, so long as you accept the option that tells it to when prompted.

[joannarw]

I did not know about that. Thank you!

It's been over 14 hours and still updating the links, for just the one folder (another 2 to go), but it is doing it.


You star!

[Msquared]

That's one of these things many people don't seem to know about. I only discovered it when someone in support told me about it, so with the tech author's "gift" of remembering what it was like before I knew something, I wondered if that was what was tripping you up too.

I'd be a bit suspicious about anything that took 14 hours though. I'd guess it had hung. This is what I'd do before doing a big operation like that.

I'd make sure I my files were local to me rather than over a network. Then I'd do the move in smaller sections, perhaps 100 files or a few subfolders at a time to start with, until you get a feel for how long each takes. Little and often is less likely to cause Flare a big headache.

[joannarw]

'you hit the nail on the head'

It's still processing it, lots of files and each have a number of links in them. I wasn't expecting it to take this long but it doesn't look like it's hung, the green bar is moving across and the files are moving along. I'm doing it from the computer instead of over the network but will be taking your advice and doing the other folders in smaller amounts rather than the whole folder.

[kwag_myers]

If the directory is the same for all the links, you can use a third-party Search and Replace tool, like Search & Replace Master.