Using the Links palette


    You use the Links palette to see and manage all linked or embedded artwork in an Illustrator document. By default, the palette displays a small thumbnail of the artwork and uses icons to indicate artwork's status. You can hide or change the size of the thumbnails, show or hide different types of links, and sort items based on name, kind, or status.

    Illustration of Links palette with these callouts: A. Transparency interaction B. Linked artwork C. Missing artwork D. Embedded artwork E. Modified artwork
    Links palette A. Transparency interaction B. Linked artwork C. Missing artwork D. Embedded artwork E. Modified artwork

    Note: If you're working with managed files from an Adobe Version Cue project, the Links palette displays additional file information. For more information, see Working with Adobe Version Cue managed projects.

    Displaying the Links palette

    Choose Window > Links.

    Using the Links palette menu

    Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the palette.

    Selecting links

    Click a link to select it. To select multiple links, Shift-click to select a range of adjacent links, or Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) to select nonadjacent links.

    Displaying links according to type

    Choose one of the following from the Links palette menu:

    • Show All to display all links in the file.
    • Show Missing to display only links with missing or broken connections with the original file.
    • Show Modified to display only links that have been changed after the last time the link was updated.
    • Show Embedded to display only links for embedded artwork.

    Sorting links

    Choose one of the following from the Links palette menu:

    • Sort by Name to alphabetize the links display.
    • Sort by Kind to sort the display according to the type of file (for example, all JPEG files, all GIF files, all EPS files, and so on).
    • Sort by Status to sort the display according to the linked or embedded status. Embedded artwork is listed first, followed by linked artwork.

    Changing the display of thumbnails

    Choose Palette Options from the Links palette menu, and select an option for displaying thumbnails.

    Identifying files that interact with transparency

    Linked DCS files that overlap with transparent objects may fail to print correctly. To identify such files, choose Palette Options from the Links palette menu, and select Show Transparency Interactions. When this option is selected, the Links palette displays an icon next to DCS files that interact with transparent objects.

    Note: Selecting the Show Transparency Interactions option may slow performance.