How does AE reference files?

[Walter Soyka]

When you open your project, AE will mark any files it can’t find as “Missing.” Right-click one of them and choose “Replace footage.” Select the file in its new location. AE should then locate other missing files in the same relative path.

You can filter the project panel to show only missing footage items by entering “missing” in the search field.

You can also use AE to collect all the files used in a project into a single directory, making the project portable. See Collect files in one location [link] for more.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
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[John Cuevas]

Pretty much is that simple.

If AE doesn’t find your files, it will tell you when you open the project. Double click one of the missing files and the explore will open, point to that file. AE will then look at that file and see if anything else is there that is missing and will relink to everything it finds.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
Thinkck.com

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[Olly Lawer]

Not great news as I have about 40 illustrations, but at least there is a way!

So as long as the files are the same, then we’re good to just relink?

Olly Lawer

[Vishesh Arora]

Mr. Lawer
If you link any one footage with the new path, AE will automatically link other files which are missing. You don’t have to link each file individually. Just keep all files in one folder.

Vishesh Arora
VFX and Motion Graphics Artist

https://digieffects.wordpress.com