MetadataLinks - adobe-dmeservices/custom-metadata GitHub Wiki
Links Fields
The Links field displays the files linked into the current document — for example, placed images, graphics, or other assets embedded by reference in an InDesign or Illustrator document. It is a read-only field that shows what the document references, not the embedded content itself.
Note: Links fields are read-only and are not available in Lightroom Classic.
What Links Shows
Each linked item appears in a scrollable list with:
- Thumbnail — A small preview image, if available. Common image formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG) are read directly from disk. For other file types, a colored file-type badge (e.g.,
PDF,AI,MOV) is shown instead. - Filename — The name of the linked file.
- Status indicator — If the linked file cannot be found at its recorded path, an alert icon is shown. The row is also visually dimmed.
The list is collapsible. A count of the total number of linked items is shown in the header.
Interacting with Links
In Adobe Bridge:
Clicking a linked item navigates the Bridge content panel to that file's location, so you can inspect or select it directly. A return bar appears at the top of the list, letting you navigate back to the original document.
In other host applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro):
- Click — Selects the first instance of the linked item in the active document.
- Option+click (Mac) / Alt+click (Windows) — Opens the linked file in its native application.
Exporting a Links Report
Click the Export Report button (download icon) in the field header to save a plain-text report listing the document path and all linked file paths. This is useful for production handoffs or pre-press checks.
In Adobe Bridge only, a Show in Collection button is also available. Clicking it creates a Bridge collection containing all linked files that are currently accessible on disk, so you can review them together in one place.
Configuring a Links Field
The Links field does not read from XMP properties — it queries the host application or document structure directly. You only need to provide a Display Name.
- Display Name — The label that appears above the links list in the View.
Supported Applications
| Application | Supported |
|---|---|
| Adobe Bridge | ✓ |
| Adobe Photoshop | ✓ |
| Adobe Illustrator | ✓ |
| Adobe InDesign | ✓ |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | ✓ |
| Lightroom Classic | ✗ |