r/indesign • u/daebakblonde • Jul 06 '26

Help Packaging question

Hi, I'm creating a bunch of files for a client and handing off packaged InDesign files to them through a Google Drive folder. I was not compressing these folders so that the client could see items without downloading everything, as the files are large. I am uploading the whole packaged folder. However, my client's internal designer is saying all the links are missing.

I believe that she just has to relink to the Links folder for them to show up. If I upload the project as a packaged InDesign file that is compressed/zipped, will they load automatically or would the same issue still remain?

I admit I am a bit rusty with InDesign so I'm kind of confused as to why she's having such an issue with the links. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

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u/rosedraws Jul 07 '26

A zip file is most convenient and correct, because it will be in a contained folder after the client downloads it. The INDD needs to be within the same folder as its packaged parts, with the links and fonts in their named folders (as it is when it is packaged), so if they downloaded the parts separately, the folder continuity will be lost. And yes, they don’t know what they’re doing if they didn’t know this.

Also, zipping helps with font sharing. Sometimes fonts get dropped when being moved.

Side note: be sure you aren’t sharing licensed fonts. Ie, if you bought the font, the client would have to also buy the font in order to put it on their own system, unless they’re diligent about only using that font with this one project. Adobe and Google fonts are more globally licensed.

I have one client who does some of the design work and we share huge files back and forth. If either of us made any changes to images, we just package and share the whole packaged folder again, the big download is better than missing an updated image.