Consolidating attachments

[enkidu_jones]

When I started adding attachments to Bookends, I (perhaps foolishly) left them in their original location. I now want to move them all to a single folder. Is there a simple (or relatively simple) way to do this, or do I need to detach and re-attach all the attachments?

Thanks!

[Jon]

Hm, I can't think of an automated way to do this. BUT, there's no need to reattach. If you move them manually in the Finder (to the default attachments folder), Bookends will find them. Remember, Bookends doesn't store pathnames. It stores the names of folders that have been used for attachments, and searches those.

When you've moved the pdfs, you should go to Bookends preferences and click Remove Paths to Arbitrary Attachment Folders, since Bookends won't have to search those any more.

Jon
Sonny Software

[enkidu_jones]

Thanks Jon, fortunately most of my current attachments are in a few folders, so hopefully it isn't too big a job!

[corrado33]

I wish there was an automated way to do this, even though I'm pretty sure I've always allowed bookends to import and rename them into the attachments folder, there's only one way I know of to be sure. I wonder if you "Removed references to arbitrary folders" it'd show that the references that have PDFs not in the the folder mentioned in the text box don't have an attachment anymore. I'll try it out and report back.

Maybe if bookends could list the folders used to search for the attachments, it's make the process a bit easier?

Hmmm, if you attach a file in a folder outside of your designated "Attachments Folder" , then click "Remove Paths to Arbitrary Attachment Folders" if does not remove the "attachment" icon (the little paperclip) from bookends. If you rebuild the library the icon still persists.

So basically, if you attached many files "willi-nilli" and didn't keep track of them, you may be in for a long battle of "find the attachments". (You could, of course just download the attachments again but...) Sure, there is an option from within bookends to find the PDF, but, this method certainly isn't ideal.

The easiest way I've found to do it is to switch to the attachments tab in the "right panel", then hold the up (or down) button until you go through your entire library. The attachments tab will say "Can't find attachment" or something similar if it's missing. Otherwise it'll say "Nothing to display" or actually display the attachment.

[Jon]

If you remove paths to arbitrary attachment folder then any pdfs not in the default folder would indeed not be found (they would be orphaned, and you can see/select those references). You could back up the file Bookends 12 Preferences before doing this, so you could restore the paths if you wanted to.

The list of such folders is dynamic (changes over time) and is not visible to the user.

Jon
Sonny Software

[corrado33]

Ahhh, I see the "Remove orphaned attachments" option now.

Very useful. Thank you, most definitely the best way to do it.

It is under Refs -> Global Change -> Removed Orphaned Attachments

Thank you again!

[Jon]

You can also display references with orphaned attachments, which lets you identify such references before you remove the attachments (or if you just want to identify such references).

Jon
Sonny Software

[corrado33]

You can also display references with orphaned attachments, which lets you identify such references before you remove the attachments (or if you just want to identify such references).

Jon
Sonny Software

Yes, after searching the users guide I found you can simply right click where your references are and click "Select References with Orphaned Attachments." It didn't show up in the mac Help search bar (which points out menu commands). Again, definitely the best way to do it. I just figured I'd put everything here in case anyone ever searches for this problem. Thank you again!