Fixing Broken Media Links in FTM 2017 for Windows

Broken media links can be caused by a number of different things:

• Name of the media item is changed outside of Family Tree Maker
• Location of the media item is changed outside of Family Tree Maker

Selecting this media item, you'll see File not found - filename displayed in the bottom right corner of the window. Before you can view or use this media item, you need to re-link it with actual file.

• If the family file is moved to a different folder on your computer outside of Family Tree Maker without including the media folder associated with the file, all media links will break for that file. Transferring the family file back to its original location or moving the media folder to the same location the family file is located at now will correct this.

Re-linking broken media items

Beginning the search

1. Select the unlinked media item and click the red File not found link in the bottom left corner of the window

   

2. A File Not Found window will open, listing the location and name the file was last known by

   

3. At this point, you can have Family Tree Maker attempt to find the file for you, or if you know where the file is stored, you can also manually find the file. Please see the section of choice below for more instruction

• Letting Family Tree Maker search for the file
• Manually searching for the file

4. Select the bullet Let Family Tree Maker search for this file in the File Not Found window and click OK

   

5. If Family Tree Maker can find this file, it will automatically re-link the media item. The filename link will now show as blue in the bottom right corner of the window

   

6. If Family Tree Maker cannot find the file, you will receive a warning like this one

   

   You will need to find the file manually using the steps outlined below.

4. Restart your search following steps 1-3, and then select the bullet Manually search for this file in the File Not Found window and click OK

   

5. Use the find file window to select the file from its new location, or select the file with its new name and click Open

   

6. The filename link will now show as blue in the bottom right corner of the window with the new filename or location listed