About ap_batch_relinker

ap_batch_relinker is a script for After Effects that reconnects missing footage by pointing to a new source root folder while ignoring special characters in filenames. It runs on After Effects 2026, 2025, and 2024. Version 2.0 scans the root folder in a single pass, filtering by offline‑media extensions and normalizing filenames. An AEPX relink method patches paths directly in the project XML and preserves separate PSD, AI, and PSB layers. Optional path‑normalization can rename files and folders to strip accents and symbols, with a preview dialog for selective changes. When several files match a single offline item, a paginated multi‑match resolver lets you choose the correct candidate, with per‑entry or batch apply controls. The Force Relink option re‑runs the matcher on selected items even if After Effects reports them as online, allowing correction of incorrectly linked files.

Features

• Relinks missing footage from a new source root folder while ignoring special characters
• Single-pass root folder analysis that filters the scan by offline-media extensions and normalizes filenames
• AEPX relink method that patches paths directly in the project XML and preserves separate PSD, AI, and PSB layers
• Optional path-normalization pre-pass that renames files and folders on disk to strip accents and special characters, with a preview dialog to toggle individual renames
• Paginated multi-match resolver to pick the right candidate per offline file, with per-entry Apply now or batch include and exclude
• Force Relink re-runs the matcher on selected items even when After Effects reports them as online

Best for

After Effects users who need to reconnect missing footage from a new root folder, especially when filenames contain accents or special characters.