some files can't be used for multimedia

[Pat Farrell]

I've been reorganizing my multimedia source files. Most of the file links are broken. For most of the files, when I click on the broken link, I get a file select box/picker and can easily select the source file. Easy. But for maybe 20% of my files, the file, its name and its icon are grayed out. I can't select them. I can't tell which these specific files aren't accepted.
I've checked the file protection and ownership. They are just stanrd JPG or PDF files. But Renion 13 wont allow me to select and use them. What am I doing wrong?

See the "HarrySLastRunNewspaper.jpg file is showed grayed out and there is no proper thumbnail for that file. There is a group of "JackScogin" files that. are grayed out

Thanks
Pat

Screenshot 2026-10-06 at 12.19.28 PM.png

[Gregg]

Go into your Mac's Finder and select one of the files that is grayed out in the media file select window and choose File > Get Info. Post a screenshot of the get info window for that file.

[Pat Farrell]

Here are a couple of the grayed out files Screenshot 2026-10-06 at 3.56.07 PM.png Screenshot 2026-10-06 at 3.57.25 PM.png

[Gregg]

It looks like these two files are stored on an external hard drive. Can you try moving those two files to the pictures folder on your Mac’s hard drive hard drive, just to see if they will become enabled when you try to link them.

[Pat Farrell]

They are all on an external hard drive. My Mac's internal hard drive is tiny and won't hold much. I can put copies of a couple as a test. But all the other photos, that Reunion is fine with, are in the same folder on the same external drive. Will do some testing and get back

[Pat Farrell]

Well, I copied some of the files to the Mac's main Pictures folder
Here is a screenshot, many files are still grayed out.
I also did a ls -l -@ in the shell



-rwxr--r--@ 1 pfarrell admin 341064 Jan 29 2024 JackScogin_MyFamily.jpg
com.apple.decmpfs 36
-rwxr--r-- 1 pfarrell admin 572923 Jan 29 2024 JackScogin_PenPals.jpg
-rwxr--r-- 1 pfarrell admin 124312 Jan 29 2024 JackScogin_UP_promotion_cover.jpg
-rwxr--r--@ 1 pfarrell admin 99186 Jan 29 2024 JackScogin_UP_promotion_inside.jpg
com.apple.decmpfs 36
com.apple.lastuseddate#PS 16
-rwxr-xr-x 1 pfarrell admin 419811 Dec 15 2015 JackScoginObit_multipage.pdf
-rwxr--r--@ 1 pfarrell admin 111344 Jan 29 2024 JackScoginObit_paid.jpg
com.apple.decmpfs 36
-rwxr--r--@ 1 pfarrell admin 224314 Jan 29 2024 JackScoginObit_Services.jpg
com.apple.decmpfs 36
-rwxr--r-- 1 pfarrell admin 111344 Jan 29 2024 JackScoginObit.jpg
-rwxr--r--@ 1 pfarrell admin 167336 Oct 6 02:43 JackScoginObit.pdf
com.apple.metadata:kMDItemWhereFroms 891
-rwxr--r--@ 1 pfarrell admin 283098 Dec 15 2015 JackScoginObitExact.png
com.apple.lastuseddate#PS 16
-rwx------@ 1 pfarrell admin 98312 Jan 29 2024 JamesWalterScogin.jpg
com.apple.decmpfs 36
-rw-r--r-- 1 pfarrell admin 362369 Jan 6 2016 Jen_Burke_HS_Graduation_1905_05_31.jpg
-rwx------ 1 pfarrell admin 5481524 Apr 25 2025 JenniferRutherCarmichael.jpg
-rwx------@ 1 pfarrell admin 844299 Dec 9 2015 JerryFour.jpg Screenshot 2026-10-08 at 12.49.05 PM.png

[Gregg]

Can you create a zip file of the ‘Reunion Pictures’ folder and email it to help@leisterpro.com