Exporting a inDesign CS2 File to Illustrator CS2 and Preserving LInks

[Q1475]

I have 3 InDesign CS2 files that have several links which have been modified withing the file. The printer needs these files in Illustrator format with the links preserved, so they can swap images, adjust colors and such.
I am having a problem exporting these files to Illustrator CS2 while preserving the links.

I have tried exporting as hirez PDF/X-1a as well as a EPS. They both embedd all the files. When I go to relink everything the images come in as their original form as expected and I find I have to reformat every image which is very time consuming.

I don't want to spend hours trying to relink everything for each package, so I was wondering if there was a way I would be able to export them while preserving all my images as links to Illustrator. Is that even possible? Is there an option in CS3 perhaps? I am willing to upgrade if necessary.
Please Help!

 

[apepp]

...what reason does the printer give for you to have to convert indesign artwork to illustrator format?

...sounds odd to me...

...and no, there isn't a way to preserve links when exporting to another format or even through a copy or paste...

...if they can't accept a correctly made pdf file or indesign file then i would find another print provider...

...if you must use them and they really want it in illustrator, save out to pdf and import that to illustrator, ensure that the pdf is preserving raw resolution by turning off all the downsample options, and compression type too from indesign export function...

...then just send them that, with your images, and let them do the re-linking if necessary...

...for fonts you can send those separately too...

...but in any case, all this sounds unnecessary to me and opens up more possibility of errors being made in the workflow...

Andrew