What's the difference between linking and importing a palette?

There are a few ways to manage palettes depending on your needs. Linking and importing are different methods that offer specific advantages.

Importing a palette

Importing a palette allows you to have independent access to the palette swatches. Consider the following when using imported palette: 

• Can be used with Harmony Stand Alone or Database.
• Can be imported locally or via a network.
• Will save a copy of the palette as a new file in the Harmony scene folder.
• Independent of the source file/palette. Editing the original palette will not change the imported palette.
• Will need to be manually updated if any official changes are made to the source palette.

For more information about importing palettes, see Importing a Colour Palette.

Linking a palette

Linking a palette allows you to have connected access to the colour swatches in an external source palette, including any changes. Consider the following when using a linked palette: 

• Typically used with a Harmony Database and large production, but can be used with Harmony Stand Alone as well.
• Linked palettes do not make a copy at the scene level, but rather links to a specific palette file via the database.
• Moving the source palette will cause the linked palettes to no longer function properly. It is recommended to only link to palettes from within the scene's own environment, job, scene or elements
• Linking palettes on a local machine is not recommended if a Harmony Database is also being used, since file paths are at risk of changing if someone is at a different workstation.
• Changes in the original production palettes will be updated across any scenes using palettes linked to those source files. Changes are only applied when the scene is closed and reopened.
• Editing a linked palette in a scene will not affect the original, but editing the original will edit all linked to it.

For more information about linking palettes, see Linking a Colour Palette.

Linking an external palette

Linking an External palette is similar to Linking a palette, but is recommended for people using Harmony Stand Alone. Consider the following when using an externally linked palette: 

• Recommended for Harmony Stand Alone use, but not for database.
• Can be used locally or via a network.
• Linked palettes do not make a copy at the scene level, but rather links to a specific palette file.
• Moving the source palette will cause the linked palettes to no longer function properly.
• Changes in the original palette will update in any scenes using palettes linked to those source files. Changes are only applied when the scene is closed and reopened.
• Opening scenes with linked palettes on another computer will break the link to the source palette.
• Editing a linked palette in a scene will not affect the original, but editing the original will edit all linked to it.

For more information about linking external palettes, see Linking to an External Palette.

Summary

Below is a summary of palette import and linking: