Massive Link Update and Export to PDF

I was forced to create an Indesign document (master) that is nothing but "PLACE"ment of smaller Indesign documents (3 per page), and all the smaller Indesign documents contain a graphic that can be updated at any time.

But when I open the master document after a graphic (in a smaller document) has been updated, I can not automatcally update all the links from the master document. The master document tells me which "smaller" documents need updating, but I am forced to open **each** individual smaller document "Edit original" (that has been changed) and have that smaller document update the graphic link (and save it), before the master document sees the updated graphics.

This is a real pain.

Also, I would like to place hyperlinks in the smaller documents, but if I do that and then Export to PDF the master dcument, the hyperlinks will not "export through" to the PDF from the smaller documents. I am forced to place hyperlinks in the master document, which I do not want to do in case the order of the smaller documents gets moved around.

Am I missing something?