Work with attachments

Attachments provide additional information for features. Using Collector, you can add, rename, and delete attachments as part of editing features. You can also view attachments and save them to your device. While collecting data, you can restrict the size of the photos by specifying a preferred attachment size.

Add an attachment

Various types of files, such as photos, videos, PDFs, and text documents, can be added to features to provide additional information. For example, if you're reporting on the status of a building after an earthquake, you can include photos showing new damages.

Note:

Not all data supports attachments. If you do not see the Attachments section following the attributes for the feature, you can't add attachments to that feature. To enable attachments, work with the map author, and see How do I enable inclusion of photos during collection? in the map creation FAQ.

Photos can be large files. You can restrict their size by specifying a preferred attachment size.

Note:

The following steps assume you're already editing the feature to which you want to add an attachment. To begin editing a feature, see Select a feature and begin editing in the Update a feature topic.

1. Scroll down to the attachments section at the bottom of the panel, and do one of the following:
   • Select Browse to add an existing item from the device, such as a photo, video, PDF file, or text document. Browse to the item you want to attach. Select it and then select Open to attach it to your feature. Select Cancel to cancel adding the attachment.
   • Select Camera to add a new photo or video using the device's camera. When the camera starts, use it to create a new item. On the preview page of the item, accept or retake the photo or video. To cancel adding the attachment, close the camera window.

   The item appears in the feature's attachments.

2. Select Submit to save your edits.

Note:

If you added an attachment in error, see the Delete an attachment section.

Rename an attachment

Attachments are added using the name they had on the device. Often, this is a default name with little meaning to the image. Rename the attachment to clarify what it is. For example, if taking photos of the north side of a valve, you could name the photo north-valve.

Note:

The following steps assume you are already editing the feature of which you want to rename an attachment, that you have already attached it, and that the attachment is already downloaded. To begin editing a feature, see Select a feature and begin editing in the Update a feature topic. To add an attachment, see Add an attachment. To download the attachment, select it.

1. Scroll down to the Attachments section at the bottom of the panel.
2. Long press or right-click the attachment you want to rename.

   The actions that can be taken on the attachment display.

3. Select Rename.

   Tip:

   If there isn't a Rename option, make sure you are editing the feature and the attachment has been downloaded. For downloaded photos, you should see a thumbnail of it.

   The Rename flyout opens, showing the item and its name.

4. Type a new name for your attachment.
5. Select Rename.

   The panel is dismissed and the attachment shows the new name.

6. Select Submit to save your edits.

Delete an attachment

Take the following steps to delete an attachment from a feature.

Note:

The following steps assume you're already editing the feature from which you want to delete an attachment. To begin editing a feature, see Select a feature and begin editing in the Update a feature topic.

1. Scroll down to the Attachments section at the bottom of the panel.
2. Long press or right-click the attachment you want to remove.

   The actions that can be taken on the attachment display.

3. Select Delete.

   The attachment is deleted.

4. Select Submit to save your edits.

View an attachment

Attachments are often added to features to provide additional context or visual information about the feature. You can view attachments while viewing a feature's details.

1. Select a feature and view its details.

   Its details appear to the left of map. If it has any attachments, they appear at the bottom of the panel.

   

2. If Download displays next to the attachment, select it to download the attachment.

   While downloading, a progress indicator displays beside the attachment, and you can cancel the download. When the download is complete, there is no icon to the right of the attachment. If the attachment is a photo, the placeholder turns into a thumbnail.

   

3. Select the attachment to see it full screen.
   • Images display in a full-screen view.

     

     Select Back to return to the map.

   • Other attachment types open using your default app for that file type.

Save an attachment to your device

Saving an attachment to your device gives you access to it outside Collector. For example, if you want to send an email of the attachment to a coworker, save it to your device, compose the email, and attach the file as you would any other email attachment.

1. Select the feature with the attachment you want to save and view its details.
2. Scroll down to the Attachments section of the panel, and long press or right-click the attachment.

   A menu of available actions displays.

3. Select Save.
4. Name the file and save it to a preferred location on your device.

   The attachment is saved to your device.

Specify attachment size

Photos can be large and quickly grow your database. Instead of using the default size, you can limit the size of photos that you attach to features. The attachment size setting is located on the Settings page.

1. Open the Menu .
2. Select Settings .
3. On the Collection tab, under Photo Size, select a size option that best fits the needs of your data collection project.
4. Open the Menu and either return to the open map, or select a collection of maps to open a new map.