The files used for attachments may be limited in size, with the size varying by the type of file (audio file, graphic file, video file, etc.). The database system administrator defines the maximum size of each file type in the table FILE_EXTENSION_TYPE table in the column MAX_ATTACH_SIZE. The size is defined in kilobytes (for example, 2000 for a 20MB limit on video files).
In some windows of the system you can include additional files with a record. These can be an image, text file, video or other, and are called an attachment. The presence of one or more attachments is indicated in the Attachment column (sometimes abbreviated Att. or Attach.). If a cell in this column shows a icon, an attachment is present. You can double-click the icon to view thumbnail images of the attachments (or right-click the record containing the attachment and then select Work with Attachments from the shortcut menu). Once the thumbnail image is displayed, you can double-click the image to display the attachment.
The Work with Attachments window is dynamic, which means that when you change records in the underlying window, the thumbnails in the Work with Attachments window update to the selected record of the underlying window.
To add or modify attachments, right-click the record and select Work with Attachments from the shortcut menu. This displays a dialog box that shows the file(s) that contain the attachment(s). To view an attachment, you must download the file to your computer and then open it with the appropriate application.
When you right-click a file in the dialog box (or just the dialog box itself if no files are shown), the following commands are displayed along with the common commands:
- Delete File: This command removes the selected attachment file from the record.
- Download File: This command starts a process to place the selected attachment file on your computer. Once on your computer, you can use the appropriate application to view the file. You can also download the file by double-clicking the file thumbnail image.
- Insert File(s) from Server: This command adds one or more files from the network server. When you select this command, the system displays a list of files and folders. (The files and folders are those in the root directory specified by the Attachment Root parameter that is found in the System Parameters window.) You can filter this list by using the File Filter field at the bottom left of the dialog box. Once you have located the files you want to attach, click the check box for each file to select the files. Once all files are selected, select OK to upload the files to the AgileAssets system.
- Insert File Names/Paths: This command works the same as the Insert Files from Server command except the file is not stored on your local machine. Instead, the system uses the path specified in the Attachment Root field of the System Parameters window to locate and display the attachment.
- Insert Local File: This command adds a single file from your computer as an attachment. (The Insert File(s) from Server command described below allows you to add multiple files at one time, although those files reside on your network server rather than your local computer.) After selecting the command, the system displays the Select File dialog box. Enter the file name of the attachment in the field by clicking Choose File to display a second dialog box to locate the file name on your computer. Then double-click the desired file name, which closes the second dialog box and shows the file name in the Select File dialog box. Finally, click Upload to attach the file to the record (and show it in the Work with Attachments dialog box).
- Move Down: This command moves the selected file image down one position in the list.
- Move Up: This command moves the selected file image up one position in the list.
- Update File from Server: For the selected attachment file that was obtained from the server, this command retrieves the most current version of the file. (Although multiple files can be added at one time, only one file at a time can be updated.)
- Update File Name/Path: This command allows you to update the file name and path for the selected attachment.
- Update Local File: For the selected attachment file that was obtained from your local computer, this command retrieves the most current version of the file. Other than operating on an existing attachment rather than creating a new attachment, it behaves in the same way as the Insert Local File command.
When the Work with Attachments dialog box shows the desired attachments, click the icon in the upper right corner to close the dialog box. If desired, you can change how the attachments are displayed by selecting a display type from the drop-down list.