Viewing of GeoDB Attachments on a Feature Class

Since ArcGIS 10, it is possible to add BLOBs (Binary Large Objects) to Feature Classes within a geodatabase. These attachments are stored in a separate connection table and can be shown within the WebOffice core client, the WebOffice html client and the WebOffice mobile client too. Therefor, the basic settings have to be done within your ArcMap document, which are going to be explained in more detail within the following paragraphs:

1. Selection of the appropriate Feature Class

Open a new ArcMap document and drag the appropriate Feature Class from the ArcCatalog to your empty map window. This Feature Class can be stored both in a SDE database connection, as well as in a file geodatabase. If such a Feature Class doesn't exist so far, you have to create this Feature Class first.

2. Enable attachments for certain Feature Classes

Before you can add specific attachments to the particular features, you have to enable this possibility for the appropriate Feature Class. Therefor use the tool called Enable Attachments which you can find within the Data Management Tools under Attachments:

Enable Attachment Tool

Within the tool menu, choose the appropriate Feature Class as Input Dataset and confirm this setting by clicking on the OK button.

3. Adding attachments

Start the Editor in your ArcMap document. Select an appropriate feature within the map window and open the Attribute window by clicking the according button within the editor toolbar:

Editor Toolbar - Attribute Window

There you can edit all the field values of the selected features, while it is also possible to add attachments to the appropriate features. Therefor, click on the attachment button to open the Attachment-Manager:

Attribute Window - Attachment Manager

For adding the appropriate attachments to the selected features, use the Add... button within the Attachment-Manager. There, it is also possible to edit and delete your attachments at any time. Because of clearness reasons, it is recommended to store all the used attachments within one single directory.

While adding the appropriate files to the selected features, there are also an attachment table, as well as a relationship class created within your geodatabase:

Connection Table and Relationship Class

4. Publish the Service and Settings within WebOffice author author

Now you are ready to publish the appropriate features with their attachments as a new map service via File -> Share as -> Service... . In WebOffice author you have to add the new Map Service to an appropriate project and you also have to create a Layer-Query for this service. Also make sure, that the objects of the appropriate layer are identifiable and selectable.

5. View attachments within the WebOffice clients

Open the appropriate project within the WebOffice core client, the WebOffice html client or the WebOffice mobile client, where the new map service with the attachments is used. Select an appropriate feature and open the added attachment by clicking on the button within the result list:

Viewing GeoDB attachments within WebOffice