topic Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App in ArcGIS Survey123 Questions

Attachments in Survey123 Field App

GIS_utahDEM — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 17:53:58 GMT

Is there a projected timeline when file attachments will be available in the inbox as well? I currently don't have the ability to change the field type, put it in a repeat or add an additional question (the inbox is one small portion of a large multi-user interactive process involving the web app, dashboards, view layers, submission urls, etc.), but I really need my inbox users to be able to see previously submitted attachments and add additional attachments to a multiline "file" question. As far as I understand there is no way to do this right now without changing the field type or adding an additional field?

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ZacharySutherby — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 19:51:17 GMT

Hello @GIS_utahDEM,

The ability to access file attachments in the Inbox is still in our backlog and we don't have a timeline at the moment. As a workaround to access existing file attachments a JavaScript function can be used to query the queryAttachments endpoint and return the URL for the file attachment. That URL can then be used as a hyperlink in a note question so the user can download the attachment on their device. Please see the sample below for reference (all that needs to be updated is the REST URL's in the JS file).

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

GIS_utahDEM — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 16:48:13 GMT

@ZacharySutherby Thanks so much for your response! I am not very experienced with javascript so I'm unfortunately still having some issues:

I have copied the code and survey fields over, and I am able to publish -- but when I go into the field app and try to click "Access Attachment" it says I'll need a new app to open the qrc link. I'm guessing (I could be completely wrong) that it has something to do with the URL and the id field that I swapped to. I don't have inc_id so instead I used my case_number field which is a text field with no restrictions. I swapped inc_id in line 15 (let where = "where=inc_id="+"'"+incid+"'";) to case_number, and I swapped the layerURL for my feature layer. Another thing that may be weird is that my survey has a submission URL which is pointing at a view layer of another hosted feature layer (which was created by a survey) -- not sure if that would affect anything.

Appreciate any insight you have!!

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ZacharySutherby — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 17:20:31 GMT

Hello @GIS_utahDEM,

When you modified the JS file did you update both the queryfl() function and the query_attach() function? If so if you make the question that runs the JS function a note question does it return a URL? Ex.

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

GIS_utahDEM — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 17:52:55 GMT

@ZacharySutherby Yes, I was able to swap both URLs.

I am including a screenshot of what I see when I click the "Access Attachment" link. I am unable to right click it or inspect in any other way as far as I can tell.

I am also including a screenshot from my survey123 connect and the .js file that I'm referencing

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ZacharySutherby — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 19:21:42 GMT

Hello @GIS_utahDEM,

If you switch the query_attach question from a calculate to a note or text question when you are in the Inbox does that display a URL?

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

GIS_utahDEM — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 19:34:42 GMT

@ZacharySutherby

When I leave the Query Attachment as a note instead of a calculation it returns "JavaScript functions are disabled." I published the survey and am viewing the survey when logged in to the same account -- I saw that other organization users may have some issues. The survey isn't public but is shared with specific groups that have members from other organizations.

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

Czapiga_Jason — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:20:39 GMT

Are there any updates on a timeline for this functionality?

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

FredMitchell — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:03:22 GMT

Hi @ZacharySutherby,

I know it's been a while since you posted here but I'm hoping you're still around and are able to help me diagnose why I can't get this functionality to work. I could really use this feature with an app I'm building for our Cities' building inspectors to review permits. I was getting the same error that @GIS_utahDEM was getting but when I changed the calculate question to a note I now get the following message "@javascript error: TypeError: Cannot read property 'attachmentInfos' of undefined in query_attachments.js:query_attach

Would love to get your thoughts on why this isn't working and if there's been any update on making this functionality inherent to Survey123. Thanks!

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

JJ_Reyes — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:00:30 GMT

@FredMitchell - I had a similar problem. Does changing the attachmentType help at all? I used application/pdf and this is working for me.

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ToddW_stl — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:28:28 GMT

Viewing attached files in the field app is a known limitation at this time. My current workaround to view attached FILES in edit mode from (not within) the Survey123 Field App is to build an html link in a note for the user to click and open the record in edit mode in the mobile web browser.

I'm using the survey to update a feature class in enterprise geodatabase, ArcGIS Enterprise 11.3, Survey123 Field App 3.20.69 on a still-kickin iPhoneX.

I've attached the important parts of my xlsx form that will need to be updated for your specific data schema and environment. An untested idea to improve the user's file attachment interaction experience: create a new survey with ONLY the file question, so when they open the link they see ONLY the list of file attachments and not all the other questions.

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

EdKnowles — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 06:09:29 GMT

G'day Zach!

How would this work for multiple file questions in the one survey?

If I click on attachments in the table view in AGOL, the popup shows all attachments.

Thanks heaps

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

PanGIS — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:10:31 GMT

Hi @FredMitchell have you managed to solve this issue?

I get the same error you get and at the same time I get "You'll need a new app to open this qrc link"

Thanks!

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

PanGIS — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:51:30 GMT

Hi @ToddW_stl thanks for sharing this.

Your solution works beautifully and I also tested the new survey with only the attachments and it is perfect.

here is an issue tough: the visible attachments are only those that are added from a survey.

I have 5 surveys to be used in a sequence and the polygon is created from a webmap or PRO, the surveyor is supposed to see the documentation loaded from the office.

I created a polygon in a webmap and I attached a pdf and a jpg.

I open the survey and the files are not showing,

I add a new pdf and a new jpg from the survey,

I open the same survey or I open another one that reads the same FL and the files are visible, the ones added from the web map are not there yet.

Any idea?

Thanks

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ToddW_stl — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:41:40 GMT

Have you seen my suggestion near the end of this thread? If you have multiple file questions, I think my solution would work. I'm not familiar with Zach's idea, so I can't be much help there.

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ToddW_stl — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:44:12 GMT

Great to hear the original idea works well! The second issue (unable to see attachments submitted outside of a survey) is a known issue, which states that "images attached to a feature through a method other than a survey (for example, in ArcGIS Pro or an ArcGIS Online web map) may not have keywords."

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

ToddW_stl — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:52:16 GMT

if this qrc link error/question is still relevant given your more recent success message below - the only suggestion I have is to review your HTML link and what you want it to do.

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

EdKnowles — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 04:39:46 GMT

G'day Todd

I tried Zach's first, as it was, well, first 🙂

Looks like I will run with your approach due to the multiple file questions.

Though now my time questions validation fail.

Out of scope for here and I think known not supported in the browser 😢

PS Neat trick with the GlobalID

Thanks

Re: Attachments in Survey123 Field App

PanGIS — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:27:37 GMT

Thank you @ToddW_stl, I wasn't aware of the limitation.

For the time being, since I need the files in view mode only irrespective if they are loaded via Survey or other Apps, I decided to solve with a Dashboard that contains only a "Detail" element and a URL parameter link.

I had this idea after struggling with the concat() of your solution 😀

Below is the calculation.

the solution proposed by Zachary could be the best if I manage to get ALL attachments within the Survey, I'll test it later but the dashboard seems to be a good solution to me.