topic nested Repeating attachments in ArcGIS Survey123 Questions

nested Repeating attachments

Slamon — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 17:59:55 GMT

I have a form (XLS attached) that uses a feature service (enterprise 11.1). The source feature class has a related table and the related table has attachments enabled.

The related table is where the inspection information is being stored. I'd like to be able to tie multiple images to a single inspection, but S123 won't let me have a nested repeat for the images within the repeat for the inspection. I'm sure it's a syntax issue.

I've tried using the table name as the name for the nested repeat, but S123 says the table doesn't exist. Attachment tables don't show up in rest services the same way related tables do.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Re: nested Repeating attachments

Neal_t_k — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:02:56 GMT

Two options

Preferred is to give the image question a multiline appearance. This will allow for multiple images on a single question.

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-survey123-blog/survey123-tricks-of-the-trade-photos/ba-p/897907

The second is the way you are doing it in the attached image, this is the old way, However this is still a good way if you want specific information recorded besides just the picture because you can repeat questions that are relevant to each photo. In your attached picture you don't have a name or label for your repeat group, which I suspect is your issue.

Re: nested Repeating attachments

Slamon — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 21:56:39 GMT

Hi Neal,
Yeah, I left those blank to show how I was hoping to nest the attachment. I've tried populating them with the table name or another place holder name, but when I publish, I get an error that there isn't a table with the name used in the repeat name field.

It looks like multiline might only work with hosted datasets. We're trying to write back to an enterprise database where the table has attachments enabled.

Re: nested Repeating attachments

ChristopherCounsell — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 12:35:20 GMT

Repeats are for related tables or layers.

You do NOT need a repeat for the attachments table. Survey123 media questions require attachments to be enabled on the target layer/table.

As far as I can see, multiline appearance should work. There's no explicit mention that it is not supported for referenced feature services on the question's s123 documentation, or on the enterprise info page.

https://doc.arcgis.com/en/survey123/desktop/create-surveys/xlsformmedia.htm

There is a note about size limits, so you may want ensure your images are under that.

If you have

Re: nested Repeating attachments

Slamon — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 18:00:31 GMT

Our data looks like this:

Parent table (Geometry)
- Inspection table (1:M relationship)
- Attachments table

I tried the multiline and after capturing the 1st image, I was not given the option to add additional images as the article suggests.

Re: nested Repeating attachments

Slamon — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 19:27:40 GMT

I took another crack at this and it works when you select multiline from the appearance dropdown, but not when you type it in. Odd, but at least it's working. Thanks