PDF attachment in ArcGIS Explorer Desktop

[TeriReynolds]

I have gotten this to work, but not quite as I expected or hoped.

In the "Display information about layers in popup windows" topic in the online help (http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisexplorer/1500//en/index.html#)

... the attachment is shown in a window, where the user can click on the link to open the attachment in its native format (in this case PDF).   The fields are also shown below, just as if there was no attachment.

What I get, instead, is a teeny-tiny window that displays the PDF toolbar.  If the user expands the window by moving it to the upper left of the screen, then dragging the lower right corner - the PDF will appear. But there are no links and no fields shown below.

Because I have about 3000 PDFs, and they are large (24 x 36) - it would be better for my users to have a 2-click process than this resizing window process (which isn't really intuitive).

Is there something I can do differently to achieve what is shown in the help?  Or, if not, to achieve a better user experience?

[LaneHartman]

I did something like this to bring up PDF as-built plans of sanitary sewers when a sewer section was clicked on. I got it to work by modifying my popup .xsl file in ArcMap and then creating my layer package to bring into Explorer.  I added a field in my feature class with an absolute file path to the PDF for each feature, e.g.  C:\...\file.pdf  (You could use an http:\\ or UNC path also).

Now when you click on a feature the popup comes up and the field with the file path to the PDF is a highlighted link to the PDF. Click on it and the PDF comes up in a new Adobe PDF Reader window.

Attached is the zipped .xsl file that I modified also.  Hopefully this is of some use to you.  I would be glad to hear if it works for you.

[DustinDunnill]

Hey Lane,

This is exactly what I'm looking to do. Our employees will me using the 1700 build of Exlorer Desktop.  Sorry for my ignorance but can you describe how to use your modified .xsl file?  I don't know anything about .xsl and where/how to modify or insert it but need to do this before I roll the data out to our employees.

Thank you!

[LaneHartman]

First you must have a string field in your layer that you want the PDFs attached to. Then populate that field with the file path (e.g. C:\images\file.pdf) to the PDF you are wanting to link to each feature (or use multiple fields for multiple linked PDFs). In ArcMap in your Layer Properties in the HTML Popup Tab you can set the Popup to display one of three ways. I usually use the first option, but that one wouldn't work with local file paths. So I used the third option and modified one of the existing .xsl files (using Notepad) so I could use a local file path. You can also use UNC paths if you have a server or networked computer with all the image files on it (e.g. \\ComputerName\images\file.pdf). Let me know if it works for you or if you need some more guidance.

[DustinDunnill]

Lane,

Haven't been on the forums for a while.  I see what your talking about and will be expiramenting with your instruction.  Our asbuilts are queried from a vis-base typ ui but are all stored on a networked drive.  I am trying to figure out how to have a single link to an entire plan within the properties of the Field.  Our IT dept. is changing the data base system so that we may not have access to the orig. digital files any longer.  I have created a polygon type layer for each subdivision area and would like to link the entire plan set to this some how.  Your way seem like it will work.  Just not sure if the plans will be where they are when MIS changes stuff up.

Thanks for your help.

[RebeccaScherini]

I did something like this to bring up PDF as-built plans of sanitary sewers when a sewer section was clicked on. I got it to work by modifying my popup .xsl file in ArcMap and then creating my layer package to bring into Explorer.  I added a field in my feature class with an absolute file path to the PDF for each feature, e.g.  C:\...\file.pdf  (You could use an http:\\ or UNC path also).

Now when you click on a feature the popup comes up and the field with the file path to the PDF is a highlighted link to the PDF. Click on it and the PDF comes up in a new Adobe PDF Reader window.

Attached is the zipped .xsl file that I modified also.  Hopefully this is of some use to you.  I would be glad to hear if it works for you.

Hello, I was very happy to find your instructions (and attached xsl document) for displaying pdfs - this helped me find a solution to my problem quoted below. I am able to store the links in my table (which will then display when layers are joined).

Thanks!! 🙂

When I use the popup tool to query joined layers, the information for all joined layers will display, but only the attachments for the top layer will display.

-I am using Arc Desktop 10
-Attachments are Pdf files

Does anyone know how I can achieve a popup display that will allow the attachments for all joined layers to be shown?

It doesn't matter how I do it, just as long as that's the display the users of the map will see.

Any solutions would be very much appreciated!

[DustinDunnill]

Our system is in the process of switching to an AX database for digital files ect.  and I finally got it linked up the way I want to our department Viewer. 

When Authoring in Arcmap I had these settings on:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11997[/ATTACH]

Then Created a HYPERLINK field in my data:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11998[/ATTACH]

When packaged in a .lpk for ArcGIS Explorer and put on the network drive that all users ArcGIS Explorer access, the final result is this link which takes the user directly to the plan set in AX.  Working really nice.:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11999[/ATTACH]