Need help transferring photo attachments between layers.
Hi dlnr gmcgowan,
Are both layers hosted feature layers?
In this scenario I think you'll need to use Append in ArcGIS Pro one way or another, but there are couple approaches. For append, make sure the environment setting to maintain attachments is checked on.
You mentioned that many of the attributes remain unchanged. If you append Layer 1 into Layer 2, then this will create new points that contain the attachments in Layer 2. However, if the attributes are the same you can then just delete the original point in Layer 2 and will have a point at that location, but with an attachment this time.
Another option would be to download both layers as a file geodatabase from ArcGIS Online and open them as file geodatabase feature classes in ArcGIS Pro. This will expose the attachments table, and you can see behind the scenes how the attachments are connected to features via the GlobalID and rel_GlobalID fields. This relationship is what matches each photo to the feature in the database. With the attachment tables exposed, you can append layer 1's attachment table in to layer 2's attachment table, then edit the rel_GlobalIDs to point at Layer 2's GlobalIDs instead of Layer 1's. You're essentially copying the GlobalID from the point in Layer 2 that you want the attachment to be associated with:
Then pasting it into the rel_GlobalID field in the Attachments table:
Once the attachments are re-mapped to the points, then you can publish a new hosted feature layer.
Something to note, there is currently an enhancement for the update data/append function in Manage hosted feature layers—ArcGIS Online Help | Documentation to include photo attachments. Let me know and I would be happy to attach your customer number to it. This would be a better option than the two workflows I mention above, and I hope we see it in the product soon.
I hope this helps,
-Peter
