How to use feature class attachments with ArcPad

[ChadCollins3]

I am having partial success with using feature class attachments for photos in ArcPad 10.2 with a Trimble Geo 7X and it's built in camera. I have to access the attachment table in ArcCatalog and insert "RASTER" as the Default CONTENT_TYPE field and insert a value e.g. 15 as the Default DATA_SIZE field. I check the data out via Trimble Positions tools and move to device. Open ArcPad on device, start editing on the feature class with attachment, select a feature and open the Feature Properties window, click on the feature Attachment tab, add attachment record, click on the camera button in this window, take picture, save edits exit ArcPad, check data back into the geodatabase via Trimble Positions, in ArcMap, use the Identify button and click on the feature which I create an attachment record for in ArcMap, it is now listed but not accessible. It is like the image never gets imported into the geodatabase as an attachment.

If you don't put the Default values in as described, ArcPad will error out when taking the picture on the device. Any ideas on how to make this process work? Thanks.

[JeffTruscott]

Hi Chad, did you find a resolution to this issue?

Jeff

[ChadCollins3]

I have not...

[StephenQuan1]

Hi Chad,

ArcPad presently only supports photos via a Picture field. See Picture Options in "Get Data for ArcPad".

In http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/arcpad/10.2/app/index.html#/Get_Data_for_ArcPad/00s1000000680000... 

This is a Text field that will contain either a filename or URL to a photo. We do not physically store the JPG inside the AXF. This is part of the design that began when this feature was introduced back in the days of Shapefiles which didn't support the raster type.

We allow you to specify a location with "Copy pictures to the folder when checking data" which tells Data Manager how to massage the text string when you do a check in, since, photo filenames on a device need to change when you move to the desktop. We usually recommend you place it on a network location so that when your feature class is opened by another person on the network, they can see the same photos.

For those who are publishing the photos to the internet, you could possibly replace the network location with a URL after check in.

Since then, attachments has been implemented in the GeoDatabase which shows you a different workflow for working with photos in ArcGIS. That workflow hasn't reach ArcPad as ArcPad still only implements the Picture field method as I've just described.

For now, this just means you have two options:

1. Check the ArcPad documentation and follow the strategy for Picture Field and Picture Options

2. Raise an enhancement request to have attachments supported

Implementing attachments in ArcPad would not be a trivial thing since, we would have to give some thought on how to handle large files and work with the limitations of a SQL CE database.

Stephen

[PaulLohr]

Stephen - Implementing attachment functionality may not be a short term goal, but given the number of years that ArcPad has supported working with feature services, I would think you guys would have added attachment functionality by now. If attachment support was added, would ArcPad then fully support feature service editing? Per the link below, relationships are supported.

It might help a few of us by including feature attachments on this help page:

ArcPad Help