Merge Feature Classes With Attachments

[MikeBly]

Hi,

Looking for some guidance on a process that I cannot seem to find a complete solution for online with tech or knowledge articles online.

Would like to merge two point feature classes together. Each have their own attachments (Collector App photos). I would like to merge these together (easy) and have the attachments come across as well. I have tried merging together (success) and then creating new _ATTACH table  and then appending the two tables into the new merge _ATTACH table. All the attachments come in  - just NOT in the right record. I believe this is because all I have is OID in the tables and these points float during geoprocessing (merge) therefore not matching up to the table when I run the APPEND tool.

Do I have to utilize Global ID’s on the original datasets (FC)?  How do I maintain or fix the proper relationship after the merge?

Thanks,

[MikeBly]

Further - Having not added Global ID to the dataset before collection - am I able to add these now and have it translate to the table _ATTACH and the ATTACHREL?

Thanks,

Mike

[ronaldbruzzese]

Mike,

Did you ever work through this and come up with an "easy" solution?

Thanks in advance

[MikeBly]

Hi Ronald,

Yes. I was able to work with ESRI support and figure out a workflow. Have tried it several time over to prove it will work consistently and have had good results. It is certainly not hard - but time consuming.

I would like to attach a pdf doc to this that outlines the steps to make this work but cannot figure out how to do so. Perhaps if you sent me a msg with an email address I can send it to you that way. Do you know how to post a document to this thread? that way others could have access to it as well.

Mike

[ronaldbruzzese]

Mike,

Thanks for the reply.  No idea how to attach pdf.  If you would, please pm me.  Thanks!

[Phil_Hartger]

I'd like a copy of this workflow pdf as well, I'm having the same trouble combining two datasets with attachments.  My Email is:  connor_bailey@tws.org Thanks!

[Phil_Hartger]

I never got a reply but did find that I could merge the two datasets in ArcGIS Pro.  Maybe a subtle hint to move to ArcGIS Pro?

[ronaldbruzzese]

Yep, never got the pdf but read that it can be accomplished with arcgis pro. Good luck.

[NicoleGamble1]

If you have version 10.5 of ArcMap you can theoretically do this there as well. There is an environment setting called Maintain Attachments that was added in Pro and ArcMap at around the same time. It is turned on by default and this environment setting applies to the Merge tool. 

[DakotaCasserly2]

Hi there Mike,

Any chance you could post the .pdf you created?

Use the "Use advanced editor" option in the top right of the reply window to attach all types of files.

Hope this helps and thanks,

Dakota