Attach Reports

How to attach GeoDin PDF reports to ArcGIS Pro feature class points using the geoprocessing Add Attachments tool

This workflow shows how to attach GeoDin-generated PDF reports to the corresponding borehole points in ArcGIS Pro, so that each feature carries its geotechnical report as an attachment.

Step 1: Prepare the feature class

Open ArcGIS Pro and identify the feature class containing the borehole points you want to attach reports to.

Feature class with borehole points in ArcGIS Pro

Step 2: Enable attachments

Navigate to the feature class settings and enable the Attachments feature for the dataset. This is required before any files can be attached to features.

Enabling the attachments feature on the dataset

Step 3: Review the attribute table

Open the attribute table and locate the borehole name field. This name must match the PDF report filenames exactly for the automated attachment process to work.

Attribute table showing the borehole name field

Step 4: Handle naming discrepancies

Compare the borehole names in the attribute table with the GeoDin report filenames. If there are discrepancies (e.g., slashes / in ArcGIS vs. dashes - in filenames), you'll need to create a matching key.

Comparing borehole names against report filenames

Step 5: Create an attach key field

Add a new field to the attribute table and use a field calculation to replace any problematic characters (e.g., replace slashes with dashes). This attach key field must contain values that exactly match the report PDF filenames (without the .pdf extension).

New attach key field with slashes replaced by dashes

Step 6: Verify the attach key

Confirm that the attach key values match the report filenames. Each row should correspond to one PDF report.

Attach key values matching the report filenames

Step 7: Create a match table

Use the Geoprocessing > Add Table tool to create a table that maps the attach key to the PDF file paths. Run the process to build the mapping.

Geoprocessing Add Table tool configuration

Step 8: Add attachments

Use the Geoprocessing > Add Attachments tool with the match table you just created. Configure the input table, match field (the attach key), and the folder containing the PDF reports. Click Run to execute the attachment process.

Add Attachments tool with input table and match field

Step 9: Verify results

Check the results to confirm that attachments have been added successfully. Click on individual borehole points to verify that their PDF reports are accessible as attachments.

Feature with attached PDF report visible

---

Next step: Publish the data with attachments to ArcGIS Online.

Watch the full video walkthrough