---
title: "Attachment Field: Uploads, Mobile Capture, and PDF Handling"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/attachment-field-uploads-mobile-capture-and-pdf-handling"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-05-26T20:42:46.406Z"
---

# Attachment Field: Uploads, Mobile Capture, and PDF Handling

## 📄 Attachment Field: Upload Photos, Files, and Documents in Ontraccr Forms  
 

The **Attachment** field allows users to upload files—including images, PDFs, and documents—directly into forms. It supports mobile uploads, camera capture, and file storage integration, and gives you control over how those files appear in generated PDFs.

* * *

## 📎 What Is an Attachment Field?

An **Attachment Field** is a file upload input that can accept:

-   Images (JPG, PNG, etc.)
-   PDF documents

Files uploaded will be stored and linked directly to the form submission.

* * *

## 🛠 How to Add an Attachment Field

1.  In **Step 2: Fields**, click **➕ Add Field**
2.  Select **Attachment** from the **Field Type** dropdown
3.  Give the field a title (e.g., "Upload Site Photo" or "Attach Submittal Document")

* * *

## 📱 Mobile vs. Web Experience

### 🟦 On the Web App:

-   Users see a **file upload icon**
-   Clicking it opens:
    -   A file browser (from the user’s computer)
    -   Option to browse Ontraccr’s internal file system

* * *

### 🟩 On the Mobile App:

Users get access to **three upload methods** via distinct icons:

| Icon | Upload Method |
| --- | --- |
| 📎 Paperclip | Attach from phone’s file storage |
| 🖼 Gallery | Upload from photo gallery |
| 📷 Camera | Take a photo in real time, then upload it directly |

> ✅ Photos captured via camera can also be annotated before upload.

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## ⚙️ Field Settings

### 1\. **Title**

Standard field label (e.g. “Upload Inspection Photo”)

### 2\. **Optional vs. Required**

Use the checkbox to make file upload mandatory

### 3\. Show field conditionally

Show this attachment field based on conditions met within other fields of the form

### 4\. **Append to Form PDF**

-   Toggle: `Append to Form PDF`
-   Controls how files show up in the **PDF version** of the form

| Setting | Result |
| --- | --- |
| ❌ Disabled | Files are listed inside a **standard attachment box** in the PDF |
| ✅ Enabled | Each file is appended **in full size** at the **end** of the PDF as an appendix |

### 🧠 Use Cases:

-   ✅ Progress photos (clients want to see full-size images)
-   ✅ Submittals with document packages
-   ✅ Safety documentation where visual proof is critical

* * *

## 🧠 Use Case Examples

| Use Case | Attachment Source | PDF Option |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Snap job-site photos in real time | Mobile camera | Append to PDF: ✅ |
| Upload inspection form as PDF | File picker | Append to PDF: ❌ (summary view) |
| Submit blueprint revisions | Dropbox → copy link | Use hyperlink or attachment |

* * *

## 📌 Tips & Best Practices

-   🧾 Use **Append to PDF** if your recipients need to see large-format or full-quality images
-   📁 Consider adding a **separate attachment field** for each upload type (e.g., Photo vs. Document)