Attach files larger than 10 MB to features in ArcGIS Online

Summary

ArcGIS Online provides the capability to attach files in supported formats. However, each file attached to individual features in a hosted feature layer for viewing and analysis must not exceed the maximum size of 10 MB. In some instances, a file larger than 10 MB is required. For example, the ‘San_Francisco’ feature in the ‘California_Building_Plan’ layer requires information on earthquake activities and history in the greater San Francisco area, which is stored in a file exceeding 10 MB.

Procedure

To attach files larger than 10 MB to features in a hosted feature layer in ArcGIS Online, use one of the workarounds below.

Note:
Before performing the workflow below, complete the following requirements:
• Enable hosted feature layer editing and attachment of files. Only administrators or hosted feature layer owners have the privileges to enable layer editing. 
• Create a backup copy of the related files to avoid data loss.

Reduce the file size

Reduce the size of the image, Word file, or PDF exported from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Online.

Compress the file

Zip the file to compress the file size.

Add the attachment in ArcGIS Desktop before publishing

Add the attachment to the feature in ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro, and publish it to ArcGIS Online.

Add a file containing the attachment link

Attach a PDF or MS Word file containing the hyperlink to the attachment. Viewers can click the link to be redirected to the attachment.

The image below shows a PDF file link attached to a feature in ArcGIS Online.

Clicking the PDF filename (Attachment Links.pdf) displays clickable hyperlinks, as shown in the image below.

Add the attachment URL to a new string field in the hosted feature layer's attribute table

Note:
Only members with a User, Publisher or Administrator role have sufficient privileges to add content to ArcGIS Online.

1. Add the file in a supported item type on the ArcGIS Online Content page. Refer to ArcGIS Online: Add files from your computer for steps to do so.

2. Open the item details page of the added file, and copy the URL.

3. Configure the sharing settings to enable other users to view the attachment.

4. On the hosted feature layer’s item details page, navigate to Data > Table, and create a new string field with sufficient field length for the full URL. The link does not work if the URL is truncated.

Note:
To display the new field, follow the last two steps in the following article, How To: Display hidden fields in an ArcGIS Online web map pop-up and attribute table.

5. Add the URL to the new field, and press Enter to save the changes. In this example, the attachment’s URL is added to the ‘Attachment_URL’ string field of the Los Angeles feature.

The image below shows the feature displayed in a pop-up in Map Viewer with the new string field containing the attachment hyperlink.

Upload from ArcGIS REST API

Perform a multipart upload of the attachment from ArcGIS REST API. Refer to ArcGIS Online: Allow attachments for more information.