Manage attachments, links, and notes on cards and documents
On most list pages, cards, and documents, you can attach files, add links, and write notes on the Attachments tab of the FactBox pane. The number in the tab title indicates how many attached files, links, or notes exist for the card or document.
On the Lines FastTab, you can also use the Attachments action to attach documents to a specific line. For example, you might want to attach design specifications to an item on a purchase invoice.
Attachments, links, and notes stay attached to the card or document while it's processed into other states. For example, from an ongoing sales order to a posted sales invoice. However, none of the attachment types are output from the system, for example, when printing or when saving to a file.
You can also add attachments to the emails you send from Business Central. When you send an email directly from a document, such as a sales quote, the Add file from source document action lets you choose files that are attached to it. You can only choose files that are attached to the document. You can't choose files that are attached to lines.
Note
When you partially ship and invoice a sales or purchase order, the attachment will only be attached to the final invoice of the order. Similarly, when you invoice deferrals, the attachment is attached to the G/L entries for the document but not for the deferral entries.
If you delete an order before it is invoiced, the attachment is also removed.
When you use the Get Receipt Lines action on a purchase invoice, the attachment on the related purchase order is added to the purchase invoice.
To attach a file to a purchase invoice
You can attach any type of file, such as text, image, or video files, to a card, document, or a line on a document. This is useful, for example, when you want to store a vendor's invoice as a PDF file on the related purchase invoice in Business Central.
Note
Files attached with the Incoming Documents feature aren't included on the Attachments tab. For more information, see Incoming Documents. The same is true for files that are attached to lines on documents.
The following procedure is based on a purchase invoice. The steps are similar for all other supported documents and cards.
Tip
If your attachment is specific to a line on a document, you can attach it to the line. Choose the line, and then choose the Attachments action.
Choose the icon, enter Purchase Invoices, and then choose the related link.
Open the purchase invoice that you want to attach a file to.
On the FactBox pane, choose the Attachments tab.
Choose the value behind the Documents field, such as "0".
On the Attached Documents page, in the Attachment field.
On the Attach a document dialog box, do one of the following steps to attach a file:
- Drag the file from file explorer on your device to the dialog box.
- Select the click here to browse link, find the file, then select the Open button.
The file is now attached to the purchase invoice.
To view an attached file
- On the FactBox, open the Attachments tab.
- Choose the value behind the Documents field, such as "1".
- On the Attached Documents page, choose the Preview action.
- Open the downloaded file.
To save a document as a PDF attachment
Whenever you need to save a document as a file, you can use the Attach as PDF action to capture the current document content as a PDF file attached to the FactBox of the document. This is useful, for example, when documents follow multiple steps in a process, such as a sales process or an approval workflow, and you want to refer to a printout of the previous step.
The following procedure is based on a sales order. The steps are similar for all supported documents.
- Choose the icon, enter Sales Orders, and then choose the related link.
- Select a sales order, and then choose the Attach as PDF action.
A PDF file with the current content of the sales order is added to the Attachments tab in the FactBox.
To add a link from an item card
You can add a link from a card or document to any URL. This is useful, for example, when you want to link an item card with the supplier's item catalog.
The following procedure is based on an item card. The steps are similar for all other supported cards and documents.
Choose the icon, enter Items, and then choose the related link.
Select the item that you want to add a link from, and then choose the Attachments tab in the FactBox.
In the Links, choose the + icon.
In the Link Address field, enter the link.
The link must be a valid internet or intranet URL.
In the Description field, enter any information about the link.
Choose the OK button.
The link is now attached to the item card.
To write a note on a sales order
You can write a note on a document or card, for example, to communicate special instructions to other users of the document or card. You can include file links and URLs in notes.
Note
Notes on the Attachments tab are not related to internal notes functionality, which is mainly used to communicate between workflow users. For more information, see Setting Up Workflow Notifications.
The following procedure is based on a sales order. The steps are similar for all other supported documents and cards.
- Choose the icon, enter Sales Orders, and then choose the related link.
- Select the sales order that you want to write a note on, and then choose the Attachments tab in the FactBox.
- In the Notes section, choose the + icon.
- In the Note field, write any text, such as "This is an urgent order."
- Choose the OK button.
The note is now attached to the sales order.
See also
Work with Business Central
Incoming Documents
Setting Up Workflow Notifications