Attached Files List

Purpose

This screen is used to browse the entire Attached Files list, based on a chosen sort order. The list will be split across several pages, each with the maximum number of entries (value defined globally for the application -- see Global Definitions File), to avoid saturating the browser when dealing with very long lists. Controls are available to navigate between the different segments of that list.

As opposed to most other "list" screens in Project Hirtius, this one can't be used to create new entries in the database (new "attachments"). This functionality is only available from the object edition page that the new file should be attached to, through the Object - Attached File Edition Page.

Getting There...

From the Main Application Menu (or indeed almost any other Project Hirtius page), click on the "Manage Attached Files" icon in the header ().

Fields

Each entry in the list will use the following layout:

*A+attach_id*	objlink	`filename` (mimetype)	filesize	submitter (creation_time)	[actions]
	description

For the description, format and meaning of the attachment-specific fields, please refer to the Object - Attached File Edition Page. A few words on those that are not defined there or need extra clarification:

attach_id:: This represents the unique ID of the attached file (prefixed with an 'A' -- see Objects and Metadata Types). It is rendered as an hyperlink that gives you direct access to the attached file data. If the MIME type is recognised and associated with a specific viewer or application in your browser, the contents will be displayed straight away in the browser (as is the case for image files, for instance) or opened in the linked application. If the MIME type is not linked, or is seen as a binary blob, your browser should offer you to save the data locally, so you can open it with any application you see fit.
objlink:: This is an hyperlink to the object that the file is attached to. It links to the object edition page in 'view' mode.

Controls

Sort order bar

The first row of controls beneath the page header allows the user to select the desired sort order for the list. The currently active sort order is rendered as text, whereas all other available choices are rendered as HTML links. Here are the three available choices:

by ID#: (default). Ordered by increasing attachment ID.
by filename: ordered by increasing filename.
by size: ordered by decreasing file size.

Selecting a different sort order always returns you to the top of the list (as defined by that order).

Navigation bar

The second row of controls beneath the page header allows the user to navigate the Attachments list based on the currently selected sort order (see above). Some action links (prev and next) may be rendered as text when not applicable.

Here are the available actions:

First: jump to top of list (first record).
Prev: show previous page (i.e. previous chunk of 'N' records, where 'N' is a value defined in the Global Definitions File).
All: show all records on a single page. Depending on the length of the list, this may be more than your browser can handle, and it may make it crash.
Next: show next page (i.e. next chunk of 'N' records, where 'N' is a value defined in the Global Definitions File).
Last: jump to bottom of list (last record).

For really large collections (10.000 files or more), this navigation method will show its limits. The larger your attachments collection, the more you should rely on the search interface or the project management features to locate your files. For more details, see Navigation Tips.

Attached file actions

For each Attachment in the list, the first and last columns of its row contain links that correspond to actions to be performed on the File object.

Attachment ID: the Attachment ID (left-most column) is a link that feeds the attached file data into your browser, giving you the ability to view the file or save it locally for further processing (depending on your browser support for that file declared MIME type).
Edit: opens the Object - Attached File Edition Page in edit mode for the selected Attachment. Use this action to update the description field, the MIME type, or move this attachment to another object.
Reload: opens the Object - Attached File Edition Page in reload mode for the selected Attachment. Use this action to replace the stored attached file data (by uploading a different file on top of it, or a newer version of the same file). This operation also lets you update the description field and MIME type.
Del: opens the Object - Attached File Edition Page in delete confirmation mode for the selected Attachment. You can then confirm to proceed with the deletion or cancel it and return to the list.

As already mentioned above, there is no Add action link on this page. Creating a new attachment can only be done from the object edition page that the file should be attached to.