Combine attachments

[Alex_Lidell]

I am using airtable to keep track of medical records. I’ve uploaded several X-rays of the same bone, but they all came in as separate records. Is there a way of combining all the images in a single record now? drag and drop isn’t working, and copy paste just replaces the one whole image with another. I need multiple images to be attached to one record. Any ideas?

[ScottWorld]

You might be able to do this in Airtable with either a custom JavaScript, or by creating a series of formula fields that break up the attachment URL’s into separate fields — and then have different automations handle the different URL fields. Others can probably guide you on these techniques, and I think there have been some threads in the forum about separating attachment URL’s into separate fields.

However, my personal recommendation for what I think is the easiest & simplest & quickest way to do this would be to just use Integromat, which is a no-code/low-code automation platform.

You could also do this with Zapier, but Integromat is easier, more powerful, and more affordable than Zapier. Integromat also offers full support for Airtable, whereas Zapier only offers partial support for Airtable.

In Integromat, you would do this by using the Iterator tool to loop through the attachments, and then you can do whatever you’d like with each attachment:

Integromat Support

Iterator

Iterator is a special type of module that converts an array into a series of bundles. Each array item will be outputted as a separate bundle. Setting up an Iterator Setting up an iterator is done...

[Laura_Johnson]

Hi, I know this is older post but hoping you can help. I am trying to merge attachments fields using miniextensions and I can’t get the look up field attachments to show. I have to copy and paste them in a new record. Any way I can get around doing that?

[Mas]

It would be great if someone can show the integromat scenario setup. I still haven’t worked out how to merge multiple attachments into one field.

[itoldusoandso]

The iterator setup can be tricky for a user not familiar with Integromat. I used it for text and have spent couple of hours figure it out. You may be better to reach out to Integromat / Make community there, they have finally a forum setup so no need to use your facebook account to message them.

Anyhow, just a note, I found 2 more ways of doing the picture merge:

1. pictures to pictures separate using URL extension converter

Extension: Convert URLs to attachments

... and you may also need this here

Extension: Convert attachments to URLs

... or you use formulas to separate the URLs and cleanup the text to remove the brackets and file name (search Airtable forum for another forum post about how it is done). That's what I use and it gives me direct link to the picture file JPG etc.

Another reason why I prefer to use formulas to convert attachments to URLs is because I don't need to run anything (although it may a bit slow down the table) and also because the 3rd party extension seems not published by Airtable (while there is probably little risk as Airtable likely vets 3rd party extensions but if you are dealing with medical records that may be a little bit too much for you).

The extension needs to have the picture links separated into separate lines. 

2. Another way doing this (if you don't mind PDF) is converting all attachments into PDF:

Extension: PDF.co PDF Merger

This is a 3rd party service, it converts attachments to PDF and it seems it does it on the server. With the free or even paid service, I am not clear about data security since the encryption is not available for to cheaper accounts and that could be also an issue for medical records.