Attachments

A defect without a photo is just a description. Adding photos, documents, and annotated images to issues turns a text record into visual evidence — making it clear exactly what the problem is, where it is, and what needs to be done.

Attaching Files to Issues

Issues support file attachments including photos, documents, PDFs, and other file types. Files are uploaded securely using presigned S3 URLs — the same upload infrastructure used for report attachments.

To attach files to an issue:

1. Open the issue detail page (or the create issue modal).
2. Find the Attachments section.
3. Click the upload area or drag and drop files.
4. Files are uploaded and attached to the issue.

You can attach multiple files to a single issue. Attached files appear as thumbnails (for images) or file icons (for documents) with the filename and file size.

Photo Capture

Desktop

On the web app, upload photos from your computer by clicking the upload area or dragging and dropping image files.

Mobile

On the mobile app, you have additional options:

• Camera capture — take a photo directly from your device camera. This is the most common workflow on site — walk up to a defect, open the issue, and snap a photo.
• Gallery upload — select an existing photo from your device's photo gallery.

Photos captured on mobile are compressed automatically to balance quality and upload speed.

Image Annotation

After uploading a photo, you can annotate it with visual mark-ups to highlight the specific area of concern. The annotation tools include:

• Arrows — point to the exact location of a defect.
• Text labels — add descriptions directly on the image.
• Highlights — draw attention to areas with coloured overlays.
• Freehand drawing — circle or underline areas of interest.

The annotation editor is available on both web and mobile:

• Web — uses the Pintura image editor for a full-featured annotation experience.
• Mobile — uses the Pro Image Editor for touch-friendly annotation on your device.

Annotated images are saved alongside the original, so you always have both the clean original and the marked-up version.

💡 Tip

Annotate defect photos on-site using the mobile app. Capture the photo, draw an arrow pointing to the crack or defect, add a text label like "50mm crack — requires structural assessment", and attach it to the issue. This saves time compared to trying to describe the location of a defect in words alone.

Comment Attachments

Files can also be attached to individual comments on an issue — not just the issue itself. This is useful for documenting the resolution process over time:

• Raise the issue with a photo of the defect.
• Add a comment during resolution with a photo showing the repair in progress.
• Add a final comment with a photo of the completed fix.

This creates a visual timeline of the issue from identification through to resolution — all in one place.

To attach files to a comment:

1. Open the issue detail page.
2. Scroll to the Comments section.
3. Start writing your comment.
4. Click the attachment button to upload files.
5. Post the comment with the attached files.

Common Uses

Here are some common ways teams use issue attachments in practice:

File Storage and Security

All attachments are stored securely in AWS S3. Uploads use presigned URLs — the file goes directly from your browser or device to the storage service without passing through the application server. Downloads also use presigned URLs with time-limited access.

Thumbnails are generated automatically for image files, so the issue detail page loads quickly even when there are many attachments.

What's Next?

• Ready to try it out? Follow the Tutorial: Raising and Resolving Issues which includes attaching and annotating a defect photo.
• Want to learn about report attachments? See Files, Signatures & Images for the similar attachment features in reports.
• Looking for the broader picture? Return to the Issues Overview.