Attachments

Embed files within your PDF document.

What are Attachments?

PDF attachments are files embedded within the document itself. They travel with the PDF and can be extracted by recipients.

Common uses:

• Source data files (spreadsheets, CSVs)
• Supporting documents
• Original source files
• Supplementary materials

Viewing Attachments

Open Attachments Panel

• Click View → Navigation Panels → Attachments
• Or click the Attachments icon in the sidebar (paperclip)

Attachment Information

For each attachment you can see:

• File name
• File size
• File type
• Description (if added)
• Date added

Adding Attachments

Drag and Drop

You can also drag files directly:

1. Open the Attachments panel
2. Drag files from your computer
3. Drop onto the panel
4. Files are attached automatically

Supported File Types

You can attach virtually any file type:

• Documents (Word, Excel, PDF)
• Images (JPG, PNG, GIF)
• Data files (CSV, XML, JSON)
• Archives (ZIP, RAR)
• And more

Working with Attachments

Opening an Attachment

1. Click the attachment in the panel
2. Click Open or double-click
3. The file opens in its default application

Saving an Attachment

1. Select the attachment
2. Click Save or right-click → Save As
3. Choose a location on your computer
4. Click Save

Saving All Attachments

1. Click Tools → Attachments → Save All
2. Choose a destination folder
3. All attachments are extracted to that folder

Deleting an Attachment

1. Select the attachment
2. Click Delete or press Delete key
3. Confirm deletion

Attachment Properties

Viewing Properties

1. Right-click an attachment
2. Select Properties
3. View details

Editable Properties

Editing Description

1. Right-click the attachment
2. Select Properties
3. Edit the description
4. Click OK

Attachment Security

Security Considerations

• Attachments can contain any content
• Recipients may be wary of unexpected attachments
• Some organizations block embedded files

Best Practices

Subscription Limits

Attachment features vary by subscription tier:

File Size Considerations

Impact on Document Size

• Each attachment increases the PDF file size
• Consider compression for large files
• ZIP archives can reduce size

Size Guidelines

Alternatives for Large Files

For files over 20 MB, consider:

• Link to cloud storage instead
• Compress before attaching
• Split into multiple files

PDF/A Considerations

PDF/A-1 and PDF/A-2

PDF/A-1 and PDF/A-2 do not allow attachments.

PDF/A-3

PDF/A-3 allows attachments with restrictions:

• Must be embedded (no external links)
• Should include relationship information
• Used for associated files (e.g., source data)

Use Cases

Source Data

Attach the raw data behind charts and tables:

• Excel spreadsheets
• CSV files
• Database exports

Original Documents

Include source files for reference:

• Word documents
• InDesign files
• Original images

Supporting Materials

Add supplementary content:

• Appendices
• Related documents
• Reference materials

Forms and Templates

Attach fillable forms:

• Blank forms for recipients
• Templates for reuse
• Example completed forms

Tips

• Use clear, descriptive file names
• Add descriptions explaining each attachment
• Organize related attachments with consistent naming
• Consider your audience’s ability to open file types
• Test that attachments open correctly before sharing

Next Steps

• Document Properties - View and edit document metadata
• Share Documents - Share documents with collaborators
• Organize & Manage - Organize documents with folders and search