Attachment Functionality

OpenWells® Software Features > Attachments

OpenWells software and other Drilling and Completions applications in the Engineer's Desktop™ software suite, provide the ability to attach one or more files or folders to various application areas. In OpenWells software this includes:

Well Explorer Nodes - using the File > New menu or the right-click menu
Reports in Report List - using the File > New menu or the right-click menu
Data Entry Forms Spreadsheet Attachments
Data Entry Form Attachments
Lessons Learned Property Dialog - located on the General tab
NPT-Failure Properties Dialog - located on the General tab

You can "attach" any kind of file or folder created in Windows to areas of OpenWells software where attachments are supported (e.g., Site, Well, Report, Dialog, Spreadsheet).

Attached files and folders can be copied from one Well Explorer data item to another using the right-click Copy option, saved to another name using Save As, and deleted (if copied) or detached (if linked) using Delete. To view the current properties of the attachment, select Properties from the right-click menu.

Attachments can be stored in the database as a link, or as a copy to a disk file.

Link: Only the path to the disk file is stored in the database. Any edits you make are saved to the original disk file. You can edit the document directly from the Well Explorer, or you can edit the disk file from it’s disk location; the changes are reflected in both places. When stored as a link the attachment can only be accessed by users whose access to the attachment is not limited by their access to the machine or network. Attachments stored as a link can be edited by any user with access to the original document through the link. When an attachment is added as a link, it can only be viewed on the machine in which the attachment was initially added. For all other users the shortcut is visible and acts as a placeholder to inform users that it exists. Any information on the shortcut should be placed in the properties page description field, since the properties of the shortcut are visible in the preview pane for all users. Landmark recommends use of UNC file paths to avoid problems with inconsistently mapped network drives. In the Associated Data Viewer, the icon representing a Linked document is shown as a paperclip ( ) with a small arrow in the lower left corner. This is the default behavior.
Copy: The document is copied to the database. Once copied, the document has no relationship with the original disk file; if you make changes to the Well Explorer copy, those changes are not reflected in the disk file, and vice-versa. Attachments stored in the database cannot be directly edited. When a change is made to the attachment it is stored locally and must be re-added to the database and either renamed or the existing attachment replaced. In the Associated Data Viewer, the icon representing a Copied document is shown as a paperclip ( ) icon.

File Attachments

Attached files are displayed in the Associated Data Viewer in the Well Explorer and can be launched in their native applications by double-clicking on them. You can attach Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, pictures (GIF, TIFF, JPG, PowerPoint, etc.), or other file types with a recognized file extension. For example, if you have a Well or Site selected in the Well Explorer, you can attach a map of the Rigsite in JPG format.

Attached files can be copied from one data item to another using the right-click Copy option, exported to another location and renamed using Save As, and deleted (if copied) or detached (if linked) using Delete. To view the current properties of the attachment, select Properties from the right-click menu.

Folder Attachments

Attached folders are stored as a link in the database. Attached folders, associated with the selected data item, are displayed in the Associated Data Viewer in the Well Explorer and can be opened in the Windows Explorer by double-clicking on the attachment. For example, if you have a Site selected in the Well Explorer, you can attach a link to a folder containing files related to the Site.