Attachments FAQ

With Attachments in web view, you can:

• Scan attachments for viruses.

• Open attachments directly in their native applications such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat.

• Upload and open attachments much faster than media files in the database view.

• Easily access and manage attachments across devices since attachments live in the cloud—not your database.

• Add descriptions to attachments.

• Manage attachment tags from Control Panel, Tables. For more information, see Attachment Tags.

As media types are only used in database view, you’ll no longer be able to access and edit the Media Types table.

After you enter details and save, Raiser’s Edge NXT automatically scans the file for viruses to protect you from downloading malicious content.

Note: Attachments uploaded to web view are not available in database view.

Warning: With the release of this virus scanning for attachments, we no longer recommend you upload attachments in database view.

When you upload attachments in database view:

• Attachments are not scanned for viruses which makes it possible to download malicious content when the file is retrieved from database view.

  When the attachments sync to web view, we scan the file for viruses. Those deemed safe will be available for you to view, edit, and download in Raiser’s Edge NXT. Those deemed potentially malicious will be quarantined, and you’ll only be able to delete the attachment record shell.

• Attachment syncs from database view to web view occur approximately every 30 minutes, but it may take up to 60 minutes. Unsupported file types and files over 100 MB will not appear in Raiser’s Edge NXT. For more information, see Database-to-Web View Refresh Rates.

  Tip: Need to attach a file over 100 MB? Save it in a cloud storage account such as Dropbox or Google Drive and then attach its link to the constituent's record in the web view.

• Edits made to media files in the database view — such as to the name, type, or description — don't appear for the corresponding attachments in the web view.

In the database view, media types help describe files that are attached to constituent, event, and proposal records. Media types used on attachments in database view will get converted to attachment tags.

Note: After the database view attachment syncs with web view, any edits to the attachment in database view will not be available in web view.

Attachment tags are used in web view to identify attachments based on how your organization categorizes them, such as pictures, videos, or news clippings. You can choose tags when you add or edit an attachment.

Admins can create attachment tags when adding or editing an attachment. From Control panel, Tables, you can manage the available tags in the Attachment Tags table.

For more information, see Attachment Tags.

To view, add, edit, download, or delete an attachment, you will need permission to view the parent record, such as the constituent, gift, or event record. For more information, see Attachments Security.

Supervisor users can automatically view and edit the Attachment Tags table in web view.

Users without Supervisor rights will need the following database view Configuration permission to view and edit the Attachment Tags table in web view:

1. In database view, navigate to Admin, Security.

2. Open the security group that you wish to manage table access for.

3. Under Group Privileges, select Configuration.

4. Select Save and Close.

5. Make sure the user is a member of the security group you updated.

Note: If a user can view the Attachment Tags table, they can also edit it. There is no read-only option for this table.

Existing SKY API attachment endpoints will continue to work as expected.

Attachments you add with SKY API will automatically be scanned for viruses. Those deemed potentially malicious will be quarantined, and the attachment record shell can only be deleted in web view.

When a GET call is made to retrieve an attachment that is actively being scanned or one that has been quarantined, the call will return the attachment metadata, but it won’t return the URL. In a future release, we’ll provide a more specific response.