This article explains how to add attached files to documents in Document Management libraries using Google Drive.

Attached files in Document Management libraries can be stored in any of the compatible storage platforms. Learn more:

• Where is my content stored?
• Add attached files in Document Management libraries using Google Cloud or Azure storage

Learn more about how to manage attached files in Document Management libraries. 

Note: You can also:
– upload (replace) non-Google attached files in libraries using Google Drive
– preview attached files
– download attached files

This article explains how to:

Automatically generated table of contents

Access the Add attached file feature

1. Open a document in a Document Management library.

2. Either:

• click Add in the Properties tab
• scroll down to the Attachments section and click Add – you have to click Edit first if your document doesn't yet have any attached files

Select files to add

Google users can select one of these options:

• Attach — to upload files from your device or import files from Google Drive
• Upload and convert — to upload Microsoft Office files as attached files
• Upload using Virtru (available only if Virtru is activated on your domain and in this library) — to encrypt and upload a file
• Create — to create Google files

Upload files from your device or import files from Google Drive

Important: You can't upload files from your device if you're using the Files feature on a Chromebook. You must select your files from Google Drive instead.

1. Select Attach in the Add attached file dialog. The Google Drive file picker opens, where you can:

• drag and drop files from your device
• select files from your device
• select files stored in your Google Drive

Notes:
When you upload a file from your device:
– the file is first uploaded to your Google Drive – you are the owner
– then ownership of the file is transferred to the library's AODocs storage account

When you import a file from Google Drive:
– you can only select files you own in the Google Drive file picker
– these files are already uploaded in your Google Drive, so you will import files directly to AODocs and give the ownership of your files to the library's AODocs storage account

2. Choose one or more files and click Upload. The files are uploaded to your document.

Upload Microsoft Office files as attached files in libraries using Google Drive

1. Select Upload and convert in the Add attached file dialog. Your device's file picker opens.

2. Select a Microsoft Office file to upload and click Open.

The Microsoft file is converted to the corresponding Google file format and attached to the document.

Note: When you upload a Microsoft file from your device:
– the file is first uploaded to your Google Drive – you are the owner
– then ownership of the file is transferred to the library's AODocs storage account

Encrypt and upload files using Virtru

1. Select Upload using Virtru in the Add attached file dialog.

2. Follow the procedure described in the Virtru User Guide.

Create Google files from scratch

1. Select Create in the Add attached file dialog.

2. In the Create a file dialog, select the type of file to create:

• Google Docs
• Google Sheets
• Google Slides
• Google Drawings

3. Enter a name for your new file.

4. Click Create.

5. The Google file appears as an attached file in your document.

Note: When you create a new Google file:
– the file is first created in your Google Drive – you are the owner
– then ownership of the file is transferred to the library's AODocs storage account

Add attached files by drag and drop in Document Management libraries

1. Open a document in a Document Management library using Google Drive.

2. Open the Properties tab.

3. Drag and drop a non-Google file into the Properties tab.

Note: You can only drag and drop one file at the time. If you select multiple items, the first one you selected will be the only one added.

The file is added directly as an attached file if:

• your document has no attached files
• the selected file has a different name from existing attached files

If your file has the same name as an existing attached file, the upload dialog box opens. You can replace the existing attached file.