File previews and attachments
Comindwork provides a rich file management experience within records. Attach files to any record, preview them without downloading, and manage attachments directly from the form.
Attaching files
Upload methods
- Drag and drop - drag files from your desktop onto the record form
- File picker - click the attachment area and select files from your computer
- Paste - paste images from your clipboard directly into the form
Files are stored in the Comindwork virtual filesystem (VFS) and linked to the record.
File list display
Attached files appear as a list with:
- File name and extension
- File size
- Upload date
- Thumbnail preview (for images and supported document types)
Previewing files
Click on an attached file to open a preview without downloading it.
Supported preview formats
| Format | Preview type |
|---|---|
| Images (PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG) | Inline image viewer |
| Document viewer | |
| Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) | Document preview |
| Text files | Plain text display |
| Video | Video player |
Office file previews are rendered server-side using Headless Chrome. For full editing capabilities, use the WebDAV integration to open files directly in your desktop Office application.
Thumbnails
Image files and supported document types generate automatic thumbnails. Thumbnails appear:
- In the file attachment list on the record form
- In grid cells when using a file preview renderer
- In card view layouts
The backend generates thumbnails via the ThumbnailsController API endpoint.
File operations
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Download | Save the file to your local machine |
| Preview | View the file in the browser |
| View in Office | Open Office documents for in-place editing via WebDAV (see WebDAV and Office editing) |
| Delete | Remove the attachment from the record |
Files in lists
File attachments can be displayed in list views using the file preview cell renderer. This shows thumbnails or file icons directly in grid columns.
The File folders list format provides a dedicated file/folder navigation experience for apps that primarily manage documents.
Performance
For workspaces with large numbers of files, the platform applies performance optimizations:
- Lazy loading of thumbnails
- Pagination for long file lists
- Optimized file queries for large workspaces