What this tool does
The URL to Attachment tool reads file URLs from a field and downloads those files into an Airtable attachment field. Use it to populate attachment fields from external URLs: product images from an e-commerce feed, documents from a CDN, or files referenced in a spreadsheet import.Settings reference
Source
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Source table | The table with URL records. |
| URL field | The URL, text, or Formula field containing file URLs. Supports comma or newline-separated multiple URLs in a single field. |
| Attachment field | The attachment field where downloaded files are saved. |
File naming
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Filename source | From URL (extract the filename from the URL path), From field (use a field’s value), or Custom template. |
| Filename field | A text, Formula, or URL field for the filename. Only shown for “From field” mode. |
| Filename template | Template with @ field references. Only shown for “Custom template” mode. |
Behavior
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Existing attachments | Append (keep existing files and add new ones) or Replace (overwrite existing attachments). |
| Skip empty URL fields | Skip records with blank URL fields. |
| Skip records with existing attachments | Skip records that already have files in the attachment field. |
Preview
The URL to Attachment tool has a preview panel that shows a sample of your URL records and confirms the URLs are accessible before running.Handling multiple URLs in one field
If a URL field contains multiple URLs separated by commas or newlines, the tool downloads all of them and saves each as a separate attachment on that record.Common questions
What happens if a URL returns a 404 or is unreachable?
What happens if a URL returns a 404 or is unreachable?
The record is skipped with an error in the execution log. Other records continue processing based on your error handling setting.
Are there file size limits?
Are there file size limits?
Airtable’s own attachment size limits apply. Very large files may fail if they exceed your Airtable plan’s attachment storage quota.
Can I use this to download images from Google Drive or Dropbox?
Can I use this to download images from Google Drive or Dropbox?
Yes, if the URL is a direct download link (not a sharing page URL). Google Drive and Dropbox sharing links need to be converted to direct download format first.
Does the tool handle redirects?
Does the tool handle redirects?
Yes. The tool follows HTTP redirects (301, 302, etc.) to reach the final file URL.