# Can existing image urls be integrated as attachments? **URL:** \ **Category:** Office Hours\ **Created:** [June 9, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/can-existing-image-urls-be-integrated-as-attachments/3723 "2026-06-09T16:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 3
**Author:** ![bronwyn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/speciforum.org/bronwyn/32/5742_2.png) [@bronwyn](https://speciforum.org/u/bronwyn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://speciforum.org/t/can-existing-image-urls-be-integrated-as-attachments/3723/3 "2026-06-10T20:46:46Z")
Hi @Slopezal , It is not possible to treat URLs as attachments at this time, but it is something we are looking at adding in the future ([Github Issue #6010](https://github.com/specify/specify7/issues/6010)). However, URLs to attachments outside of Specify can be stored in a web link field on the forms: ![Image URL web link field on a Collection Object](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/specifysoftware/original/2X/e/ef05f62fc56ec7d4e53b6e8e7756d0e0bc9974b0.png) You can use a one-to-many relationship (like ‘Collection Object Property’) to add one or more links _with_ a button to view the attachment on the external repository. If the ‘purl’ has a static base URL with an ID system, you can even store just the ID in the field and have it automatically perpend to the base URL when the web link button is clicked. > _**Relevant Documentation: [Editing Web Links in Specify 7](https://speciforum.org/t/editing-web-links-in-specify-7/1559)**_ Additionally, images stored in Specify as attachment records produce a share link in the form meta menu: ![Attachment Form Meta menu dialog](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/specifysoftware/original/2X/c/ca61c25c39b44af3b4acab6d9b0c6ac494d62d51.jpeg) We look forward to going over this and any further questions during tomorrow’s open office hours! --- _[View the full topic](https://speciforum.org/t/can-existing-image-urls-be-integrated-as-attachments/3723)._