Attachment Tracking
Attachment tracking lets you see who views your files, how long they spend on each page, and whether the file was forwarded — all from the Yesware Activity Feed.
Works with: PDF, PowerPoint (PPT), Word Docs, Excel Sheets, and MP4s. PDFs and PPTs include enhanced analytics; other file types are trackable but without per-page or viewer-name options.
How to Insert a Tracked Attachment
Gmail
- Open a compose window and click the blue paperclip icon at the bottom
- Select your file
- For PDFs and PPTs, choose your tracking options:
- Allow recipient to download — recipients can save the file, but you won't see tracking data if they share the downloaded copy
- Ask recipient to enter a name — recipients are prompted for their name before viewing; if the email is forwarded, each new viewer can enter their name so you can track who viewed it
- Click Continue — the attachment inserts as a stylized link in your email
Outlook
- Open the Yesware Sidebar in your compose window (pin it for easier access)
- Click the Insert Tracked Attachment tab
- Select your file and choose your tracking options:
- Allow file download
- Ask recipient for name for more detailed analytics
- Click Insert Attachment — the attachment appears as a stylized link
Viewing Tracking Notifications
Gmail: You receive notifications in the Activity Feed at the top of your inbox when a recipient opens the attachment.
Outlook: Notifications appear in the Tracking Feed of the Yesware Inbox Sidebar.
Tracked attachments show a distinct icon in the feed to differentiate them from regular email opens.
Accessing Presentation Reports
Gmail: Click the presentation name in the Activity Feed, or click the eyeball icon in the top right corner of the original email.
Outlook: Click View All Attachment Analytics on the event in the Tracking Feed. Or, go to your Sent folder, open the email, click the Message tab in the Tracking Feed, then click the linked Presentation Report.
Reports include:
- Number of views and average time spent
- Pages viewed and downloaded
- Last viewed timestamp
- Device and IP location
- Viewer name (if collected)
Salesforce Integration
On the Enterprise plan with Salesforce Sync enabled, presentation views automatically sync to the matching Contact or Lead record in Salesforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track a Google Drive attachment?
Yes. Enable Link Tracking in your preferences, then attach the Drive file as a tracked link rather than a direct upload.
What happens if a recipient forwards the file after downloading it?
If you allowed the recipient to download the file, you won't receive tracking data for secondary viewers who access the downloaded copy. To track forwarded views, use the Ask recipient to enter a name option instead — this way each viewer who opens the email link can be tracked individually.
Does attachment tracking work for all file types?
Tracked attachments work for PDFs, PowerPoints, Word Docs, Excel Sheets, and MP4s. Only PDFs and PPTs show the tracking option checkboxes (download permission and name prompt). Other file types are inserted immediately and are trackable, but without enhanced analytics or viewer prompts.