One of the most common things attorneys need to do from their phone is attach a document to an email. If your firm uses NetDocuments, there are several ways to do this from your iPhone or Android device — depending on what you have installed and which workflow feels most natural. This post covers all four options.
Option 1: Share Directly from the NetDocuments App
This is the most straightforward approach if you’re already in the NetDocuments app, looking at the document you need to send.
Step 1: In the NetDocuments app, locate the document you want to attach.
Step 2: Tap the document’s drop-down menu and click Share
Step 3: Choose one of the following:
- Email Link — inserts a link to the document in NetDocuments into a new email. The recipient clicks the link to open the document (they will need NetDocuments access).
- Copy to Outlook — opens a new email in Outlook with the document attached as a file.
Use Copy to Outlook when you need to send the actual file to someone outside your firm. Use Email Link when the recipient has NetDocuments access and you want them to open the live version.
Option 2: Browse to NetDocuments from Within Outlook
If you’re already composing an email in Outlook and need to attach a file, you can browse directly to NetDocuments without switching apps.
Step 1: In Outlook, create a new email and tap the paperclip (Attach File) icon.
Step 2: Tap Files or Browse (the label varies slightly by device and Outlook version).
Step 3: In the file browser, tap Browse and select NetDocuments from the list of locations.
Step 4: Navigate to the workspace or matter, select the document, and it will be attached to your email.
Note: If NetDocuments doesn’t appear in the location list, make sure the NetDocuments app is installed on your device and you are logged in. iOS and Android both surface installed apps as file providers once they’re authenticated.
Option 3: Copy an Internal Link from NetDocuments
If you want to reference a document in the body of an email rather than attaching the file itself, you can copy the document’s internal link and paste it directly into Outlook.
Step 1: In the NetDocuments app, open the document.
Step 2: Tap the drop-down menu and select Copy Link or Copy Internal Link.
Step 3: Switch to Outlook, open or compose your email, and paste the link into the message body.
This is a clean option when you’re referencing multiple documents in a single email and don’t want to send large file attachments. Keep in mind the recipient will need NetDocuments access to open the link.
Option 4: Use ndKeyboard
If you have ndKeyboard set up on your device, this is the fastest option — you never have to leave Outlook at all.
Step 1: While composing an email in Outlook, tap the globe or keyboard icon to switch keyboards and select ndKeyboard.
Step 2: Search for the document by name, matter, or keyword.
Step 3: Tap the document to insert a link directly into the email body.
ndKeyboard inserts a link (not the file itself), so this works best for internal recipients or situations where a link is sufficient. For instructions on setting up ndKeyboard, see our ndKeyboard setup guide.
Which Option Should You Use?
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Sending a file to someone outside the firm | Option 1 (Copy to Outlook) or Option 2 |
| Sending a link to an internal colleague | Option 1 (Email Link) or Option 4 (ndKeyboard) |
| Already composing in Outlook | Option 2 or Option 4 |
| Referencing multiple documents in one email | Option 3 or Option 4 |
Related Guides in This Series
- Setting Up NetDocuments on Your Smartphone
- How to Use Microsoft Office with NetDocuments on an iPhone or iPad
- How to Save Emails to NetDocuments from Your Smartphone
- ndKeyboard: The NetDocuments Feature That Makes Sharing Documents Effortless
Have questions about your firm’s NetDocuments mobile setup? Contact Optiable — we’ve helped over 550 law firms configure NetDocuments to fit the way their attorneys actually work.