Troubleshooting Null Returns from GetFile and GetFileWithNoData in Acumatica

Working with files in Acumatica using the UploadFileMaintenance graph can be tricky, especially when attempting to retrieve file information programmatically. A common challenge developers encounter is that GetFile() or GetFileWithNoData() unexpectedly returns null, even when the file IDs are known to exist.

This article outlines possible causes of this issue and presents a better alternative approach using the PXNoteAttribute and PX.SM.FileInfo classes — the recommended pattern in Acumatica.

The Problem

Let’s say you’ve obtained a list of file IDs associated with a record like this:

Despite the file IDs being valid and present in the system, both methods return null.

Recommended Fix: Use PX.SM.FileInfo Instead

Instead of using the UploadFileMaintenance graph, the standard and safer approach is to use the PX.SM.FileInfo class, which is the correct way to retrieve file metadata.

Why UploadFileMaintenance.GetFile() Might Fail

While it’s possible to instantiate and use the UploadFileMaintenance graph directly, it’s not the recommended method for retrieving file information. Some reasons why GetFile() might return null include:

• File Not Persisted: The file may not have a matching record in the UploadFileRevision table.
• Context Limitations: UploadFileMaintenance might not be correctly initialized or connected to a valid cache context.
• Access Permissions: The current user may lack permissions to access or retrieve the file.
• Cached State Issues: Using a single UploadFileMaintenance instance across multiple iterations can sometimes cause unexpected state issues.

Best Practices for File Access in Acumatica

•  Use PXNoteAttribute.GetFileNotes(...) to retrieve file IDs.
•  Use PX.SM.UploadFileInfoProvider.GetFileInfo(Guid) to retrieve file metadata.
•  Use UploadFileMaintenance.DeleteFile(Guid) to delete files safely.
•  Avoid relying on UploadFileMaintenance.GetFile() or GetFileWithNoData() unless absolutely necessary.
•  If you must use UploadFileMaintenance, consider creating a new instance per operation to avoid stale state.