Database - How can I store images (or other files) in a database?

[si_the_geek]

Most databases allow you to store data of various kinds, including differing kinds of numbers and text. Most also allow you to store binary data, which allows you to store entire files inside your records.


One thing to bear in mind is that storing files can increase the size of your database dramatically - which can cause problems for some database systems if you have too many (MS Access especially). Storing images in the database does however mean that you can backup the images along with the rest of your data.

An alternative to storing images in the database is to store them in an area that all users of the database can connect to, and just keep the path to the file in your database, eg: "\\MyServer\Pictures\Picture1.jpg". Which method you use is up to you.

One final thing to think about, if you are storing files in the database you may want to create a text field too, so that you can store the name of the file. This way, when you get the file back out again you can save it with the original file name - otherwise you will have to make up the name (or let the user do it), but if you don't use the right extension (eg .jpg) you wont be able to open it!


Anyway, on to the part you came here for... A tutorial by Beacon to store images in an Access database can be found in the attachment at the bottom of the first post in the thread Tutorials and Tips, which is now also shown in the post below!