I would second Steve's suggestion Lee.
I have a couple of solutions where containing the graphic within the
database is mandatory. In these instances I use a multi file solution
with the graphics off loaded to the second file. This keeps the file
size down for the main program file. We access the graphics by
setting a key to view them in a global container. The graphics file
itself stays pretty static.
I have one solution where I am using almost exactly what Steve
describes below. The setting of the file path is scripted. They
navigate to the file doing an insert, click OK and the rest is done
by the script. We are putting them on a HTTP server ( actually a
couple of different servers) in this case and then accessing them
using a Get URL statement. For documents that are compliant, the
document is displayed in the web browser. For non compliant
documents, the document is downloaded. For what we are doing, it
works well. For the most part, these are not graphics but a multitude
of standards documents in various formats.
HTH
Dave McQueen
Lee,
Storing photos this size in a database can be a backup killer--the
resulting file is huge and because it's modified every time a photo
is added, the backup medium quickly fills up.
A better solution is to put the photos in a designated folder on a
network drive and store the path to the photo in the db. This way
the nightly backup only backs up the photos that were added during
the day, rather than backing up the enormous photo db every time the
mod date/time is changed.
After saving photo to this designated folder, you can temporarily
import it "as reference only" into a global container field. Create
a calc text field with the formula "getastext ( container field )".
This will display the complete info for the photo, including path.
Save the complete path out to your db. Delete and repeat for next
photo.
--
Steve Gerow
FileMaker 8/7 Certified Developer
President
Abrazos Data Consulting, Inc.
Pasadena, California
Member FileMaker Bus. Alliance
--
David A. McQueen
LICHEN Software
Barrie, ON, Canada
705-720-9022
705-728-2289
www.lichen-software.com
