RE: file storage in the database
First and foremost, any feedback at all is much appreciated. Well, I know I phrased my question inappropriately. What I really want to know is: If anyone has ever attempted to store files in the database (files such as .pdf, any image files, word documents, text files, cad drawings, you name it files.) If anyone has successfully done so. If anyone made attempts and was either not successfull, or could not satisfied with that implementation. If they were not successful, if it was due to any limitations of the db driver or limitations with coldfusion. I did fully understand your query, and was simply being concise. For the long answer: I have stored files in a DB, and the only issues i have seen are in ColdFusion's string handling. That is, attempts to dump files into a variable have lead to some corruption of the data. Dumping the file contents directly in/out of the DB have been successful. I have not used this in a multi-user environment due to the harsh performance issues (about 3x slower than the filesystem). So, i have not accounted for all possible file content combinations and their interaction with a DB server (or its drivers). This is also a widely unsupported means of managing files. So, it might occur that after your have stuffed 3000 files into the DB that one mission-critical file isn't going to work and attempts to find support will result in a lot of i told ya so responses. So, in general, i've seen it work, but the performance sucks. If performance/scalability isn't your concern, and you don't need guaranteed file integrity (unless you implement something programmatically), then go for it. I personally would seek alternate means of dealing with the security problem, rather than using an ill-suited tool and counting on not having more than X simultaneous users. HTH -Ryan ~~ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-talk@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
RE: file storage in the database
We have a client/server software package that stores all the files in the db that we are currenly rewriting in ColdFusion, but someone on the team has the idea that CF does not support file storage in the db. I think they were specifically referring to the storage of images, but we will need to store any type of file including but not limited to PDF. If it is not supported by coldfusion, then we will just store the files out to disk. I'd have to imagine that the file system would be more efficient at storing files then a DB. I generally like to make a clear distinction between files and data. Store data about the files in the DB (including location on the disk) and store the actual files on disk. I don't know of any benchmarks, but i personally like to make that distinction. ~~ Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-talk@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
RE: file storage in the database
First and foremost, any feedback at all is much appreciated. Well, I know I phrased my question inappropriately. What I really want to know is: If anyone has ever attempted to store files in the database (files such as .pdf, any image files, word documents, text files, cad drawings, you name it files.) If anyone has successfully done so. If anyone made attempts and was either not successfull, or could not satisfied with that implementation. If they were not successful, if it was due to any limitations of the db driver or limitations with coldfusion. Our current application stores the files in the db and does not have any performance problems, but then we do not have over 100 simultaneous users and probably never will. Let me provide some background to the reason why I am investigating the storage of all the client's file in the database rather than the I am aware that there is a significant effect on performance when storing images and files in the database. First of all, it takes longer to retrieve and second, it is an additional hit to the database. But performance is not our main priority, protecting the files from tampering is. I understand that the files can be stored on the disk and protected through OS security or some security mechanism such as LDAP, but that is a maintenance nightmare. The problem with the solution of storing the files out to disk is that it requires so much more technical support because then we have to constantly maintain the security on all the systems that we install on. Second, we do not always have full rights to the os that the clients install our application on because some clients do not like giving that priveledge to external entities. This makes it tough to ensure that the proper rights are implemented. We could just write up security requirements and place the liability on client, but when they corrupt their files because they did not follow our directions, then they blame us. Even when they don't blame us and realize it is their mistake, our tech support team is required to repair the problem. Storing the files in the db requires much less effort in protection of the files. = Suzanne Capener Allaire Certified ColdFusion Developer Allaire Certified ColdFusion Instructor Infovision Inc. aka - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Looking to certify go to www.cfcertification.com ~~ Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-talk@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
