[AccessD] Questions about Attachments

Arthur,

My one experience with attachment fields was not good. Inherited a database
using attachment fields for document storage. It was slow and had large back
end file size. The customer wanted it faster. Due to the projected use of
the system we decided to upsize to SQL Server. Attachment fields do not
upsize. Neither do any of the other "new" field types introduced with Access
2007.  My suggestion is to strongly encourage storing links in table to
pictures in the file system.  If the database is to work over a network it
will slow down with the attachment fields.

Not much information but a little experience.

Doug

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Arthur Fuller
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 5:00 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: [AccessD] Questions about Attachments

A potential client wants an app whose principal table contains addresses and
three pictures per address. Normally my first suggestion would be to store
the pictures as JPG files and pointers to the pictures either in a
multi-value field or in an associative table (AddressID, PictureName). But
the client seems to want the pictures stored as attachments in the Addresses
table. I have very little experience working with Attachments, other than
reading through Helen Feddema's example code.

1. Assuming that I walk the directory containing the pictures and have a
method of knowing which pictures belong to each Address, how can I
programmatically move the picture into the Address as an attachment?
2. Assuming that the pictures are now Attachments, can I extract them for
inclusion in a report? I.e. print each Address and its pictures.
3. I'm told that once the photos have been taken, there will never be a need
to edit them, but whenever I hear the word Never, I reach for my revolver.
Should that need ever arise, can one simply double-click the Attachment of
interest and automatically invoke the appropriate editor?
I.e. this question could apply equally to pictures and, say, Word documents.

TIA,
Arthur
Cell: 647.710.1314

Prediction is difficult, especially of the future.
  -- Niels Bohr
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