Incorporating Files Into a Database

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don
  • Start date Start date
D

Don

I am looking for an example of storing and retrieving files from an Access
DB. We are modifying or personnel database and would like to attach files
to the person's record. Files that are attached may be of several common
types (e.g. MS Word, Adobe PDF, MS Excel, etc) and contain performance
reports, letters, etc. The objective is to list the files, or a descriptive
alias, and when the user selects the item from the list, the appropriate
application will open the document.

Any web references or suggestions welcomed.

Thanks!

Don
 
Don,

You could make a table with 4 fields:
FileID
PersonID (foreign key to main personnel table)
FileDescription
FileName

Make the FileName field a hyperlink data type, and the data entered in
here needs to be the full path to the file plus the File protocol
identifier, for example
File:\\C:\PersonnelDocuments\Fred.pdf
(the prepending of the File:\\ bit could be automated at data entry time
so you don't have to type it every time.)
Then the user just has to click on the filename on the form and the file
should automatically open within the relevant application.
 
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