Holding files in an Access mdb?

[VegaLA]

Hi all.
I have been asked to develop two DB apps in Lotus Notes which filled me with despair since I would rather do this in Access 2003 but aparantly Notes can hold files. I know Access can link to files stored on a network but can Access match up to Notes in this feature and actually hold files the ame way as Notes ?

Any advice on this is greatly appreciated.

Mitch....

 

[Simon_MT]

Access can hold files BUT you end bloating the database that can lead to corruption. A database is a database whereas a file system holds documents. If your client wants documents to be stored they really need a a proper Document Management system.

Simon

 

[ChrisO]

G’day Mitch

Yes, but the real question is why?

Any file can be stored within Access as a BLOB in an OLE Object field in a table provided that file is less than 1Gig in A97 and 2Gig in later versions.

Depending on the definition of ‘BLOAT’ a BLOB causes no bloat to a database any more than anything else stored in it.
In fact, a BLOB is usually more efficient than any other type of data stored.
Also, if compressed to a Zip file the storage can be highly efficient.

Having said that, we still need a reason for storing the information in the first place.
It is usually better to store a reference to the data or, better still (IMO), calculate the reference on the fly… if we can.

In any case, storing a BLOB requires code and storing compressed BLOB’s requires even more code.
Also, someone will come along and say A2007 has a data type for that so why not switch to A2007.
(I’m not sure that it does but it should if it doesn’t.)

So to me, the question is not how… but why.

Regards,
Chris.

 

[VegaLA]

Thanks for your answers guys.

I myself cannot answer the 'Why' question since this is a decision made way up the line and therer is too much red tape involved in the changing of a process that has been set in stone years before I set foot in the Company !

I just wanted tio avoid creating these application in lotus Notes since I detest that tool so much and would much prefer to work in Access/SQL server.

I'll try and get an answer from my Boss as to 'why' but i'm not betting on a straight answer !!

Thanks again !

 

[Simon_MT]

Look on the bright side you could be using FileMaker.

Simon

 

[rhett7660]

Not to jump off... but I like filemaker..... it is freaking easy to use.........

 

[Simon_MT]

I'm not the greatest techie around, but the VB in Access makes all the difference. It did take ages to learn and I probably still do know not half the story.

Didn't mean to be rude.

Simon

 

[RuralGuy]

Thanks for your answers guys.

I myself cannot answer the 'Why' question since this is a decision made way up the line and therer is too much red tape involved in the changing of a process that has been set in stone years before I set foot in the Company !

I just wanted tio avoid creating these application in lotus Notes since I detest that tool so much and would much prefer to work in Access/SQL server.

I'll try and get an answer from my Boss as to 'why' but i'm not betting on a straight answer !!

Thanks again !

You can always keep the actual files in a "hidden" cryptically named folder and use Access to store and fetch the file.