Adding BMPs to a form

[Charlie]

I use Access 2003. I have a table set up with a field for pictures, this
table sits behind a form to add BMPs, which display on the form and print on
reports.
In the past, when I have had to reinstall Access for any reason, the
pictures instead of displaying fully in the form, only show as thumbnails
with the file name. I have in the past resoved this by removing Microsoft
Picture manager from MS Office. I don't know how I figured that out or why it
works but it does. However, I had to reinstall Office yesterday, removed MS
Pictrue Manager as usual and it's NOT working now, still only thumbnails
display. Is this a known problem? Can anybody help me?

 

[Larry Linson]

How are you displaying the pictures? In an Image Frame? There's a property
for thumbnails. What version of Access are you using?

Many find it better to keep the pictures in a Windows folder, not in the
Access database, and only keep a path-and-filename to the picture in the DB.
..BMP pictures are "space hogs", so you may need to take the "external" file
approach if you have many of them. Here's some information I wrote up on
displaying pictures.

The sample imaging databases at http://accdevel.tripod.com illustrate three
approaches to handling images in Access, and the download includes an
article discussing considerations in choosing an approach. Two of the
approaches do not use OLE Objects and, thus, avoid the database bloat, and
some other problems, associated with images in OLE Objects.

If you are printing the images in reports, to avoid memory leakage, you
should also see MVP Stephen Lebans' http://www.lebans.com/printfailures.htm.
PrintFailure.zip is an Access97 MDB containing a report that fails during
the Access formatting process prior to being spooled to the Printer Driver.
This MDB also contains code showing how to convert the contents of the Image
control to a Bitmap file prior to printing. This helps alleviate the "Out of
Memory" error that can popup when printing image intensive reports.

And, Stephen has an ActiveX control available that works in cases where the
graphics filters are not available -- and works better, I've heard, than the
OLE Object and OLE Controls.

Please note that there are other approaches, e.g.,
Application.FollowHyperlink, but those, like OLE and Bound OLE Frames still
leave you "at the mercy of the imaging software registered for the
filetype".

Finally, Access 2007 has enhancements that, reputedly, eliminate the
database bloat long associated with OLE Objects and Bound OLE Frames. But,
it still leaves you relying on the software registered for the image type,
which may not be as "cooperative" as we'd like in creating our display. It
also has the capability of having a variable number of Attachments to a
Record, which may be helpful. But, as I have not done much with it yet, I
certainly wouldn't suggest you rush out and replace an earlier version.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Office Access MVP

 

[Charlie]

Yes it is in an image frame. I've used this particular method of displaying
photos in this database for several years. The number of photos that I use
are only for current entries, they get deleted regularly, so I have no
concern for bloat. I'm happy with the set up when it works, which it's not
doing right now.

I'm using Access 2003

After two days on this it may help to restate the problem. I had some memory
issues related to video (not Access related) and deinstalled some things from
office, which while none were named OLE, obviously I deleted that
unknowingly. Big mistake. The problem I originally stated originally may be
secondary and I'm thinking I have to sovle this (which I put in another post,
but I'll past here).

I use Access 2003 to track Humane Society animals and form which accomodate
BMPs of the animals which we use for promotion and getting them homes. After
successfully using this for several years, I'm gettng a OLE server isn't
registered message and none of the BMPs will display. All the on line help
has been useless, I've tired all suggestions includin the Regsvr32.exe . I've
reinstalled Office 3 times. I'm desperate for a solution and have spent days

 

[Larry Linson]

It would appear that you are using OLE Objects (which I haven't done in a
long time) and have no imaging software registered to automatically be
invoked for the .BMP image type... possibly the registration was wiped out
during your recent problems. One of your image processing software, your
browser or Windows Paint should be able to render the bit map image type.

You should be able to open Windows Explorer and register some software
program to be used to display .BMP images. In Windows XP, you'd click Tools
on the menu, then Folder Options, then click the File Types tab.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Office Access MVP

 

[Charlie]

Still working on this. I need to add that I have this running on a desktop
and it works great.
Using your advice below I reinstalled Photoshop on the laptop with the
problem, which is what I use for the BMP file type since using Microsoft
office Picture manager will only display a thumbnail.

Didn't work. I'm faced with reimaging the entire hard drive at this point.
Clearly something is missing but it appears to be impossible to discover what
is missing.

 

[Risse]

Still working on this. I need to add that I have this running on a desktop
and it works great.
Using your advice below I reinstalled Photoshop on the laptop with the
problem, which is what I use for the BMP file type since using Microsoft
office Picture manager will only display a thumbnail.

Didn't work. I'm faced with reimaging the entire hard drive at this point.
Clearly something is missing but it appears to be impossible to discover
what
is missing.