There are numerous reasons not to use OLE Embedding (or Linking) for storing images in Access. Here are
a few:
* Access 2003 does not include OLE server applications for images (and will remove existing ones). Many
users are finding that their apps break after upgrading.
* There is a potentially huge overhead for storing compressed images, especially jpeg, which can reach
200 *times* the size of the original image. A few hundred photos can cause the mdb file to reach the Access
size limit of 2GB. There is also a corresponding performance overhead (disk, network etc).
* With jpeg you cannot extract the original image data from the field, since it is usually stored as uncompressed
bmp. To get a jpeg file back out of the database requires additional lossy compression (i.e. reduced quality)
and loss of metadata (eg EXIF).
* The data is stored in a private undocumented format and cannot easily be used with other applications
and platforms (eg VB, IIS etc).
You can store the image inside the database as raw binary data without these problems, but this requires
either a fair amount of coding (and still relies on external/optional components to display formats like
jpeg), or use of a 3rd party component, which can do all the work for you.
You can work with external image files using the built-in Access Image Control, but this still relies on
the optional Office Graphics Filters to decode the relevant image formats (unless you only use .bmp images).
This can make installation and configuration a headache, particularly if you have several systems to deploy
the application to. Various workarounds and registry hacks may also be required.
Larry Linson and Stephen Lebans have samples that illustrate various free approaches, and there is much
useful information on 'The Access Web' (you can find these via the links page on our site - see sig below).
Our own image control is designed to take care of all the common aspects of image handling in Access with
little or no code. This is also accessible via the link below.
The following pages provide more detailed info comparing various Access approaches to image and picture
handling and storage:
http://www.ammara.com/articles/imagesaccess.html
http://www.ammara.com/acctech.html
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http://www.ammara.com/
Image Handling Components, Samples, Solutions and Info
DBPix 2.0 - lossless jpeg rotation, EXIF, asynchronous
