Pictures in Access

[Guest]

Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[Guest]

Hi Jenny

If there are only a few pictures you can do it manually.


To link your picture thumbnail with the OLE
1 Open the Table that will hold the data /picture (not the form)
2 navigate to the OLE field on the correct record and Right Click
3 Select Insert Object
4 Select Create From File and then Bitmap and then check the Link option
5 Browse to your picture and select it
6 Click OK
8 “Package†will appear in the field
9 View your image on the form

If there are more than a few you can simply code the insertion. How many
pictures do you have

 

[Guest]

Wayne,

We are taking the pictures of our forklifts as they come in, so it is
continually growing. There is usually only one or two pictures per stock
number.

Also, I have to put it into a table and not a form??

Thanks for your help. I'll try what you suggested.

Jenny

 

[Guest]

You put the "link" to the picture in the table (not the picture).

 

[bob]

Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times* the actual
file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless you use
a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.


The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains the filename - this field
must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database (.mdb) file is located
(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()

 

[Guest]

Hi Bob

I think you misunderstood my answer. It is the"link" to the “path†to the
graphic that is stored not the picture and so there will not be any bloating
(OK there “will†be – just a bit by adding a path)

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.

Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times* the actual
file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless you use
a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.


The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains the filename - this field
must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database (.mdb) file is located
(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[bob]

The procedure you detailed was creating an OLE Linked object (using ‘Insert Object’) - any ‘useful’ OLE
linking causes nearly as much overhead as OLE Embedding (since the uncompressed ‘preview’ is still stored).
A ‘Package’ is not useful, since it can’t be displayed in a form or report, as requested by the OP.

--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hi Bob

I think you misunderstood my answer. It is the"link" to the “path†to the
graphic that is stored not the picture and so there will not be any bloating
(OK there “will†be – just a bit by adding a path)

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.

Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times* the actual
file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless you use
a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.


The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains the filename - this field
must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database (.mdb) file is located
(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[Guest]

Bob,

Thanks for the tip. I'm fairly new to access though so I don't where to put
this code in at?

Jenny

The procedure you detailed was creating an OLE Linked object (using ‘Insert Object’) - any ‘useful’ OLE
linking causes nearly as much overhead as OLE Embedding (since the uncompressed ‘preview’ is still stored).
A ‘Package’ is not useful, since it can’t be displayed in a form or report, as requested by the OP.

--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hi Bob

I think you misunderstood my answer. It is the"link" to the “path†to the
graphic that is stored not the picture and so there will not be any bloating
(OK there “will†be – just a bit by adding a path)

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.

Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times* the actual
file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless you use
a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.


The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains the filename - this field
must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database (.mdb) file is located
(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html






Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[Guest]

Quite simple question

Do you have any conection with either Ammera or DBPix

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.

The procedure you detailed was creating an OLE Linked object (using ‘Insert Object’) - any ‘useful’ OLE
linking causes nearly as much overhead as OLE Embedding (since the uncompressed ‘preview’ is still stored).
A ‘Package’ is not useful, since it can’t be displayed in a form or report, as requested by the OP.

--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hi Bob

I think you misunderstood my answer. It is the"link" to the “path†to the
graphic that is stored not the picture and so there will not be any bloating
(OK there “will†be – just a bit by adding a path)

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.

Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times* the actual
file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless you use
a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.


The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains the filename - this field
must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database (.mdb) file is located
(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html






Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[bob]

Open the form or report in design mode.

On the menus, go: 'View' -> 'Code'.

Paste in the code and adapt according to your needs.


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Bob,

Thanks for the tip. I'm fairly new to access though so I don't where to put
this code in at?

Jenny

The procedure you detailed was creating an OLE Linked object (using ‘Insert Object’) - any ‘useful’ OLE
linking causes nearly as much overhead as OLE Embedding (since the uncompressed ‘preview’ is still stored).
A ‘Package’ is not useful, since it can’t be displayed in a form or report, as requested by the OP.

--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hi Bob

I think you misunderstood my answer. It is the"link" to the “path†to the
graphic that is stored not the picture and so there will not be any bloating
(OK there “will†be – just a bit by adding a path)

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.



:



Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times*

the
actual

file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless

you
use

a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.

The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains

the filename -
this field

must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database

(.mdb) file
is located

(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html






Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[Guest]

Hi Bob

THE IDEA OF THIS FORUM IS TO GIVE FREE AND UNBIASED ADVICE.
The original question did not mention db size (If you search this forum you
will see many answers on this subject where I have given step-by step method
to reduce files sizes of picture or insert thumbnails).

I noticed that at the bottom of each of your posts you have a link to an
expensive programme (not saying it’s not worth it but at $349 to use on 2 or
more computers, it is expensive). Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong
with that but I think it may be a good idea to inform anyone if you have a
connection the site offering the programme. I tend to offer very simple
answers to questions asked by beginners as there are so many people on this
forum with vastly greater expertise than I have and they are better able to
answer questions of a more detailed type. But I have NEVER given a link to
any website I’m connected with (there are quite a few)

Access picture programmes.

Ok – I do understand that some websites vastly over estimate the bloating of
databases that will be caused by “using†pictures, in forms, reports, etc,
and, in some badly thought out database this may be true. But playing on
inexperienced designers fears of “crashes†is not really very open – when for
example you could simply offer people this link FOR FREE and it will do the
same job as the vast majority of these 3rd party programmes.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/285820/en-us

Below is the link to the main search that will do almost everything it
possible to do with access in relation to pictures (any this is all FREE)

http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?catalog=LCID=2057&spid=2509&query=picture&adv=

The companies I work with have looked at many of the sites and have
evaluated many “solutionsâ€. In general (although not all) they tend not to
provide any functionality that even an intermediate access user could produce
with just a little work (and maybe a Google search or two). They are mostly
over priced – we assume that this is a people tend to think “you pay for what
you getâ€. Even when the coding behind them is solid there is “nothingâ€
behind them (other than some html overlaps) that you can’t download for free
from the main ms site.

So- If anyone is reading this who would like to “use†pictures on an access
project my advice would be to be to
1 Create a public module for referencing the picture
2 Create an image box on a form / report
3 Create a field in your source table that contains the path to your picture
4 Link the image box via the module to the table field

5 Remember that you can link as many picture as you want in a form or report
(not just one as most people do).
6 Make a copy of your database and play around with designs. You really can
(simply) produce the same results FOR FREE.

You DON’T need to spend anything other than a little time (to learn the
basics).





To link thumbnails here is a FREE method


You need to save the original picture on your hard drive and simply show a
“thumbnail†Bitmap copy of this on you form that could be used “as-is†or
maybe as a hyperlink to open the main picture (using OnClick)


Make copies of the pictures you want to link to your records (on C Drive /
hard disk) and save them as
ThumbnailPicture1,
ThumbnailPicture2,
ThumbnailPicture3,
etc, (or use the ID of the record in the table)

If you have a picture processing programme such as Photoshop or Photopaint
then use that to resample and convert. If you don’t have one of these
programmes:

1 Click start
2 Click My Pictures (if that’s where they are)
3 Right click the picture and select “Open Withâ€
4 Select Windows Office Picture Manager
5 After the picture is open click the Picture Menu then select Resize
6 Resize your picture to the correct size
7 SaveAS a copy of the original (DON’T JUST SAVE or you will ruin the
original picture)

BMP Windows Bitmap this is best option
GIFF CompuServe Bitmap is also OK
JPEG’s “will†work but they are not really meant for this type of
application REMEMBER that JPEG’s are reducing formats – so each time you
change and save you will lose some resolution.

Create a TEXT field in the table (use this OLE field on your form if you
wish to display the picture on a form with a particular record)


To link your picture thumbnail with the OLE
8 Open the Table that will hold the data /picture (not the form)
9 navigate to the OLE field on the correct record and Right Click
10 Select Insert Object
11 Select Create From File and then Bitmap and then check the Link option
12 Browse to your new thumbnail and select it
13 Click OK
14 View your image on the form

You can use this linked picture in a report as well as in a form.

Some notes on the size of your OLE object – regardless of what anyone will
tell you there is no way of converting pixels to cm’s – which your OLE object
will be sized in, UNLESS you know the size of each pixel or even the screen
resolution and as screens are all different sizes and resolutions this simply
isn’t possible here, so I have given the APPROXIMATE conversions here you
will have to gig about with your thumbnail until it fits your OLE. Better
still save all the thumbnails as size that you’re happy with and resize your
OLE to fit this.
On a screen resolution of 1024 Pixels X 768 (this is standard High Res for a
lap top)
5mm = 118 Pixels or 14.173 Points
1cm = 236 Pixels or 28.346 Points
So you can work out that say 3.5cm would be 827 Pixels or 99.213 Points

 

[bob]

Yes. Why?

Quite simple question

Do you have any conection with either Ammera or DBPix

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.

The procedure you detailed was creating an OLE Linked object (using ‘Insert Object’) - any ‘useful’ OLE
linking causes nearly as much overhead as OLE Embedding (since the uncompressed ‘preview’ is still stored).
A ‘Package’ is not useful, since it can’t be displayed in a form or report, as requested by the OP.

--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html

Hi Bob

I think you misunderstood my answer. It is the"link" to the “path†to the
graphic that is stored not the picture and so there will not be any bloating
(OK there “will†be – just a bit by adding a path)

--
Wayne
Manchester, England.



:



Avoid OLE Embedding or Linking – both cause a huge overhead that can be as much as 200 *times*

the
actual

file-size; just one or two hundred images can cause you to hit the Access file-size limit (unless

you
use

a ‘package’, but in that case the images will not display or print).

If your image filenames are stored in the table, or can be generated from data stored in the table (e.g.
from a part-number or Id) then you can display the images in forms or reports using an Image Control.

The following code shows how to include the images in a report:

Private Sub Detail_Format(Cancel As Integer, FormatCount As Integer)
Dim ImagePath As String
ImagePath = GetImagePath & Me!Filename

If Len([Filename]) > 0 And Len(Dir(ImagePath)) > 0 Then
Image1.Picture = ImagePath
Else
Image1.Picture = ""
End If
End Sub

Public Function GetImagePath() As String
GetImagePath = GetDBPath & "images\"
End Function

Public Function GetDBPath() As String
GetDBPath = CurrentProject.Path & "\"
End Function

This code assumes the following:

1) ‘Filename’ is the name of a field in the report’s data source that contains

the filename -
this field

must be included on the report in a bound text control (you can hide the control if desired).

2) ‘Image1’ is the name of an image control in the Detail section of the report.

3) The image files are stored in the ‘images’ subdirectory of wherever the database

(.mdb) file
is located

(modify the ‘GetImagePath’ function if this is not the case).

You can use the same code in a form – just replace the ‘Detail_Format’ line with the following:

Private Sub Form_Current()


--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.html






Hello,

My company uses a Softbase application for their inventory of forklifts.
They asked me to create a report in Access to be able to pull certain
information about forklifts we have for sale, including a picture of the
truck.

I created the query and it pulls up all the appropriate information except
for the picture files. The pictures are all either jpg or bmp. Do you know
how I would get it to pull into Access for each specific truck? I contacted
our Softbase reps and they advised to come on here and ask because they had
no idea. Any help would be appreciated!

Jenny

 

[bob]

THE IDEA OF THIS FORUM IS TO GIVE FREE AND UNBIASED ADVICE

My advice suggests how to best achieve the OP’s requirements using Access ‘Out of the box’, with no third
party components such as ours. The code I posted uses the built-in Access Image control, not a third-party
control. The advice is Free, unbiased, and does not recommend, suggest, or require our control,

My experience of over a decade of working every day with images in Access is that OLE Linking (as you suggested)
is not the best answer. Using packages (as you suggested) simply won’t work.

Furthermore, your step-by-step instructions are inaccurate:

4 Select Create From File and then Bitmap and then check the Link option

The option to select ‘bitmap’ is disabled when you select ‘Create From File’

8 “Package” will appear in the field

This depends on what (if any) OLE Server application is registered for the relevant file-type. If a package
*does* appear in the field, the image will not appear in a form or report. This is what the OP asked about.

The original question did not mention db size

The OP indicated that the database would grow continually over time (“it is continually growing”).

when for example you could simply offer people this link FOR FREE

The code I posted is functionally equivalent (but simpler and more relevant) to that in this link.

--
_______________________________________________________
DBPix 2.0: Add pictures to Access, Easily & Efficiently
http://www.ammara.com/dbpix/access.htm