MySql and BLOBs

[molybdym]

Newbie to the BLOBs here(and MySql for that matter), Is there a way to store a blob localy, but not in the DB, say some kind of pointer? And how does the code look for it? I need to make the DB updatable, so storing directly in the DB won't work. I saw a RE: to a thread aboot the same thing, but I can't find the original msg. Thanks to all who dwell here.

[[deleted]]

Why would storing blobs inside the table make the database not updateable?

Anyway, in MySQL it is not a good idea to store binaries in the table in the first place, so your 'pointer' idea is ok.

And the answer is also quite simple.
Store the blob as a file, and give the file a name based on the record's auto_increment ID. That gives you a unique filename, and the name is immediately linked to the record.

[molybdym]

Thanks a bunch. I think I have the idea, btu more questions will probably follow.

[[deleted]]

Post them when you have them 🙂

[Anon]

Alright, here it comes. . .

So I create a table, with an 'id INT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT' and another field 'prose BLOB NOT NULL'

I understand naming the BLOB file(which is a really, really long txt file)after it's corresponding 'id', but
a) I'm not quite sure how to make the pointer to the file. . .and
b)how to insert sed pointer into the BLOB related field. I understand pointers in C based languages, don't use them well, but I undersatnd them none the less. If the questions are too fast and unattractive. . .I can chill.
Thanks more than you can know.

[[deleted]]

We have a bit of a babelonian thing going on here.

Don't think 'pointer', think 'filename'.

-Upload the file.
-Insert a record into the database.
-Get the auto_increment ID back
-Use the ID to create the name for the file.
-Save the file with that name.

next time you want to access the file, you can read the ID from the table again, make the filename again, and access the file using that name.

[molybdym]

See, I haven't read enough, I found this "mysql_insert_id()", and I can understand what you're speaking of exactly now. Thank you.

Now for more, if you don't mind¿
I've got the Individual - id
Description - desc
and File - (returned_id).txt

and this *.txt file is not taking up space in the DB, how can PHP call into a script?
Your patience has been greatly appreciated. . .

[[deleted]]

"and this *.txt file is not taking up space in the DB, how can PHP call into a script?"

Can you explain what you mean?

[molybdym]

The plan is to have an online Literary gallery. The texts would be updated, but the interface(Flash 5) would stay the same, using PHP to access the MySql DB. In this table, there is ID[say for example 29], a description field[story about dogs], and the prose field(the BLO😎[the entire written story about dogs]. I wanted to keep the texts on the HDD, and use the database as a reference, logical way of keeping track. I hope this isn't getting to drawn out, if so let me know.

[[deleted]]

That looks like a nice description, now what's the question? 🙂

The bottom-line is that you use the database only to find the name of the file on disk.
The actualy reading and/or writing of the text is then done by a piece of PHP scripting.

So instead of updating a column, you write a file, and instead of SELCET bodytext FROM table, you read a file.