MSSQL and OLE linked files

mikeb

Hi Everyone,

I'm a PHP newbie (but learning fast!) and have a sticky situation. First, some background:

I was asked to write a small database app (4 users) at work and told to use Access 2000 for the front end. The database is to hold patches from our development group, small examples of code usage (in a zip file), Readme files, text descriptions for the patch or sample, platform info, etc.

Part of our process is to store these patch/example files on a network server, so I decided to just use OLE links to the files in the DB rather than store the whole file.

Performance of Access was not what we had hoped, so I used the MS Upsizing Wizard to put the tables on SQL Server 7. It works great, Access is still used as the front end.

For my own learning and for ease of use, I want to put a webified front end on it as well and I've chosen PHP as the language to implement in (natch, or I wouldn't be here, eh?).

My problem is with those OLE links. I really need some advice how to handle them. If I just do a select on those 3 columns, I get ASCII gobledygook back (which I would expect).

-- Is the answer to just show a "download file"-type link on the page then use one of the file download scripts I've seen here?

-- If so, how do I get the file name?

-- What about uploading files for the data entry page (remember, the files live on a different machine than the web server).

Thanx in advance for any insights! 🙂.

MikeB

Anon

I wouldn't use the MSSQL OLE protocals. They are cumbersome and difficult to implement. Also, Microsoft has had difficulties with this code. From my understanding, this function will no longer be supported very soon.

Why don't you just use the regular Access (or SQL) tables to store a file name associated with some particular key. That way the reference is in the database, but the files are not.

I have used the AITSH script on several occasions. Here is a link that I have used to accomplish this very task.

http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/File_Manipulation/Download_Systems/

-Tim

mikeb

Hi Tim,

Thank you for your reply. I would love to just store the file name and as a matter of fact, we do store the path to the file(s).

However, the problem stems from the Access/VBA front end that I've been told we must also have. Users want the ability in Access to double-click and open the file or right-click and copy to the clipboard. What's even worse, the web front end is mainly for my own learning and satisfaction, not a project requirement, so I can't even go back to the boss and say, "This is the wrong way to do it." Perhaps in the future I can migrate over to MySql and rework it a bit but for right now, I'm kinda stuck.

Mike