File & Image Fields

This data type is used to attach files and images to each individual records in your database.
You can save a file in this type of field and optionally display an image together with other record information. There are several configuration options available for a file field. You may change these options any time you wish, but remember that changing options at a later time will not affect the states of older files which were saved before.

General Properties

Display As Image: Checking this box tells SpeedBase to try to display the saved file as image on the record details form. Supported file extensions are: JPG, PNG, GIF & BMP. If the files you will save will be of a different file type, do not check this box.
When this box is checked, SpeedBase will allow you to draw and allocate an image area on the form when placing the field using form designer. When this box is not checked or the file could not be viewed as image, the field displays the file as a clickable text link.

Tip: When you attach a picture to a record and the picture appears with an invalid orientation, you may rotate it from field menu (click the red arrow icon on right side of the field, select "rotate").

When Clicked...

Open File: Executes the file. This has exactly the same effect as double clicking the same file on a windows explorer window.

Show "Save As" Dialog: Opens a "Save As" dialog, so you can determine a location on your computer to download the file. If the file is stored as a "link", this action will copy the file from its original location to the selected folder.

Save & Open: First displays a "Save As" dialog and executes the file after it is saved.

Save Method

Save As Link (Shortcut):
SpeedBase saves only the original folder location information (i.e. a shortcut) to the database. The file itself is not saved or copied. So, when you click a file from record window, it is executed from its original location. If you prefere to maintain and frequently update a file from its fixed location, this option works best.
Do not consider attaching a file to a record using this option as a way to backup the file. It is not.

A file link will stop working under the following conditions:

• For multiuser applications (Teamwork edition): When a user links to a file located in a unshared folder of his/her computer, the file link will NOT work for other SpeedBase users. In order to work, the files should be saved on a shared network folder and the link should also be generated as a network path (i.e. to select the file, you should browse thru "Network", but not your hard drive).
  
• If you move or delete the file from its original location, or rename any of the folders of file path at a later time, the link becomes broken and the file cannot be opened.
• If the access permissions of the containing folder of the file becomes restricted at a later time, the file may not be opened.


Copy to Local Data Folder:
SpeedBase creates a copy of the file in its local data folder. When you click the file from the record window, SpeedBase extracts the file from the data folder and allows you to save or execute a copy of it.
The original file is never used/refered anymore when you click to files saved using this option. The copied version of the file will be opened even if the original file is removed or updated. So this option is more suitable for archival purposes.
If you need to update a file (e.g. a document) from a record window, you should always use the "edit" command from the field menu by clicking the red arrow that will appear near the file field.
Since files saved using this option are saved into your data folder, taking a backup of your local data folder, also means taking backup of your files.
Beware that files saved using this option can only be accessed via SpeedBase interface and its export function, whereas saving them as link gives you the option to access your files directly or by any other application from their original location.


Copy to Remote Database:
This option is only available if you are connected to a SQL Server database.
SpeedBase uploads the file to your SQL database. When you click the file from the record window, SpeedBase downloads the file from your SQL Server and allows you to save or execute it.
This option is most preferable when users are connecting to your database from remote locations and they need to share files under the conditions where they do not have access to a shared network location.
If you need to update a file (e.g. a document) from a record window, you should always use the "edit" command from the field menu by clicking the red arrow that will appear near the file field.



Note: In no event will SpeedBase move, modify or delete the original file at the time you save it using any of the methods given above.
It either saves the location information of that file or takes and saves a copy of it.





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