Question

How to Insert Binary file into BLOB field in Oracle? From NET

Asked by: LubomirMasar

I have an Oracle table with a BLOB type column called attachment.
I want to insert any binary file (it can be a word document, powerpoint file, Excel sheet nor even an image) into this attachment column.
I am using ASP .NET 2.0 version with C#. Using System.Data.OracleClient namespace to use Oracle connectivity.

Any sample code will be very much appreciated..
Is there any advantage in changing column type from BLPB to CLOB or LONG RAW? What is the difference between them?

Thanks in advance to all Experts..

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Asked On
2007-02-15 at 21:12:14ID22393401
Tags

blob

,

oracle

,

insert

,

file

,

binary

Topics

PL / SQL

,

Programming for ASP.NET

,

Oracle Database

Participating Experts
4
Points
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: Chirag1211Posted on 2007-02-15 at 22:03:57ID: 18546466

 

by: Docteur_ZPosted on 2007-02-16 at 02:57:21ID: 18547373

I'd recommend BFILE rather than BLOB.
The files would be stored on the disk, the DBMS will manage them.
You won't be bothered by perfromance problems with increasing size. But you will have to use OS command to write them.

 

by: LubomirMasarPosted on 2007-02-16 at 07:33:54ID: 18549159

Chirag, I had seen that article while Googling..It talks about uploading images only..Not other types of files..right? What are the changes to do while uploading binary files such as Word doc, Excel, powerpoints etc?

 

by: slightwvPosted on 2007-02-16 at 08:04:08ID: 18549462

No special changes.  A BLOB is a BLOB to Oracle.  It doesn't care what the binary data is.

I would suggest that you also store the MIME type of the file with the BLOB.  I have a .Net 1.1 demo using ODP.Net that I can post it you want it.  It is a self contained web page that uploads and downloads files.  Just let me know.

>>What is the difference between them?
Stick with BLOB unless you want the files stored on the filesystem of the DB server as Docteur_Z mentioned.

BLOB: Binary Large Object.  Allows storage of up to 4Gig of Binary data.
CLOB: Character Large Object.  Allows storage of up to 4Gig of Character data.
LOBs are VERY EASY to work with.

LONG RAW:  Old school method of storing binary data.  2Gig limit.  VERY HARD to work with.

 

by: wessamiPosted on 2007-02-22 at 14:50:54ID: 18592349

Kindly use the below example i made as a POC :

First, you need to create a directory object called MY_FILES_DIR that points to /files/upload on the file server.
CREATE DIRECTORY MY_FILES_DIR AS '/files/upload';

Then we can test as follows:
SELECT bfilename('MY_FILES_DIR ', 'bld.jpg')
FROM dual;

Second,  Create the below table to upload your pics/files to it.

CREATE TABLE BLOB_TEST
(
  ID               NUMBER                       NOT NULL,
  BLOB_DATA        BLOB,
  BLOB_VEDIO_TEST  BLOB,
  BFILE_DATA       BFILE,
  PICTURE          LONG RAW
)
LOGGING
NOCACHE
NOPARALLEL;

CREATE UNIQUE INDEX PK_BLOB_TEST ON BLOB_TEST
(ID)
LOGGING
NOPARALLEL;

ALTER TABLE BLOB_TEST ADD (
  CONSTRAINT PK_BLOB_TEST PRIMARY KEY (ID));


Third, Create the belo function on database :
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION LOAD_MY_LOB--(P_FILE_NAME  VARCHAR2)
RETURN NUMBER IS
/*
      Developed by: Wessam I. Massoud                  Feb, 2003

*/  

  temp_blob   BLOB;
  file_on_os   BFILE := bfilename('MY_FILES_DIR','bld.jpg');
  ignore        INTEGER;
BEGIN
    ignore := dbms_lob.fileexists(file_on_os);
      IF ignore=1 THEN
         ignore := dbms_lob.fileisopen(file_on_os);
         IF (ignore=1) THEN
             null;
         ELSE
           dbms_lob.fileopen(file_on_os, dbms_lob.file_readonly);
         END IF;

         SELECT blob_data INTO temp_blob FROM blob_test WHERE id=100 FOR UPDATE;

       dbms_lob.loadfromfile(temp_blob, file_on_os, dbms_lob.getlength(file_on_os));
         dbms_lob.fileclose(file_on_os);
        
         RETURN 0;
ELSE
          RETURN -1;
END IF;

   COMMIT;      
END LOAD_MY_LOB;
/


Then you can develop a wrapper function in dotnet calling the database function.

Good Luck

 

by: slightwvPosted on 2007-02-23 at 06:22:38ID: 18596072

wessami,
Your solution requires an extra step of getting the file to a directory the database server can see.  With .Net, this isn't necessary.   You can go straight from the client to the web server straight to the database w/o placing the file on the DB server file system.

 

by: wessamiPosted on 2007-02-23 at 06:29:49ID: 18596131

slightwv:
     You mean fetching the file rightaway from the client FS then passing it as a BLOB parameter to the update statement, Right?

If that is the case, it wouldn't be scalable enough for an huge load batch task from a tape or something else.

Let me know what do think.
And Thanks for the feedback.

Best Regards,

 

by: slightwvPosted on 2007-02-23 at 06:36:37ID: 18596197

Agreed but since the asker mentioned .Net, my guess is he wants a 'File Upload' button on a web page.  I don't see any need for large batch processing of files.

 

by: wessamiPosted on 2007-02-27 at 09:04:10ID: 18618528

This should still hold my solution as valid or a superset.

Regards,

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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