How do I display an Attachment from a table on a form?

[Jeroen3131]

I'v already done some research on database normalization but I can't find a solution to my specific problem.

I have a main table:

- Name: tblSteps
- Primary Key: StepID (Autonumber)
- StepName (Text)
- PartID1 (number)
- Qty1 (number)
- PartID2 (number)
- Qty2 (number)
- PartID3 (number)
- Qty3 (number)
- PartID4 (number)
- Qty4 (number)

And a secondary table:

- Name: tblParts
- Primary Key: PartID (Autonumber)
- PartNumber (number)
- PartDescription (text)
- PartPicture (attachment)

Also I have a form with:

- nameBox (textbox bounded to StepName field)
- qtyBox1 (textboxe bounded to qty1 field)
- qtyBox2 (textboxe bounded to qty2 field)
- qtyBox3 (textboxe bounded to qty3 field)
- qtyBox4 (textboxe bounded to qty4 field)
- cboPart1 (combobox with PartID, PartNumber and PartDescription as Rowsource, Controlsource = PartID1)
- cboPart2 (combobox with PartID, PartNumber and PartDescription as Rowsource, Controlsource = PartID2)
- cboPart3 (combobox with PartID, PartNumber and PartDescription as Rowsource, Controlsource = PartID3)
- cboPart4 (combobox with PartID, PartNumber and PartDescription as Rowsource, Controlsource = PartID4)
- Attachment1Box (attachmentfield)
- Attachment2Box (attachmentfield)
- Attachment3Box (attachmentfield)
- Attachment4Box (attachmentfield)

And there is also a button ("cmdCreate") to save all the values in the Controls to a new record in the tblSteps.


The user selects a part from the cboPart1 combobox which stores the selected value in the PartID1 field in tblSteps. When I press the "Create" button this value is stored to the record. But now I want to show the attachment (which is related to the PartID value selected in the combobox) in the Attachmentfield (Attachment1Box).

Is this actually possible with the Attachment Control Object?

Kind regards,

Jeroen.

[twinnyfo]

As far as I know, you cannot display an attachment on a form. It is a nifty feature of later versions of Access, but their usefulness is limited.

[Jeroen3131]

I'm currently using Access 2010 and I've just noticed that in the sample database "Northwind", on the Supplier Details form, you can upload a picture to the attachment object and save it to the table which is bound to the form.

The problem with my situation is that my "tblParts" isn't bound to the form (because tblSteps is).

[twinnyfo]

Jeroen3131,

Yes, you can upload pictures to an attachment field, but they will not "display". That is one of the shortcomings of the Attachment field. They can hold any type of file you want, but they are just a container to hold the file, not a control to display.

If you want a photo to display, on a record-by-record basis, use an Image Control, with no image associated with it. Then, you have a Folder with all your images (it must be a public folder if this is a networked project). Your Table would then have not an Attachment Field, but a Text Field which simply holds the location and file name of the image. Then, during run time, in the OnCurrent Event of your Form, have the form assign the Location\FileName of the image to the Image Control:

Me.imgDemo.Picture = Me.txtImageFile

This method also saves HUGE amounts of resources, as MS Access' method of saving images internally is a massive memory hog.

Hope this hepps!

[Jeroen3131]

Thanks Twinnyfo.

Setting the Image Control works like a charm!

But now I realise my database design is wrong.

I've opened a new topic for it here:

http://bytes.com/topic/access/answer...el#post3782622

[twinnyfo]

I'm glad I could help with your image issue. I've taken a look at your other thread and will continue to assist as I am able.