Question:  I want to load a photograph image from my client PC into an Oracle table.  I know that utl_file cannot read files on a client PC, but I need to transfer the photograph BLOB image into Oracle.  What are the options for loading images from a PC into a table on a remote server?

Answer:  This is a very common function and each programmer will approach it differently.  Remember, the Oracle SQL*Net "client" is disconnected from direct access to the Oracle server, and the server can only communicate to the client as you define it.

For immediate expert assistance in Java graphics for images in Oracle, just call us or e-mail  .

A risky approach to moving images into Oracle

This forum thread shows PL/SQL stored procedures for loading images from a client side application, but there remains the issue of moving the BLOB from the remote client to the server, where PL/SQL can get it.  If you want to store the BLOB image on the server, you must write code to either "push" or "pull" it, not a good approach:

• RISKY - PUSH BLOB - Use an FTP program to transfer the BLOB to a known directory on the server. After FTP is complete, invoke PL/SQL to load it.
   
• RISKY - PULL BLOB- Have the server open a secure connection to the client disk as a shared device. Once the client-side disk is mounted, PL/SQL can reach it.
   
• Use TNS - The first two approaches are risky and create unnecessary exposures.  By storing an empty BLOB table column, and then re-selecting it FOR UPDATE, you can transfer the LOB image from the PC into Oracle without opening any external connections.
   

The best approach for moving images from a PC to Oracle

As we note, it is easy to move-in a photograph of other LOB image, by storing an empty BLOB table column, and then re-selecting it FOR UPDATE, streaming the image into the BLOB column, and then storing it with a COMMIT.

To load images from a client PC, a programmer often uses Perl interfaces for BLOB's or Java OCI programs for loading LOB's.  Regardless of the language chosen, a basic method for storing BLOB's from a PC device (such as a PC camera) include these steps.

1. Get a connection
2. Create a statement object.
3. Insert an empty row in the table.
4. Select the temp blob back out of the table "FOR UPDATE".
5. Stream the blob content into the temp blob.
6. Commit.

Below is some psuedocode to save an image from a PC client onto a pictures table in Oracle, with the image table having only a primary key and a blob column.  If you don't want to write your own BLOB loading program, you can hire experts to create a custom program to capture and upload images from a client PC into an Oracle table, just contact us at  .

public boolean saveImageToDatabase(Image image, int pri_key)
{
if (!createEmptyBlobRow(pri_key)) return false;
BLOB tempBlob = getTempBlob(pri_key);
if (tempBlob == null) return false;
if (!writeBlobToDatebase(tempBlob)) return false;
return true;
}


private boolean createEmptyBlobRow(int pKey)
{
try
{
stat.executeUpdate("insert into x_pictures" +
call BC for complete script
" ( " + pKey + "," + EMPTY_BLOB()");
return true;
}
catch (SQLException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
parm.logFile(e.toString());
}
return false;
}

private BLOB getTempBlob(int pKey)
{
try
{
rs = stat.executeQuery("select blob_content from x_pictures" +
call BC for complete script
if (rs.next()) return ((OracleResultSet) rs).getBLOB("blob_content");
}
catch (SQLException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
parm.logFile(e.toString());
}
return null;
}



private boolean writeBlobToDatebase(BLOB t_Blob)
{
try
{
int chunksize = t_Blob.getChunkSize();
byte[] byteBuffer = new byte[chunksize];
call BC for complete script
long position = 1;
int bytesRead;
while ((bytesRead = b_in.read(byteBuffer)) != -1)
{
t_Blob.putBytes(position,byteBuffer);
position += bytesRead;
}
stat.execute("COMMIT");
return true;
}
catch (SQLException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
parm.logFile(e.toString());
return false;
}
catch (FileNotFoundException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
parm.logFile(e.toString());
return false;
}
catch (IOException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
parm.logFile(e.toString());
return false;
}
}

}