Store pdf's in database --- text, image, or filestream?

Question

Post reply

Store pdf's in database --- text, image, or filestream?

Barkingdog

SSCoach

Points: 18670
More actions
October 18, 2010 at 4:58 pm

#229784

We need to store several pdf files in our database. They are generally about 300K (or less) in size. They will not be searched but needed only for quick retrieval. Which datatype (text, image) would be most appropriate? Or do you recommend using a filestream (varbinary(max) datatype.)?
TIA,
barkingdog

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply

WayneS SSC Guru Points: 95460 More actions · Answer 1

Please see this link.

Text/image are depreciated - they are going away in a future version of SQL. Use varbinary(max) instead.

Which to use: FileStream or varbinary? It depends:

How many files to store? 300k isn't too large, but you might want to consider putting this into a table that is in a filegroup all to itself.

Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes

If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!

Links:
For better assistance in answering your questions
Performance Problems
Common date/time routines
Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2

Barkingdog SSCoach Points: 18670 More actions · Answer 2

I thought that "varbinary(max)" was actually the equivalent of filestream. Yes, no?

Barkingdog

grahamc SSCertifiable Points: 6762 More actions · Answer 3

The general recommendation for using FileStream is average file size larger than 1MB.

Barkingdog SSCoach Points: 18670 More actions · Answer 4

But since text\image are depricated and the pdf's (because of size) are not the best candidates for filestream, what datatypes reamin that I can use?

Barkingdog