Multimedia Database 1

[iolair]

This is probably not the best forum for this question, so please feel free to redirect me to the right one. I'm looking for a database program that will allow me to create a database that includes files with these extensions - .txt .doc .xls .html .jpg .mp3 .pdf

Does such a beast exist? It would be nice to be able to group the photographs in "albums", and to group documents by subject, not necessarily by type. Do I need to learn html programming to do this? Is there a database that will let you view these types of files without invoking an external program? i.e. - Word for .doc files, etc.?

Thanks.

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

 

[kjv1611]

You could create the database with pretty much any tool - whether MS Access, as in this forum, or with other database tools. However, it'd be best to store the actual files in a folder or folders, and have pointers to those files from your database, rather than putting them all in the database.

At least that's typically the best method.

If you want to use Access, then this is the right forum. If you're not sure which database to use, or want to use another, then you should try another forum. Perhaps:

http://www.tek-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=669

 

[kjv1611]

Oh, just realized, this was posted in the Office forum, not an Access form. If you want to go with Access, try posting here:
forum181

The other forum I mentioned in the last post, for basically any database, or when you're not sure which database is this one:
forum669

 

[iolair]

Great! Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I was planning on having the files in folders, etc. as you suggest. I wasn't sure, though, if Access would open Word to view a document, or open Picture Manager to view a .jpg. I wasn't sure if Access had a viewer that could be programmed, or was built in. Thanks. Great tips.

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

 

[kjv1611]

Regarding opening of files:

The way it SHOULD work, so long as it's run on a machine running Windows, at least, is that if you simply create a link to each file (hyperlink), then when the person clicked the label, buton, or field in the table, depending upon how you set it up, it will open the document/file with the default application for that filetype. If there is no default, Windows should ask you what you want to do - I think it's basically the same, this way, as finding a file, and double-clicking on it.

Of course, if you wanted to ensure a certain application opened a certain file type, you could create a separate table which lists the file types, what the application should be to open said application, and any default options for said application or file type, I'd imagine. Then you'd run some VBA code behind a button or whatever which would pull the application to execute, according to the file type for the currently selected file in your userform.

Well, hope it works out. If you do start another thread, please do put a cross reference here for the new thread, so if someone reads this one, they can find the new thread (and vice versa).