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Loading an Image and Saving it into a database

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4.92/5 (9 votes)
23 Aug 2011CPOL 32K   9   8
How to load an image from the filesystem and save it into a Database
As part of a project I required to load an image, display it in a picture box and save it into a database. Quite simple really ( at least in theory ).

The whole process can be summarized in the following steps:
1.Load the image file into a picture box
C#
private void btnBadLoad_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {
  OpenFileDialog dlg = new OpenFileDialog();
  DialogResult dr = dlg.ShowDialog();
  if (dr == DialogResult.OK) {
    pbPicture.Load(dlg.FileName);
  }
}

2.Convert the image from the picture box into an array of bytes using a stream.
C#
private byte[] ImageToByteArray(Image img,ImageFormat format) {
  byte[] result;
  try {
    MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
    img.Save(ms , format);
    result = ms.ToArray();
  } catch (Exception ex) {
    Console.Write(ex.StackTrace);
    throw;
  }
  return result;
}

3.Create an insert command and pass the byte array as a parameter
C#
DbCommand cmd =  _dbu.CreateTextCommand(insQ);
cmd.AddParameter("@ImageId", id);
cmd.AddParameter("@ImageData", imageBytes);
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

During step 2 a rather obnoxious "Generic GDI+ Exception" appeared without apparent reason.After some research I found this is a designed behavior, as described in the following article.
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=814675
Apparently when an image is created from a file it gets locked allong with the file and no further streaming is possible.

The solution to this quandary is to change the way the image is loaded in step 1, disposing of the file-locked bitmap as fast as possible.
C#
private void btnLoad_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {
  OpenFileDialog dlg = new OpenFileDialog();
  DialogResult dr = dlg.ShowDialog();
  if (dr == DialogResult.OK) {
    //Create the file-locked bitmap
    Bitmap b1 = new Bitmap(dlg.FileName);
    //Copy it into the picture image
    pbPicture.Image = (Bitmap)b1.Clone();
    //Say "Hasta la vista baby" to the file-locked bitmap
    b1.Dispose();
  }
}

Happy image saving !!

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer (Senior) Self-employed
Mexico Mexico
Senior SAP Consultant ( ABAP / MM / Workflow ).
Delphi Developer
C# Asp Developer

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Very nice solution, Thanks !! Pin
Sunny_Kumar_31-Oct-11 21:21
Sunny_Kumar_31-Oct-11 21:21 
GeneralWhy won't you read directly the file content and write it in... Pin
DNikolov29-Aug-11 23:10
DNikolov29-Aug-11 23:10 
GeneralNice way to covert img object to byte array. Dear Amando can... Pin
naseer baloch29-Aug-11 20:09
naseer baloch29-Aug-11 20:09 
GeneralRe: naseer, you can use the following methods : public static cl... Pin
Armando de la Torre30-Aug-11 7:11
Armando de la Torre30-Aug-11 7:11 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 helpful!! Pin
GPUToaster™23-Aug-11 23:00
GPUToaster™23-Aug-11 23:00 
GeneralReally great Pin
inf1n1te23-Aug-11 8:01
professionalinf1n1te23-Aug-11 8:01 
GeneralThanks! Pin
Dr.Walt Fair, PE23-Aug-11 6:03
professionalDr.Walt Fair, PE23-Aug-11 6:03 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Good One!! Nice solution.. Pin
jawed.ace22-Aug-11 21:43
jawed.ace22-Aug-11 21:43 

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