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Storing image in database in asp.net core. Should I store the image in bytes of just stooring the path of uploaded file is enough

I am storing the image file details in the database. Along with the path, I am also planning to store the byte array in case of accidental deletion of the uploaded folder. I would be using SQL express database as I want to use the app locally. As the size of SQL express is 10GB is it advisable to store a byte array of images in the database.
Does the size of the byte array is same as the size of the image? As I am expecting the images to be of around 5-10MB.
using (var fileStream = new FileStream(filePath, FileMode.Create))
{
await postPatientInformationEntity.PatientPhoto.CopyToAsync(fileStream);
fileInformationEntity.Path = filePath;
fileInformationEntity.Name = postPatientInformationEntity.PatientPhoto.FileName;
fileInformationEntity.Type = postPatientInformationEntity.PatientPhoto.ContentType;
}
using (var ms = new MemoryStream())
{
await postPatientInformationEntity.PatientPhoto.CopyToAsync(ms);
var fileBytes = ms.ToArray();
fileInformationEntity.FileData = fileBytes;
// act on the Base64 data
}

An alternative, and better method is to store the images outside of the database and store only a link to the image file. You only need a text field in your database table to store this information. The only problem to this approach is that you must synchronize the data in the link field with your file system. The possible solution is to store it in the file system, if the images need to be accessed from another server, tools like rsync can be used to move files from one server to other. this tools can be automated in order to sync the filesystems in constant intervals. The path of uploaded file is enough.

How to get image (mediaFile) from image storage path (File.path)

I have multiple local storage image path which is stored in sqlite and I have to upload these image on one click.
I have a string image path but I am not sure about how to use this.
I have store image path userinfo.FileName_LHSPic to list and now I want to get image and upload to server.
FileNameUpload userinfo = new FileNameUpload();
var file = await CrossMedia.Current.PickPhotoAsync(new Plugin.Media.Abstractions.PickMediaOptions
{
CompressionQuality = 50,
PhotoSize = Plugin.Media.Abstractions.PhotoSize.Medium
});
userinfo.FileName_LHSPic = file.Path;

One option is to use 'file' and turn it into a byte array, and store that in your database.
When it's time to upload, stream the byte array to the server (as part of a wider scoped class), and decode the file at the server end.

Efficient way to upload images in SQP.NET

I am still very much learning ASP.NET using c# and Webmatrix. I have put together a photography competition site but can't quite find an ideal way of uploading images. I don't see the point of uploading images greater than 1200x900 (projectors maximum resolution) so want to make sure images are small as possible.
I am using tag and checking he image size. If it's too big I am using 'ImageResizer' to resize the image when saving. The only way I know to check the size is to convert the 'HttpPostedFileBase' file into an image using System.Drawing.Image. But when the image is 36Mpixels (it is a photography club) this is taking an age just to read the height and width properties. Can I just load the first x bytes to read the properties or do I have to read the whole image?
The second reason I am converting to an image is to extract the exif data. Again is there an easier and quicker way to read the exif data?
I hope my question makes sense this is all a bit new to me.
simplified code:
HttpPostedFileBase uploadedFile = Request.Files[0];
using (System.Drawing.Image image = System.Drawing.Image.FromStream(uploadedFile.InputStream, true, true))
{
string Exif;
System.Text.ASCIIEncoding encoding = new System.Text.ASCIIEncoding();
try{
Exif = encoding.GetString(image.GetPropertyItem(36867).Value);
}
catch
{
Exif="";
}
if (image.Width <Convert.ToInt32(MaxWidth) && image.Height <Convert.ToInt32(MaxHeight))
{
// SAVE IMAGE AS IS
image.Save(fileSavePath);
// LOAD IMAGE DETAILS WITH EXIF
db.Execute("INSERT INTO CompImages (ImageTitle,CompID,GroupID,ClubID,FileName,UserID,ExifDate) VALUES(#0,#1,#2,#3,#4,#5,#6)",ImageTitle,CompID,GroupID,ClubID,fileName,WebSecurity.CurrentUserId,DateTaken);
}
else
{
// LOAD IMAGE DETAILS WITH EXIF
db.Execute("INSERT INTO CompImages (ImageTitle,CompID,GroupID,ClubID,FileName,UserID,ExifDate) VALUES(#0,#1,#2,#3,#4,#5,#6)",ImageTitle,CompID,GroupID,ClubID,fileName,WebSecurity.CurrentUserId,DateTaken);
// RESIZE IMAGE
ImageResizer.ImageJob iF = new ImageResizer.ImageJob(image, "~/UpImages/"+CompID+"/"+fileName, new ImageResizer.ResizeSettings(
"width="+MaxWidth+";height="+MaxHeight+";format=jpg;mode=max"));
iF.CreateParentDirectory = true; //Auto-create the uploads directory.
iF.Build();
}
}

The only way I know to check the size is to convert the
'HttpPostedFileBase' file into an image using System.Drawing.Image.
You could also checkout the ContentLength property directly:
int uploadedFileSize = uploadedFile.ContentLength;
The second reason I am converting to an image is to extract the exif
data. Again is there an easier and quicker way to read the exif data?
I am not aware of a built-in class in the BCL that would allow you to read EXIF information without loading the image in memory but you could use some third party library like this one: http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/36342/ExifLib-A-Fast-Exif-Data-Extractor-for-NET-2-0

how to get a picture from a postgresql database

i want to select a picture that save as a large object in a postgresql database.
i know i use lo_export to do this.
but there is a problem: i want to save this picture directly to my computer because i cant access the files that save on Server using lo_export
(i think that is best for me if picture transfer to my computer by a select query)

I don't exactly know my way around C# but the Npgsql Manual has an example sort of like this of writing a bytea column to a file:
command = new NpgsqlCommand("select blob from t where id = 1);", conn);
Byte[] result = (Byte[])command.ExecuteScalar();
FileStream fs = new FileStream(args[0] + "database", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write);
BinaryWriter bw = new BinaryWriter(new BufferedStream(fs));
bw.Write(result);
bw.Flush();
fs.Close();
bw.Close();
So you just read it out of the database pretty much like any other column and write it to a local file. The example is about half way down the page I linked to, just search for "bytea" and you'll find it.
UPDATE: For large objects, the process appears to be similar but less SQL-ish. The manual (as linked to above) includes a few large object examples:
NpgsqlTransaction t = Polacz.BeginTransaction();
LargeObjectManager lbm = new LargeObjectManager(Polacz);
LargeObject lo = lbm.Open(takeOID(idtowaru),LargeObjectManager.READWRITE); //take picture oid from metod takeOID
byte[] buf = new byte[lo.Size()];
buf = lo.Read(lo.Size());
MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
ms.Write(buf,0,lo.Size());
// ...
Image zdjecie = Image.FromStream(ms);
Search the manual for "large object" and you'll find it.

Not familiar with C# but if you've contrib/dblink around and better access to a separate postgresql server, this might work:
select large object from bad db server.
copy large object into good db server using dblink.
lo_export on good db server.

If your pictures don't exceed 1GB (or if you don't access only parts of the bytes) then using bytea is the better choice to store them.
A lot of SQL GUI tools allow to directly download (even view) the content of bytea columns directly

convert bitmap to image for ASP.NET

this is how my code look now:
System.Drawing.Image objImage = System.Drawing.Image.FromFile(Server.MapPath("aaa.jpg"));
int height = objImage.Height;
int width = objImage.Width;
System.Drawing.Bitmap bitmapimage = new System.Drawing.Bitmap(objImage, width, height);
System.Drawing.Graphics g = System.Drawing.Graphics.FromImage(bitmapimage);
System.Drawing.Image bitmap2 = (System.Drawing.Image)Bitmap.FromFile(Server.MapPath("sem.png"));
g.DrawImage(bitmap2, (objImage.Width - bitmap2.Width) / 2, (objImage.Height - bitmap2.Height) / 2);
MemoryStream stream = new MemoryStream();
bitmapimage.Save(stream, ImageFormat.Jpeg);
String saveImagePath = Server.MapPath("ImagesMerge/") + "aaa.jpg";
bitmapimage.Save(saveImagePath);
imgBig.ImageUrl = saveImagePath;
The problem I have now is that the image is not displayed in browser, I don't understand why .

like jmaglasang said, I would suggest to you to use an ashx file and if you don't need to keep the image, just send the image stream directly to the http without saving it on the disk
so you only need to do something like
<img src="Handler.ashx?action=merge&image1=blah.jpg&image2=bloh.jpg">
look at this code for an example of how to send an image made in memory that does not exist on the drive

Bitmap is a subclass of Image, so there no need to convert Bitmap to Image. It already is...

Probably because saveImagePath will be a local path (such as c:\somepath\aaa.jpg) that is not reachable from the browser. You probably want to set the ImageUrl = "ImagesMerge/aaa.jpg" instead.

You can also try:
imgBig.ImageUrl = ResolveUrl(saveImagePath);
EDIT:
If saveImagePath is under the WebApplication Directory, doing some modifications on the directory structure i.e. modifying files, deleting and creating can cause the application pool to recycle, and once it reaches the maximum recycle count the application pool will be stopped causing "Server unavailable" error.
I would suggests to add/save/modify images on a separate directory (not under the Apps Directory) then create a Handler(ASHX) that will read the images, just an advice though.

MapPath will give you a physycal address, not a virtual address which is what the browser needs to get to the image.

You might be forgetting to set the Response.Headers. Check out the following example that shows how to create bar chart images and then display it on the screen:
http://www.highoncoding.com/Articles/399_Creating_Bar_Chart_Using__NET_Graphics_API.aspx