Document Library

[greggpb]

We are looking at setting up a document library, not for version control but for tax records and history..

What are the best practices here ?

Storing the document as binary object in a database or using a database to keep track of them and linking it to some sort of shared file structure ?

 

[dequadin]

Which database are you using? MySQL or SQL Server 2005/2008.

I've never been a big fan of blobs in a database but SQL Server 2008 has a new Filestream feature, specifically for this. Might be worth considering it. Look here

Otherwise there are a few SQL MVP's lurking on SA Developer .NET you could also ask there....

 

[greggpb]

Probally stick with sql 2005 for the moment

 

[ITCynic]

Have a look at @1 File Store PRO v3.2 at http://upoint.info/cgi/demo/fs/index.shtml.

It is a brilliant piece of affordable software, very configurable and I use it with quite a few clients. It runs on a web server so you can use it in house or off site.

Seeing as you are in Cape Town, PM if you need assistance.

 

[MielieSpoor]

Depending on how big your company is and how many docs you want to store, you can make use of SharePoint.

 

[greggpb]

Company is small..

Need to maybe look at share point.

 

[spiderz]

any opensource solutions out there? MySQL

 

[guest2013-1]

Personally I'd store the files in the database so some idiot can't delete them. This depends on the importance of the documents.

Had an editor at a company delete an entire set of photos they flew to the USA for, she didn't notice the "Are you sure you want to permanently delete this"

Luckily we had backups. So when we restored it and changed her user permissions, we asked her to test it, before we could give specific instruction on what to test, she quickly went in, selected a bunch of photos (again) and hit delete and quickly "Yes" (this is off a network drive btw, so it always perma deletes)

I almost ****ing fainted. Luckily the permissions were setup properly and she couldn't delete and she's like "Oh it works thanks"

**** me... and this same woman then goes and "accidently" moves **** around never to be found again....

point... stay with blobs for important stuff

 

[greggpb]

What I have Finalized on is shared drive.
Clients users - read only.
Server user - read/Write

Outlook makes a remoting request to the server, it creates the directory and file if necessary


Only took about 15min to implement. not bad for a q&d proto...

 

[icyrus]

Personally I can't think of a single reason in favor of DB blobs in this case.

Personally I'd store the files in the database so some idiot can't delete them. This depends on the importance of the documents.
[...]
point... stay with blobs for important stuff

How exactly are blobs a solution to this problem?

 

[greggpb]

Personally I can't think of a single reason in favor of DB blobs in this case.



How exactly are blobs a solution to this problem?

I think what acid is trying to get at is not everyone knows how to delete data from a database,but where the is a key to delete file from a computer for the average joe... but it the end this specific problem is access related.. Db also makes backups easier and you relational integrity...

 

[dequadin]

On the point of blobs what about the size of the documents.

Standard company docs/templates can easily grow in size, especially when some adds a 1600x1600 bmp company logo onto the cover page.

Anyone know what kind of performance you get querying, say a 5mb word, out of a DB? Surely this would waste cache?

 

[Shred]

WSS 3.0 is free and runs on SQL 2005

 

[greggpb]

On the point of blobs what about the size of the documents.

Standard company docs/templates can easily grow in size, especially when some adds a 1600x1600 bmp company logo onto the cover page.

Anyone know what kind of performance you get querying, say a 5mb word, out of a DB? Surely this would waste cache?

Its a huge waste of memory and as far as I know the whole this is read in.. thats why 2008 has the file stream which basically sets-up is own private ntfs partition and keep track of the file names itself..