Problem viewing images

[Rich Merritt]

Hi all,
I've read and read again the various threads on publishing images to the server, but can't seem to get it right...can someone put me straight please?

I have a local PC where the images are in c:\images
My Alpha database is in C:\Batches\
I have a Alpha database table (HPBatches) with an image file reference field (called batchphoto) and I've set the image associated with each record in that table in the (desktop) table (therefore the value in the one of the records' batchphoto fields would point to c:\images\batch1.jpg, or c:\images\batch2.jpg, for example)

All works well.

I've created a webproject and a grid based on my HPBatches table and included the batchphoto field, published the table to the local webroot - and the images display ok.

However, when I publish the project to my network server, the grid and data shows up ok, but the image field just says 'image not found'.

As I said I've read the other threads on the forum, plus looked at the help, but can't seem to relate them to my situation (I think I'm confusing myself !)

The published database is on the server's F:\ drive in F:\A5webroot,
The data is in F:\HPdata

Do I need to copy (ie using windows explorer) the images folder from my C:\ drive to the server's F:\ drive? or does the publishing process also magically copy the images to the server too?

I understand that I need to create a pathalias for the images before publishing again which will tell the published grid where to find the images on the server.
The desktop database has the images referenced to c:\images, so how do I tell the batchphoto grid field in the application published on the server to look in a different location (say F:\HPimages)?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I just can't seem to 'get it'.

TIA,
Rich

[Rich Merritt]

Re: Problem viewing images

Hi,
I solved this now. I don't know if its the 'best' way, but I just decided to simplify things.

1. I changed the location of the images on the local (development) pc so they were stored in a subfolder of the actual database (C:\HPBatches\HPimages).
2. Changed the value I'd put in the grid image fields' 'image path' to the standard "PathAlias.ADB_Path"
3. Copied (with explorer) the image files from the local machine to a subfolder of the published data and gave it the same name as that on my dev PC (F:\HPData\HPimages).

The images now display ok....but it was hard work !
I guess it now works because the images are stored in the same relative location on the server as when they are on my local dev pc.

I was hoping that the publishing process would also copy the image files from my local dev PC into the new folder on the server, but it looks like I'll have to copy them there manually...unless someone can tell me a better way???

Thanks,
Rich

[Steve Wood]

Re: Problem viewing images

The way you are doing it is find for Image Reference Fields. Using the IRF, the image can be anywhere on the drive. Another way, the more 'normal' way when it comes to the web is to include the images in the document root, not stored in the data path, not referenced with PathAlias.ADB_Path, and not using an Image Ref Field. Most then put the images under an Images folder off the document root. You would use normal character fields to store the image name. Or, like almost all of my apps, you tie it to the unique key for your table - so if my record has a primary key value of 10001, the image might be named 10001.jpg, and the thumbnail if desired, named 100001_th.jpg. Then there is no reason to have a field to store the image name, as it is derived from the primary key value.

The IRF method you are using is requried if a) you need your images to be hidden from public (outside of the document root) and/or b) made part of an Alpha-based Report viewed on the web. Alpha reports require the image to be in an IRF (although I am searching for a method to get around this.)

[peteconway]

Re: Problem viewing images

C:\Batches\images\then\any\folders\under_images

e.g.

c:\batches\images\logo
c:\batches\images\thumbs
c:\batches\images\large_images\big_images

will all work.


\Batches is also where the database is located and your data files. Under this setup you need publish nothing other than your apps.

IRF have had MAJOR work done - I'm a real fan now. with the Ajax load, they are basically instant.

[Rich Merritt]

Re: Problem viewing images

Thanks for your help Steve and Peter, much appreciated.
Steve, the scenario you mentioned (having the images hidden from public and wanting to put them on a report) - are both things I need - so I guess I was lucky doing things this way.
The next thing I need to do is get the images to show up in a pdf report and be printed by the user clicking a 'print document' button or link on a grid - I'm looking through the help sections and this forum and it looks like I've got a lot of reading to do ;-)

Thanks again.
R

[ChristJC]

Re: Problem viewing images

Hello All

I am having exactly the same problem as Rich did and have tried all the options mentioned in this thread but to no avail. I have the belowmentioned code in my web page:

<img src="C:\A5Webroot\Test\speeding%20train.jpg">

and have tried other locations, but the image only shows on my PC. None of my users can see the image. I tried using the <object> tag instead but the web browser doesnt appear to like that

Can anyone provide some guidance please?

Many thanks

Jason

[peteconway]

Re: Problem viewing images

Your images do not go in the webroot, they are in the same folder as your database on the server, image reference files do not get published, they get viewed just like your other data in the table, so..

if your database is in c:\projects\sample

then

your image folder will be c:\projects\sample\images

your image reference fields will point to this folder.

Nothing else to do.

IT DOES NOT GO IN THE WEBROOT..

Cheers.

[ChristJC]

Re: Problem viewing images

Hi Peter

Thanks for your reply. I meant to say that I have my alpha front end connected to a sql server db, so when you say where my dbase is, I assume for me that is where the active tables are sitting?

Cheers

Jason

[peteconway]

Re: Problem viewing images

What ever folder your .adb file is in make a folder called images.
Copy a sample image into that folder.
Make a single sample .dbf table put nothing it it other than one image (use the sample image you put in ..\images\imagename.jpg) in the reference field.
At table level right click the image and check the path is as you selected.
Make a grid, use the sample table, select the image reference field.
Save the grid.
Preview the Grid.
The image should show.
Publish the grid.
The image should show.
If not get back to me.

[ChristJC]

Re: Problem viewing images

cheers Peter, will do

Jason

[ChristJC]

Re: Problem viewing images

Hi Peter

Thanks very much, got that one working!

Have a great day

Jason

[peteconway]

Re: Problem viewing images

Same to you - it is a little difficult to get the concept, but it works well and makes life a lot easier down the track with images in PDF' reports etc.

Well done.

[twwtc]

Re: Problem viewing images

Having similar problem publishing to remote server for first time and getting my images folder to get copied to remote server. I am using the image reference field method.

Local computer:
C:\a5v10\mydatabase
C:\a5v10\mydatabase\images

Remote server:
c:\a5v10\a5webroot
c:\a5v10\data

a5w pages, etc are getting into c:\a5v10\a5webroot
data files are getting into c:\a5v10\data

Images folder not being copied

When I have a choice to select which data files to copy, I cannot select the images folder.

Thanks

[peteconway]

Re: Problem viewing images

As it's not part of the database you will need to ftp the images folder to the server. make certain it's in the sample folder.