Loading Picture Stored in Access Database into Program VB.NET

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I have an Access Database linked with a VB project through a data source. In the database on one of the tables, I have an OLE Object field. I have saved pictures in .BMP format and .JPG format in this field. The problem I am encountering is loading this image into my application. This is what I would like to be able to do:

VB

ButtonMeal1.BackgroundImage = IPOSDBDataSet.Meals.Rows(0).Item(5)

Where Item(5) is the column of the row where the image is stored. However, I know that this does not work.

I have also tried this method:

VB

Dim ImageByteArray As Byte() = CType(IPOSDBDataSet.Meals.Rows(0).Item(5), Byte())
Dim ImageMemoryStream As MemoryStream = New IO.MemoryStream(ImageByteArray)
Dim MyImage As Image = Drawing.Image.FromStream(ImageMemoryStream)
PictureBox1.Image = MyImage

However, when I debug this, I get the error "Parameter is not valid". I have modified this multiple times, but without any good result.

I have also read stuff about a header being stored in the OLE Object field, and that it must be removed, but I have no idea how to do this! There are no clear answers on the internet regarding my issue. Ultimately, I would just like to be able to load an image into my program from a database, whatever way possible!

Please help!

Posted 16-Jun-13 1:43am

JOFA666

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Ron Beyer 16-Jun-13 8:21am

The memory stream way should work, how are you STORING it in the database? It has to be a similiar fashion to how you retrieve it. What is the column type?

JOFA666 16-Jun-13 20:35pm

As I have mentioned, the picture is being stored in an OLE Object field inside the database. That is the column type.

saguptamca 16-Jun-13 14:12pm

Give complete Dataset to correct answer on this and datatypes details

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TnTinMn · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-16T18:20:00

I bumped into the OLE image format when using the Northwind.sdf file. The strange thing is that the DataGridView Image column can handle this data, but the Image Class can not.

I modified the code from this article (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/pranab/archive/2008/07/15/removing-ole-header-from-images-stored-in-ms-access-db-as-ole-object.aspx[^]) into a function to strip out the OLE data from a byte array.

Modify this line of your code to use the function.

Dim ImageMemoryStream As MemoryStream = New IO.MemoryStream(GetImageBytesFromOLEField(ImageByteArray))

VB

Friend Shared Function GetImageBytesFromOLEField(ByVal oleFieldBytes() As Byte) As Byte()

   Dim BITMAP_ID_BLOCK As String = "BM"
   Dim JPG_ID_BLOCK As String = ChrW(&HFF).ToString() & ChrW(&HD8).ToString() & ChrW(&HFF).ToString()
   Dim PNG_ID_BLOCK As String = ChrW(&H89).ToString() & "PNG" & vbCrLf & ChrW(&H1A).ToString() & vbLf
   Dim GIF_ID_BLOCK As String = "GIF8"
   Dim TIFF_ID_BLOCK As String = "II*" & ChrW(&H0).ToString()

   Dim imageBytes() As Byte

   ' Get a UTF7 Encoded string version
   Dim u7 As System.Text.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF7
   Dim strTemp As String = u7.GetString(oleFieldBytes)
   Dim st2 As String = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(oleFieldBytes)
   ' Get the first 300 characters from the string
   Dim strVTemp As String = strTemp.Substring(0, 300)

   ' Search for the block
   Dim iPos As Integer = -1
   If strVTemp.IndexOf(BITMAP_ID_BLOCK) <> -1 Then
      iPos = strVTemp.IndexOf(BITMAP_ID_BLOCK)
   ElseIf strVTemp.IndexOf(JPG_ID_BLOCK) <> -1 Then
      iPos = strVTemp.IndexOf(JPG_ID_BLOCK)
   ElseIf strVTemp.IndexOf(PNG_ID_BLOCK) <> -1 Then
      iPos = strVTemp.IndexOf(PNG_ID_BLOCK)
   ElseIf strVTemp.IndexOf(GIF_ID_BLOCK) <> -1 Then
      iPos = strVTemp.IndexOf(GIF_ID_BLOCK)
   ElseIf strVTemp.IndexOf(TIFF_ID_BLOCK) <> -1 Then
      iPos = strVTemp.IndexOf(TIFF_ID_BLOCK)
   Else
      Throw New Exception("Unable to determine header size for the OLE Object")
   End If


   ' From the position above get the new image
   If iPos = -1 Then
   Throw New Exception("Unable to determine header size for the OLE Object")
   End If

   imageBytes = New Byte(CInt(oleFieldBytes.LongLength - iPos - 1)) {}
   Array.ConstrainedCopy(oleFieldBytes, iPos, imageBytes, 0, oleFieldBytes.Length - iPos)

   Return imageBytes

End Function