How to Store Images in a Database Subfolder to Prevent Broken Links in Microsoft Access

In this Microsoft Access tutorial, you will learn how to store image file paths relative to the current database folder, ensuring your database reflects the new folder locations after a system upgrade or change.

Wesley from Plantation, Florida (a Gold Member) asks: I'm following the example that you showed in your "Images" video on how to store the full path and filename of an image in the table, instead of storing the picture itself as an OLE object or an attachment, and it works great. I love it. However, my company just upgraded computers, and the folder the database is in has moved. Now, I've got all these image locations that are pointing to the wrong place. How can I fix this?

Silver Members & up get access to an Extended Cut of this video. Members will learn how to take their existing full path file names and bulk upgrade them to a relative path using an update query.

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TechHelp Access 2016, Access 2019, Access 2021, Access 365, Microsoft Access, MS Access, MS Access Tutorial, #msaccess, #microsoftaccess, #help, #howto, #tutorial, #learn, #lesson, #training, #database, relative image paths, database subfolder, shut up wesley, broken links fix, store file path Access, CurrentProject.Path, Access image control, concatenate file paths, dynamic image links Access, Access update query, manage external files Access

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Please feel free to post your questions or comments below. Thanks.
Live long, and prosper.

[Shadow.Dragon]

Great video, Richard! I've used this technique in databases to reference images, icons, documents, etc. It has made development, deployment, and operations very efficient and effective!

[atlanticx]

I love all the "Trekie" referances in your videos. IMHO you can not be a geek professionally or as an amature with out the love and respect for scyfy in general especially fot Star Trek and Doctor Who. Great information as usual.

[appleintosh]

Rick, have you ever done anything with ZPL files? I’m soon going to be tackling a warehouse management system in Access, and one of the big features I want is to integrate the FedEx ship API to generate shipping labels from within the database. I’ve got a solid understanding of API integrations thanks in part to your video on it, but I’d love to hear or watch any input you have about handling ZPL format shipping labels from within access.

[gonefishing]

Didn't the .gif topic somewhat explode on your website the other day. Somebody brought up that .gif files can be displayed in the Web Browser Control.... or the dreaded I wouldn't touch em ActiveX control that can be added (in earlier versions)

[wamadman]

You can see the animation gif using web browser control instead of image control

[beholderer]

How can you add an option to drag and drop instead of writing the name of the images or file?

[kentdutrieux]

Does this work on a continuous form or am I doing something wrong

[cecilleforce]

Can you show us how to do this in excel? Thanks