Storing Pictures in MS SQL Server in a C# Windows Forms Application & retrieving it.

In a previous Post I have shown how to handle Images in SQL Server through ASP.NET. There is another Post  that does the same for PHP and MySql. In this post we will store a picture via a C# Windows application and also retrieve it and display it in a Picture Box.

Here is how you create the tables : -

create table Pictures(PictureName varchar(50) primary key,Picture varbinary(max) not null)

Start a new Windows Application in Visual Studio. Open Server Explorer and open the database. Create a DataSet and drag the table to the DataSet.

Create two queries:-
1) The Insert Query
INSERT INTO Pictures  values(@PictureName,@Picture).
Let's name it InsertAPicture
2) The Select Query which is a Scalar Query 
SELECT Picture  FROM Pictures where PictureName=@PictureName
Let's call it GetThePicture

Create a Windows form and add a OpenFileDialog, a PictureBox, some TextBoxes and Labels.
Here is the form.

Here is the code that loads a picture from a file to the picture box

The Button Click Handler
   private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
              openFileDialog1.FileName = "";
              openFileDialog1.Filter = "All Pictures|*.bmp;*.jpg;*.jpeg;*.wmf;*.png|All Files|*";
              openFileDialog1.ShowDialog(this);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }
The File Dialog OK Handler
        private void openFileDialog1_FileOk(object sender, CancelEventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                picFromFile.Image = System.Drawing.Image.FromFile(openFileDialog1.FileName);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }



And this is the Code for saving the Picture in the PictureBox to the Database.

 private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
            System.IO.MemoryStream ms = new System.IO.MemoryStream();
           picFromFile.Image.Save(ms, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg);
            byte[] b = new byte[(int)ms.Length];
            ms.Position = 0;
            ms.Read(b, 0, (int)ms.Length);
           DataSet1TableAdapters .PicturesTableAdapter da=new Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures.DataSet1TableAdapters.PicturesTableAdapter ();
           da.InsertAPicture(txtPictureName.Text, b);
           MessageBox.Show(this, "Picture Inserted", "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

            }
        }
 

Here is the Code for retrieving the Picture from the Database.
private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                DataSet1TableAdapters.PicturesTableAdapter da = new Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures.DataSet1TableAdapters.PicturesTableAdapter();
                byte[] b = da.GetThePicture(txtSearchName.Text);
                System.IO.MemoryStream ms = new System.IO.MemoryStream(b);
                picFromDatabase.Image  = new Bitmap(ms);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }

Form1.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void picFromFile_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {

        }

        private void label3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {

        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
              openFileDialog1.FileName = "";
              openFileDialog1.Filter = "All Pictures|*.bmp;*.jpg;*.jpeg;*.wmf;*.png|All Files|*";
              openFileDialog1.ShowDialog(this);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }

        private void openFileDialog1_FileOk(object sender, CancelEventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                picFromFile.Image = System.Drawing.Image.FromFile(openFileDialog1.FileName);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }

        private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
            System.IO.MemoryStream ms = new System.IO.MemoryStream();
           picFromFile.Image.Save(ms, System.Drawing.Imaging.ImageFormat.Jpeg);
            byte[] b = new byte[(int)ms.Length];
            ms.Position = 0;
            ms.Read(b, 0, (int)ms.Length);
           DataSet1TableAdapters .PicturesTableAdapter da=new Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures.DataSet1TableAdapters.PicturesTableAdapter ();
           da.InsertAPicture(txtPictureName.Text, b);
           MessageBox.Show(this, "Picture Inserted", "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

            }
        }

        private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                DataSet1TableAdapters.PicturesTableAdapter da = new Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures.DataSet1TableAdapters.PicturesTableAdapter();
                byte[] b = da.GetThePicture(txtSearchName.Text);
                System.IO.MemoryStream ms = new System.IO.MemoryStream(b);
                picFromDatabase.Image  = new Bitmap(ms);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(this, ex.Message, "Picture Application", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            }
        }
    }
}
 

app.config

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
    <configSections>
    </configSections>
    <connectionStrings>
        <add name="Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures.Properties.Settings.HypatiaConnectionString"
            connectionString="Data Source=.\hypatia;Initial Catalog=Hypatia;Integrated Security=True"
            providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
    </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

Form1.Designer.cs


namespace Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures
{
    partial class Form1
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Required designer variable.
        /// </summary>
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;

        /// <summary>
        /// Clean up any resources being used.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="disposing">true if managed resources should be disposed; otherwise, false.</param>
        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            if (disposing && (components != null))
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
            base.Dispose(disposing);
        }

        #region Windows Form Designer generated code

        /// <summary>
        /// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
        /// the contents of this method with the code editor.
        /// </summary>
        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.openFileDialog1 = new System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog();
            this.picFromDatabase = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
            this.button1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.label1 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.txtPictureName = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.button2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.label2 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.txtSearchName = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.label3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            this.button3 = new System.Windows.Forms.Button();
            this.picFromFile = new System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox();
            this.label4 = new System.Windows.Forms.Label();
            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.picFromDatabase)).BeginInit();
            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.picFromFile)).BeginInit();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            //
            // openFileDialog1
            //
            this.openFileDialog1.FileName = "openFileDialog1";
            this.openFileDialog1.FileOk += new System.ComponentModel.CancelEventHandler(this.openFileDialog1_FileOk);
            //
            // picFromDatabase
            //
            this.picFromDatabase.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(356, 234);
            this.picFromDatabase.Name = "picFromDatabase";
            this.picFromDatabase.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(129, 137);
            this.picFromDatabase.SizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.PictureBoxSizeMode.StretchImage;
            this.picFromDatabase.TabIndex = 0;
            this.picFromDatabase.TabStop = false;
            this.picFromDatabase.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.picFromFile_Click);
            //
            // button1
            //
            this.button1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(824, 204);
            this.button1.Name = "button1";
            this.button1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(115, 23);
            this.button1.TabIndex = 1;
            this.button1.Text = "Get Picture from File";
            this.button1.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.button1.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button1_Click);
            //
            // label1
            //
            this.label1.AutoSize = true;
            this.label1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(68, 39);
            this.label1.Name = "label1";
            this.label1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(71, 13);
            this.label1.TabIndex = 2;
            this.label1.Text = "Picture Name";
            //
            // txtPictureName
            //
            this.txtPictureName.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(157, 36);
            this.txtPictureName.Name = "txtPictureName";
            this.txtPictureName.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(169, 20);
            this.txtPictureName.TabIndex = 3;
            //
            // button2
            //
            this.button2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(175, 73);
            this.button2.Name = "button2";
            this.button2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(114, 23);
            this.button2.TabIndex = 4;
            this.button2.Text = "Save To Database";
            this.button2.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.button2.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button2_Click);
            //
            // label2
            //
            this.label2.AutoSize = true;
            this.label2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(71, 213);
            this.label2.Name = "label2";
            this.label2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(72, 13);
            this.label2.TabIndex = 5;
            this.label2.Text = "Search Name";
            //
            // txtSearchName
            //
            this.txtSearchName.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(157, 206);
            this.txtSearchName.Name = "txtSearchName";
            this.txtSearchName.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(169, 20);
            this.txtSearchName.TabIndex = 6;
            //
            // label3
            //
            this.label3.AutoSize = true;
            this.label3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(356, 211);
            this.label3.Name = "label3";
            this.label3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(112, 13);
            this.label3.TabIndex = 7;
            this.label3.Text = "Picture from Database";
            this.label3.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.label3_Click);
            //
            // button3
            //
            this.button3.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(157, 253);
            this.button3.Name = "button3";
            this.button3.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(151, 23);
            this.button3.TabIndex = 8;
            this.button3.Text = "Get Picture from Database";
            this.button3.UseVisualStyleBackColor = true;
            this.button3.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button3_Click);
            //
            // picFromFile
            //
            this.picFromFile.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(824, 51);
            this.picFromFile.Name = "picFromFile";
            this.picFromFile.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(129, 137);
            this.picFromFile.SizeMode = System.Windows.Forms.PictureBoxSizeMode.StretchImage;
            this.picFromFile.TabIndex = 0;
            this.picFromFile.TabStop = false;
            this.picFromFile.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.picFromFile_Click);
            //
            // label4
            //
            this.label4.AutoSize = true;
            this.label4.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(824, 28);
            this.label4.Name = "label4";
            this.label4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(112, 13);
            this.label4.TabIndex = 7;
            this.label4.Text = "Picture from Database";
            this.label4.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.label3_Click);
            //
            // Form1
            //
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(974, 412);
            this.Controls.Add(this.button3);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label4);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label3);
            this.Controls.Add(this.txtSearchName);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.button2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.txtPictureName);
            this.Controls.Add(this.label1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.button1);
            this.Controls.Add(this.picFromFile);
            this.Controls.Add(this.picFromDatabase);
            this.Name = "Form1";
            this.Text = "Storing and Retrieving Pictures";
            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.picFromDatabase)).EndInit();
            ((System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize)(this.picFromFile)).EndInit();
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.PerformLayout();

        }

        #endregion

        private System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog openFileDialog1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox picFromDatabase;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button button1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox txtPictureName;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button button2;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label2;
        private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox txtSearchName;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label3;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Button button3;
        private System.Windows.Forms.PictureBox picFromFile;
        private System.Windows.Forms.Label label4;
    }
}

Program.cs


using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace Storing_and_Retrieving_Pictures
{
    static class Program
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        [STAThread]
        static void Main()
        {
            Application.EnableVisualStyles();
            Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
            Application.Run(new Form1());
        }
    }
}



In the next few blogs we shall discuss the storing and retrieving of pictures in Java & Oracle.