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Check this documentation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/blob/filestream-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15
BFILE alternative in SQL Server
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Jassim Al Rahma
1,616
Reputation points
Hi,
What is the datatype available in Microsoft SQL Server to use that is similar to the BFILE in Oracle where you store a pointer of to the file?
Thanks,
Jassim
SQL Server | Other
{count} votes
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CathyJi-MSFT 22,396 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff2022-05-19T03:17:59.587+00:00 Hi @Jassim Al Rahma ,
Please check the replies from NaomiNNN and Tom. If the response helped, do "Accept Answer". Your contribution is highly appreciated. If you have further issue, pleas feel free to ask.
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Jassim Al Rahma 26 Reputation points2022-05-19T16:16:47.123+00:00 Is this available in Microsoft SQL Server Express as well?
and does the actual file size count in the total database size or it will only have a reference to it? because if the actual file size will consume from the SQL Express database size then that won't be enough.
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Erland Sommarskog 121.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator2022-05-19T21:13:51.12+00:00 FILESTREAM is available on SQL Server Express. Good question if they count the size of the FILESTREAM area when they check the 10 GB limit. You will need to test.
But the files are indeed part of the database, so when you backup the database, the files are included. So from that perspective, if you exceed the limit, you have found a loophole.
There is also Filetable. The difference is that with FILESTREAM, the area where the files are located are off-limits, wheras with Filetable, a share is exposed and files can be entered through regular Windows tools. Again, I don't know how that relates to the 10 GB limit.
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Tom Phillips 17,771 Reputation points2022-05-18T20:56:46.823+00:00