This topic describes how you can upload media files, such as images, to the database for displaying with records in the client. There are two ways that you can do this:
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Use a BLOB data type
You add the media file to a BLOB data type field on the record. -
Use a Media or MediaSet data type
This method enables you to store media objects (images) in system tables of the database, and then reference the images from application records. For applications that are developed for the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Web client and Microsoft Dynamics NAV Universal App, you can use this method to display images with records in list type pages when the page is viewed in the Brick layout.
Using the Media or MediaSet data type provides better performance than using a BLOB data type and is more flexible in its design. With a BLOB data type, each time the media is rendered in the client, it is retrieved from the SQL database server, which requires extra bandwidth and affects performance. With the Media and MediaSet data types, the client media ID to cache the media data, which in turn improves the response time for rendering the media in the user interface.
Using Media and Media Sets on Records
Table fields support two data types for adding media to records: Media and MediaSet.
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The Media data type associates a record with a single media file.
For example, you can use this function to display an image with each record in a list type page. -
The MediaSet data type associates a record with one or more media files, which lets you set up a collection or catalogue of media for a record.
For example, you can use this function to set up a slide show of images for a record in a card type page.
 Note |
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| Currently, only image types, such as jpeg, png, or gif, are supported. For more information, see Supported Media Types. |
With a field set to Media or MediaSet data type, you can add media to the record, either from a file or passed in an InStream object. Media is imported and then stored as objects in the system table 2000000184 Tenant Media of the application database, and each media object is assigned a unique identifier (ID).
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If a media is added to a Media data type field, the field references the media by its ID.
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If the media is added to MediaSet data type field, the media file is also assigned to a media set in the system table 2000000183 Tenant Media Set. The media set has a unique identifier, which is referenced from the field. The media set is created with the first file that you add on the record. Any additional media files for the record are then associated with the same media set.
Supported Media Types
The media type, sometimes referred to as the MIME type, is an Internet standard to describe the contents of a file. Internet browsers use the media types to determine how to handle the file. There are several media types, such as image, audio, and video. Currently, Microsoft Dynamics NAV only supports image type, and more specifically, only those image subtypes that are supported by the System.Drawing.Image class of the .NET Framework.
General Guidelines for Adding Media to Records
The general procedure for setting up media on records is as follows:
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Obtain the media file or files that you want to use on record.
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In the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Development Environment, modify the table object to include a field that has the data type Media or MediaSet.
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Add C/AL code that imports the media on the field.
The Media and MediaSet data types support several C/AL functions that you can use to manage the media on records. See the next section for a complete list of functions with a link to more details, such as usage, parameters and sample code.
For example, you can create a codeunit that calls the one of the import functions, or add page action that calls one of the functions.
C/AL Functions
The following table provides an overview of the C/AL functions that are related to media and media sets.
| Data Type | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
Media | Sets up an image on a record from a file. The media file is imported to the application database. | |
Sets up an image on a record from an InStream object. The media file is imported to the application database. | ||
Detects whether a record has a media object in the Media data type field. | ||
Gets the unique identifier (GUID) that is assigned to the media object in the application database. | ||
Exports a media object that is set up on a record to a file. | ||
Exports a media object that is set up on a record to an OutStream object. | ||
MediaSet | Sets up an image on a record from a file and assigns the image to a media set. The media file is imported to the application database. | |
Sets up an image on a record from an InStream object and assigns it to a media set. The media file is imported to the application database. | ||
Gets the unique identifier (GUID) that is assigned to the media set on a record. | ||
Gets the total number of media objects that are included in the media set on a record. | ||
Exports the media objects that included in a media set to individual files. |