PRB: Cannot Open Pubs Table Image Data Through Microsoft Access Link (257767)

SYMPTOMS

If you use Microsoft Access and you link to the SQL Server Pubs_info table, by using the logo field, which is Image data, you cannot open the Image. This error occurs:

A problem occurred while Microsoft Access was communicating with the ole server. Close the ole server and restart it outside of access and try the original operation outside of access.

CAUSE

This occurs because Microsoft Access adds an OLE Header to data entered as an OLE Object Datatype. If you enter the data directly into SQL Server (such as the Pubs table) and then open the field through Microsoft Access, the error occurs, because the Microsoft Access OLE Header is not present.

WORKAROUND

Here are two ways to work around this behavior:

Insert image data into Microsoft Access, and then use the Data Transformation Services (DTS) to import the data into SQL Server.

-or-
Write a custom application that can take image data from SQL Server and then display the data.

For additional information on how to write this type of application in Microsoft Visual Basic, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
194975 HOWTO: Sample Functions Demonstrating GetChunk and AppendChunk

MORE INFORMATION

This method works in Northwind, because Northwind originated in Microsoft Access. When you create the Northwind database with the Instnwnd.sql script, the image binary that is inserted, is taken from the Microsoft Access version of the Northwind database, which includes the Microsoft Access OLE Header.