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In-Reply-To: <4DD42A1C.30202@encs.concordia.ca>
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Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 17:06:36 -0600
Message-ID: <BANLkTimpYJk2=D8TUFDjWRQLmQNfRa_d=Q@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: column type for pdf file
From: Eric McKeeth <eldin00@gmail.com>
To: emilu@encs.concordia.ca
Cc: pgsql-sql@postgresql.org
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On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 2:20 PM, Emi Lu <emilu@encs.concordia.ca> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> To save pdf files into postgresql8.3, what is the best column type?
>
> bytea, blob, etc?
>
> Thank you,
> Emi
>

Everyone else has pointed out reasons for not doing this, and I agree with
them that in the large majority of cases just storing a reference to a file
stored outside the database is preferable. However, to answer the question
you asked, my rule of thumb is that if you need to store binary data in the
database is to use a bytea column, unless you need the random access
capabilities that the large object interface provides. A bytea column is
typically easier to use, and has proper transactional behavior, enforcement
of referential integrity, etc.

-Eric

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<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed, May 18, 2011 at 2:20 PM, Emi Lu <span di=
r=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:emilu@encs.concordia.ca">emilu@encs.concord=
ia.ca</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"m=
argin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
Hello,<br>
<br>
To save pdf files into postgresql8.3, what is the best column type?<br>
<br>
bytea, blob, etc?<br>
<br>
Thank you,<br>
Emi<font color=3D"#888888"></font><br></blockquote></div><br>Everyone else =
has pointed out reasons for not doing this, and I agree with them that in t=
he large majority of cases just storing a reference to a file stored outsid=
e the database is preferable. However, to answer the question you asked, my=
 rule of thumb is that if you need to store binary data in the database is =
to use a bytea column, unless you need the random access capabilities that =
the large object interface provides. A bytea column is typically easier to =
use, and has proper transactional behavior, enforcement of referential inte=
grity, etc.<br>
<br>-Eric<br>

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