What are the image sizes that you are storing for each of the pictures. I have been storing student images in a JPG format for several years now first using ESPIA and now using VFP6. I subclassed the image control to add a ControlSource and then use the new FileToString and StringToFile function to retrieve the images out of a MEMO field. Like John said before if you are reading them a lot and rarely updating the MEMO file you should have very little trouble with the file getting corrupted. Since it is also being backed up it won't be that bad to restore from tape the memo file and pictures for that file. To keep the matter more simple I use a separate table that holds the StudentID in one field and the Picture in a memo field. Then I can reference the IMAGES.DBF file by seeking to the StudentID in the IMAGES.DBF. This works quite well and now with the new StringToFile I take the Memo field data where the JPG was appended into and then use the StringToFile to write it to a quick temporary file of a JPG extension in my subclassed Image control and then look at the file and the cleanup of the subclassed Image control erases the temporary JPG since the Image control cannot directly point to a MEMO field and display the data. It works extremely well. The directory stuff can become a nightmare and then you could also have a bunch of broken lookups when someone slowly double clicks on the directory name and changes it or moves it or whatever.
