Hello,

we are using Outlook 2007. We have Contacts in our CRM (SQL Server) and pictures are stored in a directory on a network drive.

When importing these pictures into Outlook (using a View), it displays the picture as normal attachment?

Thanks

Outlook is using special values to recognize Contact Picture between other “normal” attachments.
Attachment number: MUST BE LINKED TO A TABLE COLUMN! Contains a number that uniquely identifies the attachment within its parent message.
(When importing only Contact pictures (no other attachments )Attachment number can be 0)


When importing from a file, you must provide Outlook with these values:

Attachment filename: must be empty
Attachment full path and filename: <file> Example: d:\foto\mypicture.jpg
Attachment long filename: ContactPicture.jpg (this is mandatory, Outlook always uses this fixed name in attachment table)
Attachment method:1
Attachment rendering position:-1

when importing directly from DB (blob column):
Attachment binary: the picture
Attachment filename: must be empty
Attachment long filename: ContactPicture.jpg
Attachment method:1
Attachment rendering position:-1

hello,
i found this thread and have a "beginners" question.

i have all my contact pictures stored in P:\fotos.
the name of the picture files is "firstname lastname.jpg"

how exactly has my importfile to look like?
specially how do i use the variables for the name?

Attachment filename: must be empty
Attachment full path and filename: P:\fotos\your picture file name.jpg
Attachment long filename: ContactPicture.jpg
Attachment method:1
Attachment rendering position:-1

Hi admin,

thanks for this answer, but i ment which format this import file should have?
is it CSV format ?
which field seperator is needed ?
maybe there is a small demo file with 2 or 3 records to have a look to?

You must link an attachment table (Assign Table->Item Attachments). it can be also a View (query in MS Access).

The Table/Query must return the values above (don't map the attachment binary column since you want to use files on harddisk). Set also the extaction path (Extract attachments to a folder..->Set button)

sorry but i are not used to this function. therefore my questions are sometimes "rookie" ;-)

How do i get the pictures linked to the right person record in outlook?
i did not find a "name" field in your settings?

is there maybe a small demo table aviable, to have a look in ?

how the attachment record links to a parent record (Contact) or picture file depends on your data model.

If you have only a file in "firstname lastname"."jpg" format, you will have to create a View based on your main table, example (Pseudocode):