Why not ditch the attachment feature?

[anarres]

Since there is an uploads feature, and (I assume) the attachments are held in the database, why not get rid of the attachments feature altogether?

 

[smalltalk]

Maybe because adding an attachment is a one-step procedure while uploading and linking a file is a two-step procedure?

 

[anarres]

Yeah, but server resources are not being utilised very efficently when you store binary images in a database.

The overhead for accessing a file uploaded with the 'uploads' feature is minimal, just the minimum required to communicate with the webserver and connect to the url. The overhead accessing a file uploaded with the 'attachment' feature is huge in comparison. Also, the database must be enourmous anyway, but the difference in size between text and images is several orders of magnitude. With attachments I guess the database is several times the size it would be without them.

Sorry about gibbering on, I'm just confused as to why it's like this...

 

[WillJ]

The attachment feature probably exists so that there is a back up for when the uploads server (the same server as civfanatics.net, I think) is down (which is not all that rare).

Although I do think that TF should make it more clear that he wants users to use the upload feature instead of the attachment feature whenever possible.

 

[smalltalk]

Originally posted by anarres
... but server resources are not being utilised very efficently when you store binary images in a database.

Never knew that attachments will be stored in the database.

but when I look at the URL of an attachment, I feel you are right:

http:// forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?s= 6556f025a97909a2f790a59f725931e6&postid=892840

 

[anarres]

The 100k file size limit should give it away, that and the lack of tags needed. ;)

But WTH, I am a techie geek and I notice the details.

In relation to it being a backup for uploads, I doubt it. The 100k limit is not enough for many files, and it is probably a hang over from the olden days (or maybe just a default forum feature that would need modding out).

I will be shocked as well if TF comes along and says it's for the newbies who can't figure out a the upload process. :eek:

 

[WillJ]

Originally posted by anarres
...and it is probably a hang over from the olden days (or maybe just a default forum feature that would need modding out).

Yes, there was a time when the attachment feature was the only way of posting files (no upload feature), and also the attachment feature used to allow larger file sizes. However, I doubt that TF would want the attachment feature gone, but just never get around to it, since I doubt that removing it would be all that hard, would it?

I guess I really don't know why it's still there (I'm sticking to my back-up theory ), so let's just wait for Thunderfall himself....

 

[Aphex_Twin]

The whole hard-drive space for CFC is no more than 400-500 Mb. I think CFC could work very well with twice as that...

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I've had a few problems getting the upload feature to work so having the attachment feature comes in handy for when I want to post images. Although I rarely attach anything so it's not a big deal.

 

[cgannon64]

I agree. The attachment feature can never even fit anything I want on there because of the ridiculuously low size limit. Its worthless since they changed it.

 

[anarres]

Not worthy of a mod response?

I thought it was a good question...

 

[Sanscizo]

I don't think it should be removed. It serves it's purpose in my opinion.

 

[Thunderfall]

Originally posted by hedgehog
The whole hard-drive space for CFC is no more than 400-500 Mb. I think CFC could work very well with twice as that...

Last time I check (about 2 months ago) the forum's attachment table in the database is almost 2 GB! That's why we put a 100 KB limit on the forum attachments and encourage people to use the Easy Upload to upload files instead. The database table for posts is pretty "small", around 500 MB.

I am waiting for vB 3.0 to come out. vB 3.0 has an option to move the attachments out of the database to a directory on the server. I may increase the attachment size limit after we upgraded the forum.

 

[anarres]

Originally posted by Thunderfall

Last time I check (about 2 months ago) the forum's attachment table in the database is almost 2 GB! That's why we put a 100 KB limit on the forum attachments and encourage people to use the Easy Upload to upload files instead. The database table for posts is pretty "small", around 500 MB.

I am waiting for vB 3.0 to come out. vB 3.0 has an option to move the attachments out of the database to a directory on the server. I may increase the attachment size limit after we upgraded the forum.

Good to hear you will be able to remove the 'baggage' from the DB.

It suprises me that it's only 2GB, since you have a long attachment history! 500Mb sounds about right for 900,000 posts.

Thanks for the info, it makes me sleep better at night.