Question

How, through the mongo shell, do I “upload” a file to my MongoDB and how to I retrieve that same file? I wonder, what is the output, even, after doing so.

I think showing what I’ve done will show how foolish my attempts have been.

db.fs.files.insert("foo.txt");

This just seems to insert the actual text not the document I want…and to retrieve, I found that

db.fs.files.retrieve()

Isnt a function. find() just displays to me…but I want the actual document’s contents printed, whether it be BINARY data or w/e I don’t care, haha.

I’m sorry for such miserable attempts – but perhaps it showcases how little I know of what GridFS can do – maybe someone can clear that up for me in addition to the usage.

Answer 1

From command line you can use mongofiles: http://www.mongodb.org/display/DOCS/GridFS+Tools

mongofiles put yourfile.txt
cd /tmp
mongofiles get yourfile.txt

The first line puts the file yourfile.txt to the mongodb. The second one retrieves it at another position in the file system.

I think it is not possible to use GridFS directly from the mongo shell.

From python you can use:

    class gridfs.GridFS(database, collection='fs')

http://api.mongodb.org/python/current/api/gridfs/index.html#gridfs.GridFS

For what GridFS should be used:

http://www.mongodb.org/display/DOCS/When+to+use+GridFS