Question

I wish to write a query that inserts a file that resides on the client (C# web server) into a column in the database server (SQL Server), something like INSERT … SELECT * FROM OPENROWSET(BULK…), but without having to save the file on the server machine first.

Is this even possible in SQL?

Answer 1

In SQL Server BLOB Data in .NET: Tutorial, Mohammad Elsheimy explains how it can be done:

using(SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(conStr) )
using(SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand("INSERT INTO MyFiles VALUES (@Filename, @Data)", con) )
{
    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Filename", Path.GetFileName(filename));
    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Data", File.ReadAllBytes(filename));
    connection.Open();
}

Basically, this way the file is read on the client and sent to the database server without a need for a temporary file on the server machine.