So currently in our system we have been storing image files in the database (SQL Express 2005). Unfortunately it wasn't perceived that this would reach the max database size allowed by the SQL Express License. So I have proposed a plan of storing the images in the file system and only indexing where the file is in the database.

The plan is to save the root path in our OptionsTable as something like ImagesRoot and then only saving the actual imageID in the table, which is basically a FK from the PK of the record with the image. I have determined that it would be best to then split this down into sub-directories inside of the ImagesRoot based on every 1000 images so basically (ImagedID / 1000)\(ImageID % 1000) (e.g. ImageID is 1999 it would be in %ImageRoot%\1\999).

I'm looking for any potential pitfalls of this system and any thing that could be improved as I am already receiving some resistance from the owner of the company who wants everything to be in databases. Along those lines I would also take reasons why it should all be in databases.

I should mention we have in place already automated backups that run for all of our customers databases and any files that are generated by our program that are required to be saved over a period of time These are optional but if someone isn't using our system it is expected that they are using their own or data loss isn't our problem (it is if our system fails and they are using it!).

Thanks