How can I specify the path to a file dynamically in OPENROWSET(BULK…)?

Question

I want to insert images into an Image field, preferably using a stored procedure which will accept a path to an image. After hacking around I came up with this;

Answer 1

You do have to use dynamic sql but you can use quotename() to avoid embedded quote nightmares and you should pass the primary key in as an actual parameter.

DECLARE @sql_string nvarchar(max) = 
N'UPDATE MyTable
  SET MyImageField = (SELECT BulkColumn 
                      FROM Openrowset(Bulk ' + quotename(@PathToMyImage,nchar(39)) + ', Single_Blob) ImageData)
  WHERE MyPrimaryKey = @PrimaryKey';

EXECUTE sp_executesql @sql_string, N'@PrimaryKey int',  @PrimaryKey

nchar(39) is a single quote. All single quotes within the path name will be properly escaped and the path will be enclosed in single quotes for safe concatenation.