I did not catch anything of significance. I did find that I would get a contious receive. I think the dc is bad. However, with all of this I did switch machines (so to speak ... hit the junk pile and built one from pieces and parts) and had the same problem. After some time, I had a light-bulb go off inside my head. Update the chip set drivers. It worked. Stupid me. I should have considered drivers on the previous machine. It just never even crossed my mind that they could have updated or needed to update with a Win Update. Ouch ... such a newbie mistake.

PrissySC wrote: Is there a better way (xml) that would prove to be better? Space is not an issue; however, length of time to display is, as always, a major factor. That of course depends on how the user is accessing it. PrissySC wrote: I would save as a file and link to the file, but I fear that in the manner suggested they will not map the network drive to a consistent letter at all workstations. Again this depends on how the users access it. PrissySC wrote: What have you done or would you do? Depends on the system but at least one file based solution is to provide an application\web server which can return a file URL and where the server permissions allow only for read only access into the file system. The database then returns something that can be massaged into a file url. There are other solutions and other factors such as how many files, what sort of access, how often does access occur, size of files, goals of project, etc.

You're welcome :)

Actually, it was a matter of expected type. System.Binary[] I set up an empty data class (linq2sql) with a column called image. It is not connected to any SQL data table. I made the column type System.Binary[] Important note is that primary key is not needed either. It is more or less a "dummy" object for the purpose of being able to send via a bindingsource to a dataset to fill using the report viewer and rdlc report designer. Add the object to the data sources. I filled it from the company table (stored in SQL field varbinary(max)) by getting the only row, or first, in a select. I added a binding source for the empty class (ImageTable or ImageClass). Like this ... Dim imageInfo as New AppName.ImageClass Dim temp as New AppName.CompanyTable temp = (From table in context.CompanyTable Select s).FirstorDefault imageInfo.ShowImage = temp.ColumnNameWithImage.ToArray BindingSource.Datasource = imageInfo The dataset for the empty class was added to the report. The source in the report viewer is the binding source. Weird, but it was all because of "type". Combine this with the issue of being able to send in a dataset and it was a bit boggling. Hope this helps someone else. :) From where I started, I got the code down to five lines. I needed this to be streamlined as the entire app is reporting based on barcode and date for status and production.

I would have agreed, but I created a new database on the SQL server. I went to a client machine to connect, and once again, the new database does not show in the list. I get the SQL list with master and such. Truly, this is really bothersome. It is almost as if there is a "scope" problem. Could the GPO affect this? It is an Admin of the domain, but what was given to me was that this admin account has full access. I would think to differ only because ... SQL installs with a local machine admin yes? Creator/Owner does have special permissions by default on 2008 ... would any portion of this effect the DATA folder where the database has been relocated for attachment? Lastly, I will try using nonintegrated methods and consider troubleshooting ID values as well per Mycroft Holmes' post.

Thanks again. What would I do without your brain. :) I was not even looking at the string development in any manner. I should have known that. My languages are a little mixed up some days. Dumb newbie thing ... LOL

Actually, I solved this in quite an odd manner. I added a textbox for the primary key that was linked (bound) to the parent datasource. This solved the add new. Why the child could not aquire a key value is beyond me. I simply hid the textbox by placing it behind another control. Oh, that reminds me. You cannot set the visibility to false and the key still add. Again, another thing that eludes me entirely. What does visibility have to do with it? I could not find any documentation that linked the visible status to the enabled status, but ah well. Problem was solved.

After fighting with this and reading your comment ... I finally figured out the connection with the new to the relationship of the parent. It was not the actual save for the context that caused the problem, but rather how I was initiating the "new". parent.add(child.add) solved the problem. Now, when saving the changes to the context, no error and I get validation. Off to fight with excel export ... :~ Thanks for your comment!