Set up external storage¶
Connect Media Bridge to an Azure Blob Storage container, a SharePoint library or another storage type supported by Business Central, and switch the company to External File Storage.
When to use this
The first time you move pictures out of the Business Central database, or when you change the storage account that Media Bridge uses.
1. Prerequisites¶
- You have the Media Storage Mgt. permission set, and permission to set up file accounts in Business Central.
- The storage itself exists, for example an Azure storage account with a container, and you have the credentials to connect to it.
- The company does not use a media source company. A company that reads its pictures from another company cannot have its own storage.
2. Steps¶
2.1. Create a file account¶
- Search for File Accounts and open the page.
- Choose Add a file account and follow the assisted setup for your storage type (for example Azure Blob Storage or SharePoint).
- Finish the setup. The new account appears in the list.
2.2. Assign the account to the Media Bridge file scenarios¶
Media Bridge uses one file scenario per kind of picture:
| File scenario | Used for |
|---|---|
| Item Media | Item and item variant pictures |
| Employee Media | Employee photos |
All scenarios must point to a file account. There are two ways to do this:
- In the migration wizard (recommended). On the first step, choose the assist button next to File Account and select the account. Media Bridge assigns it to every Media Bridge scenario in one go.
- On the File Accounts page. Open the account, choose File Scenarios, and assign both Item Media and Employee Media.
Default account
A scenario without its own account falls back to the default file account. If you rely on that, make sure the default account is the one you want pictures in.
2.3. Choose a root folder (optional)¶
- Search for Media Bridge Setup and open the page.
- The External Storage Root Folder field is only shown when the storage source is already External File Storage. Before the first migration, set the folder in the migration wizard instead: choose the assist button next to Folder.
- Browse to the folder that Media Bridge should use, and select it.
Leave the folder empty to store pictures in the root of the account.
2.4. Test the connection¶
- In the migration wizard, choose Test Connection. The Connection Status field shows Connection: OK when every Media Bridge scenario can list the root folder.
- Once External File Storage is active, you can also use Test Storage Connection on the Media Bridge Setup page.
2.5. Switch to External File Storage¶
The storage source switches when a migration to External File Storage ends without failures. Follow Migrate pictures with From = Tenant Media and To = External File Storage. This also works when there are no pictures yet: the empty migration completes and switches the storage source.
3. Verify¶
- Media Bridge Setup shows Media Storage Source = External File Storage.
- Add a picture to an item. The file appears in the storage account under the folder structure described in Storage layout.
4. Common signals you may need this procedure¶
No external file account is set up. Set up a file account first, then assign it to the Media Bridge file scenarios.
There is no file account at all. Follow step 2.1.
No file account is assigned to one of the Media Bridge file scenarios, and there is no default file account.
A file account exists, but not for every Media Bridge scenario. Follow step 2.2.
Connection test failed. Verify the File Account and File Scenario setup.
The account is assigned, but Business Central cannot reach the storage or the root folder. Check the credentials, the container or library, and the root folder.
Failed to upload picture to external file storage: ...
The storage refused the file. Test the connection and check the permissions of the storage account.
5. When to contact The Framework¶
- The connection test succeeds, but uploads still fail.
- You want to use a storage type that is not listed in File Accounts.