GridFS Support

MongoDB and GridFS

GridFS is the file abstraction method MongoDB uses to store and retrieve files larger than 16 MB.

GridFS divides large files into equal chunks with a default size of 255 kB and stores them as a separate document. The last chunk, however, can be as large as necessary.

MongoDB creates two collections to store the files. The first collection – chunks – contains the file chunks; the second – files – contains the file metadata. When you search GridDS for a file, the driver will reassemble the chunks as needed.

GridFS is a fitting mechanism to store files in MongoDB, which complements the schema-less (hence faster) retrieval of information provided by the document model.

Because files are divided into smaller chunks, it’s easier to access specific sections of a file, sparing the memory-expensive task of loading an entire file.

GridFS Support in Studio 3T

In Studio 3T, each database has a corresponding GridFS Buckets folder.

Within this folder is a default bucket called Images, but you can add more buckets as needed.

Add a new GridFS bucket

1. Right-click on the GridFS Buckets folder.
2. Choose Add Bucket.
3. Name your bucket.
4. Click OK.

Drop a GridFS bucket

1. Right-click on the bucket to be deleted.
2. Choose Drop Bucket.

Open GridFS view

Right-click – Right-click on the target GridFS bucket and choose Open GridFS view.

Shortcut – Choose the bucket to view and press Enter

Add a new file

Right-click – Right-click anywhere within the GridFS view and choose Add Files.

Button – Click on the green + sign in the toolbar.

Delete a file

Right-click – Right-click on the file to be deleted and choose Remove file(s).

Button – Click on the red – sign in the toolbar.

Shortcut – ⌫ (fn + ⌫  on Mac)

Save a file

Right-click – Right-click on the file you want to save and choose Save to Disk.

Button – Click on the disk icon in the toolbar.

Shortcut – Ctrl + S (⌘ + S)

View a file

Right-click – Right-click on the file you want to view and choose View File.

Button – Choose the file you want to view and click on the lens icon in the toolbar.

Shortcut – F3 (fn + F3 on Mac)

Search for files

1. Define the search parameter in the drop-down. Choose from:

• File search
• ID search
• Type search
• Uploaded before
• Uploaded after
• File size smaller
• File size larger
• MD5 search

2. Type in the value to look for in the search bar.

3. Define the sort parameter. Choose from:

• No sort
• File Name
• Size
• File ID
• File Type
• Upload Date
• MD5

4. Click on the Play button to run the search.

View the GridFS collections

Each GridFS bucket creates two corresponding collections: BucketName.chunks and BucketName.files.

BucketName.chunks contains the actual file chunks:

While BucketName.files contains the file metadata like filename, uploadDate, and contentType: