Skip to content
Studio 3T - The professional GUI, IDE and client for MongoDB
  • Tools
    • Aggregation Editor
    • IntelliShell
    • Visual Query Builder
    • Export Wizard
    • Import Wizard
    • Query Code
    • SQL Query
    • Connect
    • Schema Explorer
    • Compare
    • SQL ⇔ MongoDB Migration
    • Data Masking
    • Task Scheduler
    • Reschema
    • More Tools and Features
  • Solutions
  • Resources
    • Knowledge Base
    • MongoDB Tutorials & Courses
    • Tool/Feature Documentation
    • Blog
    • Community
    • Testimonials
    • Whitepapers
    • Reports
  • Contact us
    • Contact
    • Sales Support
    • Feedback and Support
    • Careers
    • About Us
  • Store
    • Buy Now
    • Preferred Resellers
    • Team Pricing
  • Download
  • My 3T
search

Studio 3T Knowledge Base

  • Documentation
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops
Take the fastest route to learning MongoDB. Cover the basics in two hours with MongoDB 101, no registration required.
Start the free course

GridFS Support

Posted on: 02/02/2020 (last updated: 31/08/2021) by Kathryn Vargas
tl;dr

All three Studio 3T editions support GridFS, the method MongoDB uses to store files larger than the document size limit of 16 MB. Try it today.

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

Add GridFS bucket in Studio 3T
  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.

One way to add a file is to right click anywhere in GridFS view

Shortcut – Choose the bucket to view and press Enter

Open GridFS view

Add a new file

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

One way to add a file is to right click anywhere in GridFS view

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

Click on the green + sign to add a file

Delete a file

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

Open GridFS view

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

Delete a file by clicking on the - sign

Shortcut – ⌫ (fn + ⌫  on Mac)

Save a file

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

Save GridFS file to disk by right-clicking on a file and choosing Save to Disk

Button – Click on the disk icon in the toolbar.

Click on the disk icon in the toolbar to save the GridFS file

Shortcut – Ctrl + S (⌘ + S)

View a file

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

View GridFS file by right-clicking on the item

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

View a GridFS file by clicking on the magnifying lens icon in the toolbar

Shortcut – F3 (fn + F3 on Mac)

Search for files

Define your search and sort parameters to find particular GridFS 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.

To sort results in ascending or descending order, click on the graph icon in the top-right corner.

Sort results in ascending or descending order by clicking on the graph icon

View the GridFS collections

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

BucketName.chunks contains the actual file chunks:

The chunks collection contains the actual file chunks

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

The files collection contains the file metadata

Now that you’ve learned how to use GridFS:

  • Explore Studio 3T’s wide range of MongoDB import and export options
  • Create your very first MongoDB view to make querying much faster

How helpful was this article?
This article was hideous
This article was bad
This article was ok
This article was good
This article was great
Thank you for your feedback!

About The Author

Kathryn Vargas

When she's not writing about working with MongoDB, Kathryn spends her free time exploring Berlin's food scene, playing the drums, learning languages (current mission: German), and hiking.

Article navigation

Related articles

  • What’s New in Studio 3T 2020.4 | Introducing License Manager, IBM DB2 Migration Support, Export Wizard Improvements
  • What’s New in Studio 3T 2022.2 – Apple Silicon Support, Find Options, and $setWindowFields
  • Sales Support
  • Feedback and Support

Studio 3T

MongoDB Enterprise Certified Technology PartnerSince 2014, 3T has been helping thousands of MongoDB developers and administrators with their everyday jobs by providing the finest MongoDB tools on the market. We guarantee the best compatibility with current and legacy releases of MongoDB, continue to deliver new features with every new software release, and provide high quality support.

Find us on FacebookFind us on TwitterFind us on YouTubeFind us on LinkedIn

Education

  • Free MongoDB Tutorials
  • Connect to MongoDB
  • Connect to MongoDB Atlas
  • Import Data to MongoDB
  • Export MongoDB Data
  • Build Aggregation Queries
  • Query MongoDB with SQL
  • Migrate from SQL to MongoDB

Resources

  • Feedback and Support
  • Sales Support
  • Knowledge Base
  • FAQ
  • Reports
  • White Papers
  • Testimonials
  • Discounts

Company

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Legal
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • EULA

© 2023 3T Software Labs Ltd. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie settings
  • Impressum

We value your privacy

With your consent, we and third-party providers use cookies and similar technologies on our website to analyse your use of our site for market research or advertising purposes ("analytics and marketing") and to provide you with additional functions (“functional”). This may result in the creation of pseudonymous usage profiles and the transfer of personal data to third countries, including the USA, which may have no adequate level of protection for the processing of personal data.

By clicking “Accept all”, you consent to the storage of cookies and the processing of personal data for these purposes, including any transfers to third countries. By clicking on “Decline all”, you do not give your consent and we will only store cookies that are necessary for our website. You can customize the cookies we store on your device or change your selection at any time - thus also revoking your consent with effect for the future - under “Manage Cookies”, or “Cookie Settings” at the bottom of the page. You can find further information in our Privacy Policy.
Accept all
Decline all
Manage cookies
✕

Privacy Preference Center

With your consent, we and third-party providers use cookies and similar technologies on our website to analyse your use of our site for market research or advertising purposes ("analytics and marketing") and to provide you with additional functions (“functional”). This may result in the creation of pseudonymous usage profiles and the transfer of personal data to third countries, including the USA, which may have no adequate level of protection for the processing of personal data. Please choose for which purposes you wish to give us your consent and store your preferences by clicking on “Accept selected”. You can find further information in our Privacy Policy.

Accept all cookies

Manage consent preferences

Essential cookies are strictly necessary to provide an online service such as our website or a service on our website which you have requested. The website or service will not work without them.

Performance cookies allow us to collect information such as number of visits and sources of traffic. This information is used in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used, allowing us to improve both our website’s performance and your experience.

Google Analytics

Google Ads

Bing Ads

Facebook

LinkedIn

Quora

Hotjar

Functional cookies collect information about your preferences and choices and make using the website a lot easier and more relevant. Without these cookies, some of the site functionality may not work as intended.

HubSpot

Social media cookies are cookies used to share user behaviour information with a third-party social media platform. They may consequently effect how social media sites present you with information in the future.

Accept selected