sample code in VB i found somewhere
'write to sql
Dim cn As ADODB.Connection
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Dim mstream As ADODB.Stream
Set cn = New ADODB.Connection
cn.Open "Provider=SQLOLEDB;data Source=<name of your SQL Server>;
Initial Catalog=pubs;User Id=<Your Userid>;Password=<Your Password>"
Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.Open "Select * from pub_info", cn, adOpenKeyset, adLockOptimistic
Set mstream = New ADODB.Stream
mstream.Type = adTypeBinary
mstream.Open
mstream.LoadFromFile "<path to .gif file>"
rs.Fields("logo").Value = mstream.Read
rs.Update
rs.Close
cn.Close
'Read from sql
Dim cn As ADODB.Connection
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Dim mstream As ADODB.Stream
Set cn = New ADODB.Connection
cn.Open "Provider=SQLOLEDB;data Source=<name of your SQL Server>;
Initial Catalog=pubs;User Id=<Your Userid>;Password=<Your Password>"
Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.Open "Select * from pub_info", cn, adOpenKeyset, adLockOptimistic
Set mstream = New ADODB.Stream
mstream.Type = adTypeBinary
mstream.Open
mstream.Write rs.Fields("logo").Value
mstream.SaveToFile "c:\publogo.gif", adSaveCreateOverWrite
rs.Close
cn.Close