Repeating XML content from db and linked images

Question

I'm using XML to flow content from a database into an ID CS2 pub. There will be an .ai file associated with each record which will be placed into a tagged inline frame in each repeating element. I would like to store the .ai files in their own directory and have a field in the database that references the path to each specific file for each particular record.
So...do I simply need to put a placeholder image in the layout and tag the path to the link with the same name as the db field referencing the image path? How do I tag the path to the linked image?
On a related note, I would also to include a symbol with certain records (there's a field in the db that's a "yes-no" checkbox--if this box is checked for any record, I would like the symbol to appear on the page with that record).
Hope I'm being clear here.
Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

Hello bshannon,
Thanks for your answer, I tried your suggestion but when I use URLDataSource I get the error message http 500 (in my original post I said that using URLDataSource the mail was sent but without the image... my mistake, I was getting this same error). I traced the error and I found that it is caused by a null pointer exception... let me explain
This is the code for the jsp that returns the image:
4        <jsp:useBean id="coverImage" class="com.mqm.struts.getImageAction" scope="session" />
5       <%
6           // Desired size of the image to return
7           int heigth = Integer.parseInt(request.getParameter("heigth"));
8          int width = Integer.parseInt(request.getParameter("width"));
9          
10          // Each item can have up to 6 images (ordered by id), this indicates wich of one we have to return
11            int imageIndex = Integer.parseInt(request.getParameter("imageIndex"));
12        byte[] imgData = coverImage.getItemImageAction(request.getParameter("itemId"), request,heigth, width, imageIndex );
13        response.setContentType("image/jpeg");
14        OutputStream o = response.getOutputStream();
15         o.write(imgData);
16         o.flush();
17         out.clearBuffer();
18         o.close();
        %> getImageAction is my DAO class that actually reads the image data from the DB, when I use this 'getImage.jsp' inside any other jsp in the app it works, but when used as described in the first post the request parameter in the line 12 doesn't have the session info, apparently creates a new session or something and since I use information in the session to create the DAO factory I can't connect to the DB and get this error..
pls tell me if I explained my self or I'm just talking non sense
regards