Insert a file in a mysql database!

Hi all... Here i am once again asking for advice :) well i need to put a file (something lika *.doc or *.rtf) on a mysql database. The thing is: the user need to upload a computer file to the mysql runing over a linux box. i would like to know: 1) what is the best way to do this? 2) what is the html code i have to generate do do this? 3) how can i read this back from the database? i read something about sending the file over ftp and then on the database put just the path to the file. but what is your opinion? thankx ******************************************* Pedro Miguel Silva Oliveira Cell Phone: +351 96 5867227 SMS: 965867227@mail.tmn.pt Email: Oliveira.Pedro@bigfoot.com