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Extending Informix®Beyond standard relational database objects, HCL Informix® can be extended to handle specialized data types, access methods, routines, and other objects. Informix® includes many built-in extensions that are fully integrated in the database server. Informix® also provides DataBlade® modules, which are packages of extended database objects for a particular purpose and that are installed separately from the database server. Alternatively, you can create your own user-defined objects for Informix®.
Creating extensionsYou can create user-defined data types, routines, access methods, and other database objects to suit your needs. You can use application programming interfaces to write user-defined routines and applications that access data in Informix® databases.
DataBlade® Developers KitThe DataBlade® Developers Kit (DBDK) guides contain information about the tools you can use to develop and package DataBlade® modules, which extend the functionality of HCL Informix® databases.
DataBlade® Developers Kit User's GuideThe HCL Informix® DataBlade® Developers Kit User's Guide describes how to use tools to develop and package DataBlade® modules.
Create DataBlade® objects by using BladeSmithUse BladeSmith to create DataBlade® modules.
Create DataBlade® module objectsBladeSmith uses wizards to create and edit objects.
Create data typesYou can create extended data types in BladeSmith. In addition, you must define qualified built-in data types before you can use them in a BladeSmith project.
Opaque data typeAn opaque data type is a C structure or C++/ActiveX class. The database server does not interpret the contents of the structure. Instead, it calls support routines that you provide to manipulate the structure.
Support routinesYou can select from different categories of support routines to support your opaque data type.
B-tree indexing supportB-tree strategy and support functions support the use the B-tree secondary access method to create an index on your opaque data type column.

B-tree indexing support

B-tree strategy and support functions support the use the B-tree secondary access method to create an index on your opaque data type column.

This category is valid for the C and C++.

The following B-tree strategy and support functions can be used:

Compare()
Equal() (bound to the = operator)
LessThan() (bound to the < operator)
GreaterThan() (bound to the > operator)
LessThanOrEqual() (bound to the <= operator)
GreaterThanOrEqual() (bound to the >= operator)
NotEqual() (bound to the != and the <> operators)

Defining these routines for opaque data types allows fast B-tree index searches on the new data types. If a query uses the operator bound to one of the functions, the optimizer can evaluate strategies that use the index.

For the C language, BladeSmith prefixes the names of these functions with the name of the data type for which they are specified: OpaqueCompare(), OpaqueEqual(), OpaqueLessThan(), OpaqueGreaterThan(), OpaqueLessThanOrEqual(), and OpaqueGreaterThanOrEqual().

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