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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® Module Development OverviewThe HCL Informix® DataBlade® module overview serves as an overview of the HCL Informix® DataBlade® module development process.
DataBlade® module concepts
What are DataBlade® modules?A DataBlade module is a software package that extends the functionality of HCL Informix®.
Why use the DataBlade® Developers Kit?Although you can create a DataBlade® module manually, you can reduce development time considerably if you use the DataBlade® Developers Kit.

Why use the DataBlade Developers Kit?

Although you can create a DataBlade® module manually, you can reduce development time considerably if you use the DataBlade Developers Kit.

Three graphical user interfaces are provided for DataBlade module development:

BladeSmith: Creates your DataBlade module
BladePack: Packages your DataBlade module
BladeManager: Makes your DataBlade module available in a database

In addition, the DataBlade Developers Kit provides the following tools for debugging your DataBlade module on Windows™:

DBDK Visual C++ Add-In: Debugs your DataBlade module within Microsoft™ Visual C++
IfxQuery: Executes SQL debugging tests from within Microsoft Visual C++

The DataBlade Developers Kit reduces development time because it:

uses wizards to guide you through complex SQL object creation options
generates the following types of files:
- Complete SQL definitions for your database objects
- Complete code, or code entry points for C, C++, and Java™ source code
- Unit tests for debugging user-defined routines, opaque data type support routines, and cast support functions
- Functional tests for validating user-defined routines, opaque data type support routines, and cast support functions
automates creating an interactive installation program for UNIX™ and Windows operating systems

The source code generated by the DataBlade Developers Kit follows good coding practices for your HCL Informix® database server and ensures consistency among your user-defined routines.

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