IBM Informix Guide to SQL: Reference

BLOB (IDS)
The BLOB data type stores any kind of binary data in random-access chunks, called sbspaces.
Binary data typically consists of saved spreadsheets, program-load modules, digitized voice patterns,
and so on. The database server performs no interpretation of the contents of a BLOB column. A
BLOB column can be up to terabytes !"#
$
bytes% in length, though your system resources might
impose a lo&er practical limit.
The term smart large object refers to BLOB and 'LOB data types. (se 'LOB data types !see page
'LOB !)*+%% for random access to te,t data. -or general information about BLOB and 'LOB data
types, see +mart Large Ob.ects !)*+%.
/ou can use these +0L functions to perform operations on a BLOB column1
FILETOBLOB copies a file into a BLOB column.
LOTOFILE copies a BLOB !or 'LOB% value into an operating-system file.
LOCOP copies an e,isting smart large ob.ect to a ne& smart large ob.ect.
-or more information on these +0L functions, see the IBM Informix Guide to SQL: Syntax.
2ithin +0L, you are limited to the e3uality ! 4 % comparison operation and the encryption and
decryption functions for BLOB data. !The encryption and decryption functions are described in the
IBM Informix Guide to SQL: Syntax.% To perform additional operations, you must use one of the
application programming interfaces !A5)s% from &ithin your client application.
/ou can insert data into BLOB columns in the follo&ing &ays1
2ith the d!"o#d or on"o#d utilities
2ith the LOA* statement !*B6Access%
2ith the FILETOBLOB function
-rom BLOB !ifx$"o$t% host variables !)B78 )nformi,8 9+0L:'%
)f you select a BLOB column using *B6Access, only the string <SBlob value> is returned; no
actual value is displayed.
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For the PDF version of this book, see the Complete IDS Library page.
For the release notes, documentation notes, and machine notes, see the Release Notes page.
Last updated: June 18 !!"
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