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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 extensions
You 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 Kit
The 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 Guide
The HCL Informix® DataBlade® Developers Kit User's Guide describes how to use tools to develop and package DataBlade modules.
BladePack
BladePack creates installation packages for DataBlade® modules and other software products.
BladePack overview
BladePack produces installation packages for installing products on UNIX™ and Microsoft™ Windows™ operating systems. BladePack can create a simple directory tree containing files to be installed or an installation that includes an interactive user interface.
BladePack projects
BladePack organizes information into projects. Each project is controlled by a product file (project.prd), which contains entries for the component file (project.cmp), bill of materials file (project.bom), and string file (project.str).

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.
- Informix® extensions and DataBlade® modules
  These topics describe how to use built-in database extensions and separately installed DataBlade® modules.
- Creating extensions
  You 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® API Programmer's Guide
    The Informix® DataBlade® API Programmer's Guide describes information about the DataBlade API, the C-language application programming interface (API) provided with HCL Informix.
  - DataBlade® API Function Reference
    The Informix® DataBlade® API Function Reference describes the DataBlade API functions and the subset of Informix ESQL/C functions that the DataBlade API supports.
  - DataBlade® Developers Kit
    The 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 Overview
      The HCL Informix® DataBlade® module overview serves as an overview of the HCL Informix DataBlade module development process.
    - DataBlade® Developers Kit User's Guide
      The HCL Informix® DataBlade® Developers Kit User's Guide describes how to use tools to develop and package DataBlade modules.
      - Getting started with DataBlade® module development
        This section provides an overview of DataBlade® module development and describes the resources and tools the HCL Informix® database server provides to facilitate development.
      - Design DataBlade® modules
        This section describes the DataBlade® module SQL design issues.
      - Programming guidelines
        Use this section to help you when you write the design specification for your DataBlade® module.
      - Create DataBlade® objects by using BladeSmith
        Use BladeSmith to create DataBlade® modules.
      - Programming DataBlade® module routines in C
        This section contains information to help you edit and compile C language source code generated by DataBlade®.
      - Create ActiveX value objects
        This section describes how to use the to create ActiveX value objects. This section describes the use of C++ to implement opaque type support routines.
      - The ActiveX value objects
        This section provides information for client application developers who are using ActiveX value objects.
      - Programming DataBlade® modules in Java™
        This section contains information to help you edit and compile Java™ language source code generated by BladeSmith.
      - Debugging and testing DataBlade® modules on UNIX™
        This section describes how to debug and perform functional tests for DataBlade® modules written in C for Informix® on UNIX™.
      - Debugging and testing DataBlade® modules on Windows™
        This section describes how to debug and perform functional tests for DataBlade® modules written in C and C++ for Informix® on Windows™.
      - BladePack
        BladePack creates installation packages for DataBlade® modules and other software products.
        Prerequisite tasks
        BladePack overview
        BladePack produces installation packages for installing products on UNIX™ and Microsoft™ Windows™ operating systems. BladePack can create a simple directory tree containing files to be installed or an installation that includes an interactive user interface.
        BladePack projects
        BladePack organizes information into projects. Each project is controlled by a product file (project.prd), which contains entries for the component file (project.cmp), bill of materials file (project.bom), and string file (project.str).
        BladePack online help
        BladePack online help provides overview and detailed reference information for BladePack.
        BladePack windows
        The BladePack project window is divided into two panes: the project view and the item view.
        Registry keys for Windows™
        When you install the , one of the installation screens allows you to specify InstallShield support, if you have InstallShield installed on your computer.
        Packaging for UNIX™ installations
        To package your DataBlade® module, you add content to a BladePack project, assign components, customize the installation procedure, and build the package.
        Packaging for InstallShield 3.1 installations
        To package your DataBlade® module, you add content to a BladePack project, assign components, customize the installation procedure, and build the package.
        Packaging for InstallShield 5.1 installations
        To package your DataBlade® module, you add content to a BladePack project, assign components, customize the installation procedure, and build the package.
      - Appendixes
        This section contains additional reference information.
    - DBDK InfoShelf
      The DataBlade® Developers Kit InfoShelf is designed to help you work with BladeSmith.
  - J/Foundation Developer's Guide
    The J/Foundation Developer's Guide describes how to write user-defined routines (UDRs) in the Java™ programming language for Informix®.
  - R-Tree Index User's Guide
    The Informix® R-Tree Index User's Guide describes the HCL Informix R-tree secondary access method and how to access and use its components.
  - User-Defined Routines and Data Types Developer's Guide
    The Informix® User-Defined Routines and Data Types Developer's Guide describes how to define new data types and enable user-defined routines (UDRs) to extend HCL Informix.
  - Virtual-Table Interface Guide
    The Informix® Virtual-Table Interface Programmer's Guide explains how to create a primary access method with the Virtual-Table Interface (VTI) so that users have a single SQL interface to HCL Informix tables and to data that does not conform to the storage scheme of HCL Informix.
  - Virtual-Index Interface Guide
    The Informix® Virtual-Index Interface Programmer's Guide explains how to create a secondary access method with the Virtual-Index Interface (VII) to extend the built-in indexing schemes of HCL Informix typically with a DataBlade® module.

BladePack projects

BladePack organizes information into projects. Each project is controlled by a product file (project.prd), which contains entries for the component file (project.cmp), bill of materials file (project.bom), and string file (project.str).

If you are packaging a DataBlade® module created by BladeSmith, the Generate Packaging option creates these files in the install directory. The following table describes these files.

Table 1. BladePack package files
Package file	Description
project.bom	A bill of materials file. This file contains an entry for each file to be installed. The entry includes the path to the source file and the path where the file is installed.
project.cmp	Lists the main components and subcomponents in the installation package.
project.prd	The main product file that you open with BladePack. This file lists other files that define the installation package. Initially, this file contains entries for the .bom, .cmp, and .str files. Add readme files by using BladePack.
project.str	Defines character strings used in the installation. Restriction: Do not edit the generated installation package files. Instead, use BladeSmith to update the installation package files after you have added or removed DataBlade® module objects in the project file.

When you build an installation package, you can include several BladePack projects. For example, you can include DataBlade® modules that facilitate similar financial calculations into a single installation package.

If you include standard items in each of your installations, create a separate project for these items and include this project in every installation. For example, you can put registry changes required by all DataBlade® modules in a standard project file. Include these changes in a component that is always installed.