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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.
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.
Create distribution media
To ensure that customers can install DataBlade® modules and other HCL Informix® products by using common instructions, the product you distribute must conform to the HCL Informix DataBlade module installation standard. BladePack creates an interactive installation that ensures a consistent user interface.

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.
        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.
        Building an installation package with BladePack
        Establish content
        Manage components
        BladePack allows you to organize your product installation package into three layers: component, subcomponent, and shared component.
        Customizing the installation
        Custom extensions for the installation program are optional. Your customization options depend on your operating system.
        Build the installation
        When the content and organization of your installation package are complete, build and test it.
        Create distribution media
        To ensure that customers can install DataBlade® modules and other HCL Informix® products by using common instructions, the product you distribute must conform to the HCL Informix DataBlade module installation standard. BladePack creates an interactive installation that ensures a consistent user interface.
        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.

Create distribution media

To ensure that customers can install DataBlade® modules and other HCL Informix® products by using common instructions, the product you distribute must conform to the HCL Informix® DataBlade® module installation standard. BladePack creates an interactive installation that ensures a consistent user interface.

Important: If you create a UNIX™.tar file, rename the cdrom directory to the name of your product before you copy the directory to media or the release area. For example, for the Circle DataBlade® module, rename the cdrom directory to circle. (Do not include the version number in the directory name.)

Copy the renamed directory and its contents to the media or into the archive file. This makes it possible to distribute multiple products with their own installations on a CD-ROM or tape.

For example, to install the Circle DataBlade® module from CD-ROM, the installer mounts the CD-ROM, changes to the circle subdirectory, and executes the installation script.

To install the Circle DataBlade® module from a file named circle3.6.tar, retrieved through a local network or the Internet, the installer extracts the file into a temporary directory, changes to the circle subdirectory, and executes install. When the installation has finished, the circle subdirectory can be removed.

Tip: BladePack does not compress .tar files. If you want to distribute your DataBlade® module as a compressed file, you must compress it yourself.