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Designing databases
The first step in creating a relational database is to construct a data model, which is a precise, complete definition of the data you want to store. After you prepare your data model, you must implement it as a database and tables. To implement your data model, you first select a data type for each column and then you create a database and tables and populate the tables with data. You can also implement fragmentation strategies and control access to your data.
Designing and Implementing a Database
The Informix® Database Design and Implementation Guide provides information to help you design, implement, and manage your Informix databases. It includes data models that illustrate different approaches to database design and shows you how to use structured query language (SQL) to implement and manage your databases.
Basics of database design and implementation
Select data types
Data types
Chronological data types
The chronological data types record time.
Select a DATETIME format (GLS)

Designing databases
The first step in creating a relational database is to construct a data model, which is a precise, complete definition of the data you want to store. After you prepare your data model, you must implement it as a database and tables. To implement your data model, you first select a data type for each column and then you create a database and tables and populate the tables with data. You can also implement fragmentation strategies and control access to your data.
- Designing and Implementing a Database
  The Informix® Database Design and Implementation Guide provides information to help you design, implement, and manage your Informix databases. It includes data models that illustrate different approaches to database design and shows you how to use structured query language (SQL) to implement and manage your databases.

Select a DATETIME format (GLS)

When an application displays a DATETIME value, it refers to a DATETIME format that the user specifies. The default locale specifies a U.S. English DATETIME format of the following form: 2001-10-25 18:02:13

For non-default locales, you can use the GL_DATETIME environment variable to specify the DATETIME format. For more information about how to use locales, see the Informix® GLS User's Guide.

To customize this DATETIME format, select your locale appropriately or set the GL_DATETIME or DBTIME environment variable. For more information about these environment variables, see the Informix® GLS User's Guide.