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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.
Informix® extensions and DataBlade® modules
These topics describe how to use built-in database extensions and separately installed DataBlade® modules.
TimeSeries Data User's Guide
The Informix® TimeSeries Data User's Guide contains information to assist you in using the TimeSeries extension with HCL Informix.
Time series Java™ class library
You can use the time series Java™ class library to create and manage a time series from within Java applications or applets.
Preparing the server for Java™ classes
You must prepare the database server so that you can include the time series Java™ classes in your application by setting the CLASSPATH environment variable to the location of the Java class files.

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.
  - Database Extensions User's Guide
    The Informix® Database Extensions User's Guide explains how to use the database extensions that come with HCL Informix: Large Object Locator, MQ messaging, binary data types, basic text search, node data type, and SQL packages.
  - Performing XML Publishing
    The Informix® XML User's Guide includes information about using built-in functions for XML publishing with Informix.
  - Spatiotemporal Search for Moving Objects User's Guide
    The describes how to program applications to search data from moving objects in HCL Informix® databases using the spatiotemporal search extension.
  - TimeSeries Data User's Guide
    The Informix® TimeSeries Data User's Guide contains information to assist you in using the TimeSeries extension with HCL Informix.
    - Informix® TimeSeries solution
      Database administrators and applications developers use the Informix® TimeSeries solution to store and analyze time series data.
    - Data types and system tables
      Specialized data types and system tables handle time series data.
    - Create and manage a time series through SQL
      Before you can load time series data into the database, you must configure database objects specific to your time series. You can manage data storage and remove data as necessary. You can run SQL statements to create and manage time series.
    - Virtual tables for time series data
      A virtual table provides a relational view of your time series data.
    - Pattern matching searches
      You can search time series data for matches to a particular pattern of values. For example, after you identify a pattern of abnormal electricity usage that indicates an outage, you can search for matches to that pattern to find other outages. Pattern matching searches find matches to a pattern that you supply. Pattern matching searches do not discover patterns in time series data.
    - Advanced analytics
      Advanced analytics functions provide specialized methods of analyzing time series data for patterns or abnormalities.
    - Calendar pattern routines
      You can use calendar pattern routines to manipulate calendar patterns.
    - Calendar routines
      You can use calendar routines to manipulate calendars.
    - Time series SQL routines
    - Time series Java™ class library
      You can use the time series Java™ class library to create and manage a time series from within Java applications or applets.
      - Java™ class files and sample programs
        The time series Java™ class .jar file, Javadoc™, and sample programs are included with the database server.
      - Preparing the server for Java™ classes
        You must prepare the database server so that you can include the time series Java™ classes in your application by setting the CLASSPATH environment variable to the location of the Java class files.
      - Mapping time series data types
        To enable your Java™ program to retrieve or send a Calendar, CalendarPattern, orTimeSeries data type to or from the HCL Informix® database, you must create a custom type map.
      - Querying time series data with the IfmxTimeSeries object
        You can use a SELECT statement your Java™ program to retrieve TimeSeries data with the IfmxTimeSeries object.
      - Write TimeSeries data back to the database
      - Obtaining the time series Java™ class version
        If requested by Informix® Software Support, you can obtain the version stamp for the time series Java™ classes.
    - Time series API routines
      The time series application programming interface routines allow application programmers to directly access a time series datum.
    - Appendixes
  - Web DataBlade Module
    Use the Web DataBlade® module to create web applications that incorporate data that is retrieved dynamically from the HCL Informix® database.
- 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.

Preparing the server for Java™ classes

You must prepare the database server so that you can include the time series Java™ classes in your application by setting the CLASSPATH environment variable to the location of the Java™ class files.

Before you begin

Your Java™ program requires the following products:

A supported Java™ software development kit.
Informix® JDBC Driver, Version 4.10.JC4 or later.

Procedure

To prepare the database server for using Java™ classes:

Set the CLASSPATH environment variable to the location of the .jar file or its contents.

For example, if you leave the .jar file in the default location, use the following setting:

CLASSPATH=$INFORMIXDIR/extend/TimeSeries.version
/java/lib/IfmxTimeSeries.jar:$CLASSPATH;export CLASSPATH

If you move the .jar file or expand it, set the CLASSPATH environment variable to the appropriate directory.