IUS: Datablades & portability

Hi. I have a few conceptual questions about datablades that I hope some one could help answer. From what I have gathered so far, datablades can roughly be interpreted as a form of data type. (Complex, non-standard ). Eg:- a complex equation, multimedia combinations, datasheets, etc.. (there is a whole list on the informix site) If you can store these 'non-standard' data types in the database, how does connectivity software, and client software use these data types ? What are they defined as ? For instance how would I retrieve a certain 'datablade' type from the database and into what type of "variable" would I get it into in the client ? Thanks Chaminda Peries Dynasty Technologies Inc.