DataBlade Module Development Overview Building a DataBlade Module

The DataBlade Developers Kit includes various resources to help you learn about and develop DataBlade modules, discussed in the following subsections:

• The DataBlade Developers Kit InfoShelf, next
• The Tutorial
• Example DataBlade Modules
• The Informix Developer Network

The DataBlade Developers Kit InfoShelf is a set of HTML documents included with the DataBlade Developers Kit software.

The DataBlade Developers Kit InfoShelf can be launched from the BladeSmith Help menu or started independently from the Informix program group.

The InfoShelf provides the following information in HTML format:

• An on-line version of this manual
• A tutorial that illustrates the fundamentals of DataBlade module development
• Descriptions of example DataBlade modules shipped with the DataBlade Developers Kit
• A reference library that contains the following manuals:
• DataBlade Developers Kit User's Guide
• DataBlade Module Installation and Registration Guide
• DataBlade API Programmer's Manual
• Extending Informix Dynamic Server 2000
• Informix Guide to SQL: Reference
• Informix Guide to SQL: Syntax
• Informix Guide to SQL: Tutorial
• Creating UDRs in Java
• Informix JDBC Driver Programmer's Guide
• Informix GLS Programmer's Manual
• Informix Guide to GLS Functionality
• Informix ESQL/C Programmer's Manual
• A master index containing the merged index entries of all the books listed above

The index entries provide links into the HTML versions of the manuals included in the InfoShelf.

The DataBlade Developers Kit Tutorial is a set of HTML documents that you access through the DataBlade Developers Kit InfoShelf.

The tutorial consists of step-by-step exercises that demonstrate how to create DataBlade modules that extend your Informix database server.

The first exercise demonstrates a simple DataBlade module so that you can focus on learning the mechanics of BladeSmith and the DBDK Visual C++ Add-In without complex coding. All tutorial users should start with Exercise 1.

Each subsequent exercise is more complex than the previous one; you can choose to either work through the exercises sequentially or just pick the ones that interest you.

Example DataBlade modules are included with the DataBlade Developers Kit software. Example DataBlade modules are in the %INFORMIXDIR%\
dbdk\examples directory. The InfoShelf has descriptions of the example DataBlade modules with links to README files and source code.

The example DataBlade modules are frequently updated. The topics you might find covered in the example DataBlade modules include:

• Client. Using extended data types with ESQL/C and C++ client programs.
• Routines. Using user-defined routines written with the DataBlade API and using MMX technology.
• Types. Using extended data types that have support routines written with the DataBlade API, use MMX technology, are implemented as ActiveX value objects, and create user-defined statistics.

The Informix Developer Network Web site is designed to provide you with the technical information, tools, forums, and links to relevant information that you need when using Informix products.

The DataBlade Developers Kit InfoShelf contains links to the Informix Developer Network Web site. The Web site URL is:

http://www.informix.com/idn

This page has a link to the DataBlade Developers' Corner, which is of particular interest to DataBlade module developers. Its goal is to answer questions asked by DataBlade developers. The information in the DataBlade Developers' Corner is frequently updated, and it includes topics such as:

• Getting started. Lists software, documentation, and training resources and describes how to install and set up the requisite software.
• DataBlade modules and your Informix database server. Includes descriptions of the interaction between DataBlade modules and your database server and how to debug DataBlade modules.
• DataBlade API. Includes tips and code examples, from snippets to complete DataBlade modules, using the DataBlade API.
• Data types. Describes the data types you can use with your Informix database server, such as extended data types and smart large objects.