DataBlade Developers Kit User's Guide Using ActiveX Value Objects

This section provides some guidelines on installing and using ActiveX value objects.

Use BladeManager to install the ProjectS.bld file on your Informix server computer and the ProjectX.dll file on your Windows 95 or Windows NT client computer. For instructions, see the DataBlade Module Installation and Registration Guide.

The ActiveX project you install might also include the following files in the installation package to assist you in locating the CLSID (class identifier) and IID (interface identifier) information for the ActiveX value objects.

If you are using Visual Basic, you must create a reference to the newly installed ActiveX project to start working with it.

1. In Microsoft Developer Studio, choose Project References.

The Project References dialog box appears.

2. Check the check box for the project you are installing. The project is listed in the following format:
ProjectX 1.0 Type Library
3. Click OK.

Follow the Microsoft guidelines on how to invoke COM and automation objects.

If you are using the Informix ESQL/C client API, Informix recommends that you write the application in C++ and place only the SQL-specific code in the .ec files through embedded C code.

If you are using Visual Basic, you must cast the Informix lvarchar data type to char before you can work with ActiveX value objects.

Important: As you use ActiveX value objects, keep in mind that object persistence between server and client objects is not supported. In other words, although you can modify an ActiveX value object, an associated modification does not occur to the database data represented by that object unless you issue an SQL query.