DataBlade Developers Kit User's Guide Introduction

The DataBlade Developers Kit User's Guide describes how to use DataBlade Developers Kit tools to develop and package DataBlade modules. A DataBlade module extends the functionality of Informix Dynamic Server 2000 to handle data with user-defined routines or to handle nontraditional kinds of data, such as full text, images, video, spatial, and time series data.

This section discusses the organization of the manual, the intended audience, and the associated software products that you must have to develop and use the DataBlade module.

The DataBlade Developers Kit User's Guide includes the following chapters:

• Chapter 1, Getting Started with DataBlade Module Development, provides an overview process for developing a DataBlade module and describes the resources and tools Informix provides to facilitate development.
• Chapter 2, Designing DataBlade Modules, discusses DataBlade module design issues. This chapter helps you to design DataBlade modules that perform well, cooperate with other DataBlade modules, and are robust and maintainable.
• Chapter 3, Programming Guidelines, describes the programming language options you have for developing DataBlade modules. It provides guidelines for writing DataBlade module code in C, C++, and Java.
• Chapter 4, Creating DataBlade Objects Using BladeSmith, explains how to use BladeSmith to define the objects in your DataBlade module and to generate code, scripts, and installation files for it.
• Chapter 5, Programming DataBlade Module Routines in C, describes the C code that BladeSmith generates and tells you how to compile the DataBlade module.
• Chapter 6, Creating ActiveX Value Objects, describes the ActiveX value object code that BladeSmith generates and tells you how to compile the DataBlade module.
• Chapter 7, Using ActiveX Value Objects, provides information for client application developers who are using ActiveX value objects.
• Chapter 8, Programming DataBlade Modules in Java, describes the Java code that BladeSmith generates and tells you how to compile the DataBlade module.
• Chapter 9, Debugging and Testing DataBlade Modules on UNIX, describes how to debug your DataBlade module in a UNIX environment. It also describes how to execute the functional tests generated with BladeSmith.
• Chapter 10, Debugging and Testing DataBlade Modules on Windows NT, describes how to debug your DataBlade module in a Windows NT environment.
• Chapter 11, Using BladePack, describes how to use BladePack to package your DataBlade module components together to create installation media that you can distribute to your customers.
• Appendix A, Source Files Generated for DataBlade Modules, lists the source code files BladeSmith generates.
• Appendix B, Completing BladeSmith-Generated Code, provides tables that list the types of objects BladeSmith generates, indicate whether BladeSmith generates complete code or template code you must complete, and provide a reference to the instructions in this guide for completing the code.
• Appendix C, Testing for an Sbspace, describes how to add custom SQL statements to test for the existence of a required sbspace when a DataBlade module is registered.
• A glossary defines DataBlade module development terms.
• An index directs you to areas of particular interest.

This guide is for experienced C, C++, or Java programmers who are comfortable writing libraries to support applications. You will use this guide to develop DataBlade modules that extend your Informix database server.

If you are unfamiliar with DataBlade modules, read DataBlade Module Development Overview before you read this manual.

This version of the DataBlade Developers Kit is compatible with the following Informix software:

• Informix Dynamic Server with Universal Data Option, Version 9.14
• Informix Dynamic Server 2000, Version 9.2
• Informix Client Software Developer's Kit, Version 2.3 or later

To use DBDK to develop your DataBlade module in a Windows NT development environment, you need to install the following software:

• Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0
• Netscape Navigator 4.0 (or later) or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (or later)

To use BladePack to package your DataBlade module with an interactive installation for Windows NT, you need an InstallShield professional license.

To use the DataBlade Developers Kit InfoShelf, you need one of the following browsers:

• Netscape Navigator 4.0 or later
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later

For system requirements and installation instructions, see the Read Me First sheet for the DataBlade Developers Kit.