BLOB Filters
A Binary Large Object (or BLOB) is a collection of binary data stored as a single entity in a database management system. BLOBs are typically images, audio or other multimedia objects, though sometimes binary code is stored as a BLOB.
Blob filters are routines for blobs. They translate blob data from one type to another, i.e. they allow the contents of blob subtype X to be displayed as subtype Y or vice versa. These filters are ideal tools for certain binary operations such as the compression and translation of blobs, depending upon the application requirements.
Blob filters are written in the same way that UDFs are written, and are generally part of standard libraries, just as UDFs are.
To create a new default:
- Select the Database | New Object... menu item.
- Select BLOB Filter in the New Object dialog.
- Edit BLOB Filter definition within the BLOB Filter Editor.
Hint: To create new BLOB Filter you can also right-click the BLOB Filters node of the explorer tree and select the New BLOB Filter... item from the popup menu.
To create a new BLOB Filter with the same properties as one of the existing BLOB Filters has:
- Select the Database | Duplicate Object... menu item.
- Follow the instructions of the Duplicate Object Wizard.
To edit the existing BLOB Filter:
- Select the BLOB Filter for editing in the explorer tree (type the first letters of the BLOB Filter name for quick search).
- Right-click and select the Edit BLOB Filter <BLOB Filter_Name> item from the popup menu or simply double-click the BLOB Filter.
- Edit BLOB Filter definition and data on the appropriate tabs of the BLOB Filter Editor.
To change the name of the BLOB Filter:
- Select the BLOB Filter to rename in the explorer tree.
- Right-click and select the Rename BLOB Filter <BLOB Filter_Name> item from the popup menu.
- Edit BLOB Filter name in the dialog window.
To drop a BLOB Filter:
- Select the BLOB Filter to drop in the explorer tree.
- Right-click and select the Drop BLOB Filter <BLOB Filter_Name> item from the popup menu.
- Confirm dropping in the dialog window.
