BLOB picture application

[afvaiv <afvaiv@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi folks, I am starting to analyze/design an Application for AS/400
dealing with images (pictures). Let's say, something like being able to
hold the employees picture (like an ID card) along with normal data
(name, address, etc). The goal would be to be able to
- show that picture along with the data in some sort of query,
- print out the ID card with the picture
I think I have more questions in my mind than real knowledge. So, before
I write down some questions, let me outline what "I think" I know.

- UDB400 allows me to include BLOB data in a DB record, either in the
form of the BLOB data itself, or as a "link" to some place where the
picture would be stored.
- RPG cannot access either one. This type of data can only be accessed
thru SQL
- I will not be able to display/print pictures from any "normal" (RPG,
COBOL,..) program

I was thinking of saving each person's picture somewhere within the IFS,
or even in a NT Server, but I think that's not the point here. Let's
asume each picture is in .bmp format, and is identified by the person's
ID number, e.g.:  12345678.bmp.

Asuming all the above are true, some questions follow:

- Do I have to use some type of client/server application, e.g.
VisualBasic or Java to be able to use it as intended? If not, how could
I show/print the pictures along with other data?
- If client/server model is indeed needed, what's the benefit of keeping
the "link" to the picture as part of the record? I mean, if the client
program requests the persons' data, the ID number could just as well be
used to load the picture from where it is stored (NT Server or
whereever). So, why would I need a field of "link" type?
- What's the benefit of SQL being able to access BLOB type data if,
after all, we cannot deal with it, in the AS/400 environment, in any
way? I can only think of returning it as part of the results being
received from a stored procedure, but then the previous question applies
as well and would make it useless.

Well, I think I just  have a full mess in mi mind. Don't know where to
start with... Any ideas or experiences?
-----------------
Antonio Fernandez-Vicenti
afvaiv@wanadoo.es


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