Re: BLOB picture application -- MIDRANGE-L

Hi Antonio,

This is an upcoming addition to an application I helped write. Since it's
already client/server, we're going with the method you mentioned:

"...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 we don't need to store the picture in the AS/400 database. On the other
hand, we may store it in the IFS to take advantage of the regular backups.

I'll be very interested in other responses to this thread.

Regards,
Peter Dow
Dow Software Services, Inc.
909 425-0194 voice
909 425-0196 fax


----- Original Message -----
From: "afvaiv" <afvaiv@wanadoo.es>
To: "MIDRANGE-L" <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 10:38 AM
Subject: BLOB picture application


> 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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