Programming Guide - Actian

How You Can Work with ImagesThe BitmapObject class lets you store images either in standard files or in adatabase. Using your native file system to store images in standard filesprovides performance advantages. You can use SQL to store and retrieve thefile names in a database table. You can then use the BitmapObject attributesand methods that deal with files to manipulate the images from yourapplication.The disadvantage of storing images in files is that you are responsible formaintaining them (because the images are stored outside of the system). Youmust ensure that any files you reference from the application actually exist,and you must back up and update the files appropriately. In addition, if youare creating a portable application or using a network, your program must takeinto account the different conventions for file specifications.How You Can Store Images in FilesStoring images in the database enables you to take advantage of the DBMSrecovery and transaction facilities. In addition, when you use networks, thereare no file name transparency problems. However, this approach also has itsdisadvantages. When images are stored in a database, it is difficult for otherprograms to access the images and there is extra overhead in using thedatabase instead of the native file system.For more information about these two BitmapObject features, see StoreImages in a Database (see page 284) and How You Can Store Images in Files(see page 283).You can use your file system to store and retrieve images from standard files.To do this, you must create and maintain the bitmap images in files.OpenROAD reads image files in the following formats:xbmrastgiftiffcurSpecifies X standard monochrome bitmap formatSpecifies Sun raster format for color or monochrome bitmapsSpecifies GIF portable format for color or monochrome bitmapsSpecifies color or black and white bitmap (including TIFF FAX Group 3 or 4format files)Specifies CUR format for Windows cursor filesWorking with Images and Text Strings 283