At 05:21 PM 15/10/2005 +0000, you wrote:

>--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Robert martin <rob@c...>
>wrote:
>
> > We use it to store all our Crystal reports. We compress them
>before storing and de compress when restoring them (transparently).
> >
> >
> > How can we do that? What data types must be used? Do you compress
>them in zip files?
> >

Use the BLOB data type. Use SUB_TYPE 0 for binary files like compiled
reports, word processor files, zipped files, images. Use SUB_TYPE 1 for
objects that are plain text, such as text files, HTML, XML, RTF or long
strings.

Your application stores and retrieves the object via SQL and it is up to
your application to take care of the interface - decompressing zip/rar/tar
etc., providing interfaces for compiled or formatted objects, and so on.

If you are using a object-based development environment, you will find
plenty of components, providers, etc. to choose from for manipulating
objects in your apps. For advice about that, subscribe to a list that
supports the programming environment you want to use. Look here for an
appropriate list: http://firebird.sourceforge.net/index.php?op=lists

Please would you trim your replies...

./heLen

p.s. It is actually possible to write (in C/C++ or Pascal) a BLOB filter
that can convert a specific format to another at the server and output e.g.
a decompressed version of a zip file. This is rather advanced stuff,
though. I don't know of a "de-zip" blob filter that's available for
download anywhere, but it would be worth asking on firebird-tools...