Function

RDB$BLOB_UTIL.NEW_BLOB creates a new BLOB SUB_TYPE BINARY.It returns a BLOB suitable for data appending, similar to BLOB_APPEND.

The advantage over BLOB_APPEND is that it’s possible to set custom SEGMENTED and TEMP_STORAGE options.

BLOB_APPEND always creates BLOBs in temporary storage, which may not always be the best approach if the created BLOB is going to be stored in a permanent table, as this will require a copy operation.

The BLOB returned from this function, even when TEMP_STORAGE = FALSE, may be used with BLOB_APPEND for appending data.

Return type: BLOB SUB_TYPE BINARY NOT NULL.

RDB$BLOB_UTIL.OPEN_BLOB opens an existing BLOB for reading.It returns a handle (an integer bound to the transaction) suitable for use with other functions of this package, like SEEK, READ_DATA and CLOSE_HANDLE.

Handles which are not explicitly closed are closed automatically when the transaction ends.

Return type: INTEGER NOT NULL.