Representing a field as a filename

A field can be charted as a picture and configured as a hyperlink depending on its data type. The various options available for a selected field are shown in the Field represents a filename area or Binary field details area on the Entity Type Properties and Link Type Properties pages.

Field represents a filename area

Field represents a filename is available if a selected field contains data type classified as text. If a selected field contains data classified as binary, the name changes to Binary field details and the check box and area change to an area only. When Field represents a filename is turned on, or the Binary field details area is available, the following check boxes are available depending on the data type of the selected field:
  • Chart as picture
  • Display as hyperlink
  • Base folder
  • File extension
When a selected field contains a picture in the form of binary data, or a string which is a reference to a file in a format iBridge handles, the picture displays in the relevant field box in the Show dialog in Analyst's Notebook when:
  • Visible in Show is turned on.
  • Field represents a filename is turned on, or the Binary field details area is available.

If a field contains the name of the file only, is not one of the formats iBridge handles, or is classified as binary, you must specify an extension in the File extension box. If a field does not contain the full path of the file, you must also specify the path in the Base folder box, unless the file is in the same directory as the issued configuration (.ibg) file.

Chart as picture

Turn on Chart as picture in the Entity Type properties dialog to use a picture contained in or referenced by a field instead of an icon on charts. Chart as picture is available if:
  • a field contains a binary file, or a string which is a reference to a picture file.
  • Field represents a filename is turned on or the Binary field details area is available.
If a field contains the name of the file only, is not one of the formats iBridge handles, or is classified as binary, you must specify an extension in the File extension box. If a field does not contain the full path of the file, you must also specify the path in the Base folder box, unless the file is in the same directory as the issued configuration (.ibg) file.

To display pictures, the analyst's computers must have a registered OLE server for the file type. If the picture cannot be displayed for any reason, the entity type icon is used.

Any pictures used to represent entities are embedded on the chart. Large file sizes reduce performance. Keep file sizes to less than 50 KB. If access to large picture and data files is required, use the Display as Hyperlink option.
Note: Chart as picture is not available in the Link Type properties dialog.

Display as hyperlink

Turn on Show and Display as Hyperlink to configure a field to display documents/images associated with an entity or link as a hyperlink in the relevant field box in the Show dialog in Analyst's Notebook. Hyperlinks in the Show dialog are shown as blue underlined text.

If a field contains data classified as text, Base folder and File extension are available. If a field contains the name of the file only, or is not one of the formats iBridge handles, you must specify an extension in the File extension box. If a field does not contain the full path of the file, you must also specify the path in Base folder, unless the file is in the same directory as the issued ibg file.

If a field contains data classified as binary the Base folder check box is unavailable. The File extension check box is available. You must specify an extension in the File extension box to ensure iBridge determines what type of document/image the binary field is so that iBridge can save it to file for Analyst's Notebook to load.
Note: Documents/images are displayed in the application in which they were produced, not in iBridge.

Base folder

The text string in a field may be a relative path. Any values contained in Base folder are appended to the front of the path. If the resulting path is still relative, any values contained in the Base picture path on the General tab of the Properties dialog are appended to the front of the path. If the value in the field does not contain a file extension then the extension in the File extension box is appended to the end of the path.

The resulting path is the location for a picture or hyperlink. If this path is still relative, the path is treated as being relative to the configuration file.

Turn on Base folder and type the required path, or select and browse to the required location.

Note: The Base folder check box is not available if the field contains binary type data.

Two examples are given below:

Example 1

Field John Glover
Base folder People\
Base picture path J:\Database Pictures\
File extension bmp
Resulting path J:\Database Pictures\People\John Glover.bmp

Example 2

Field John Glover
Base folder
Base picture path Database Pictures\
File extension bmp
Resulting path Database Pictures\John Glover.bmp (relative to configuration file location)

File extensions

iBridge handles common picture and document formats. If a field contains the name of the file only, or is not one of the formats iBridge handles, then the file extension must be entered in the File extension. If fields contain binary data, specifying the extension in iBridge Designer will make iBridge more efficient when the database fields contain data of the same file type. Turn on File extension and either choose the required extension from the list or type the extension in the box.
Note: An extension entered in the File extension box overrides any original extension. If an incorrect extension is entered, the file is not opened.