Retrieve BLOB Image from Host Mainframe DB2 to Microsoft Access 20

[Guest]

I have an IBM Mainframe DB2 table that has stored hundreds of thousands of
large BLOB files (facial images, fingerprint images, and signature images) of
people with certain ID Requirements. These BLOBS are stored as Binary Large
Objects, thus the term BLOB that we all know.

I've been tasked to write an Microsoft Acces 2003 Professional application
that will go to the Host IBM Mainframe DB2 table, extract the data record
containing information on each BLOB, then also be able to view the image
(BLOB) from the desktop P/C application.

I've been able to Link to the external table, retrieve the text information
for each record, but when I attempt to view the image, nothing is there, and
sometimes the application just locks up, and has to be terminated.

The table definition, when I link to it from Access shows these fields as
Text fields.... the most I've ever gotten to view is just the compressed
text binary data that builds the image. I've tried the OLE approach, I've
tried unbound image and bound image, but still unable to successfully
retrieve a file image and view it via access.

Is there a proven way to link to this type of table record (blob) and a
proven function or format command that will effectively convert the binary
text data to an image for me.

Any examples of code or commands or ideas would greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Stephen Lebans]

What Image type or types are these Images?
If these Images are simply binary copies of the originals then you would
simply:
1) Link to the DB2 table
2) Save the contents of the field to a temp disk file with the proper
Image file type extension
3) Set the Picture property of a standard Image control to the temp
file.

--

HTH
Stephen Lebans
http://www.lebans.com
Access Code, Tips and Tricks
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