Bulk-copy support functions
The database server can copy data in and out of a database with a bulk copy operation. In a bulk copy, the database server reads or sends large numbers of column values in a copy file, rather than handling each column value individually.
HCL Informix® utilities such as DB-Access, the dbimport and dbexport utilities, and the High Performance Loader (HPL) can perform bulk copies.
The format of the opaque-type data in the copy file is
called its unload representation. This unload representation might
be different from the server internal representation of the opaque-type
data (which is stored in the database). You can create the following
opaque-type support functions to handle the unload representations
of the opaque-type data.
| Unload representation | Description | Opaque-type support functions |
|---|---|---|
| External unload representation | The text format of the opaque type, as it is in a copy file | import, export |
| Internal unload representation | The binary format of the opaque type, as it is in a copy file | importbin, exportbin |