The QBinaries object is a reserved object to store binary data. Please note that it can be used for any data (pictures, MSWord files, CAD files, etc.). Below a description is given how to create this object with content.

Basically there are three steps:

  1. Creating the reserved parameters;
  2. Adding them to the dataset;
  3. Providing the content to the object; 

Step 1, create the reserved parameters:

In order to include graphical information in a knowledgebase, 5 reserved parameters need to be introduced in a knowledge base. To create these parameters easily, go to in the Knowledge Browser to Quaestor>Constants and double click on QBinaries. You will get the following question:

Now the reserved parameters are introduced in your knowledge base (in the example picture teh knowledge base is called "Newqkb"). The following parameters are added: 

  • QBinaries - Object to contain pictures, data and ID's;
  • QBinary - String parameter to contain pictures, spreadsheet, documents, etc;
  • QBinaryID - Picture ID as number or string used to identify, retrieve and present the picture or object;
  • QBackground - Optional default parameter to contain default (background) picture;
  • QNrOfBinaries - Optional parameter to easily add a number of binaries;

In the Dataset of a knowledge base it is now possible to include and manage a set of pictures in the QBinary object as a table of QBinary and QBinaryID records.

Please note that you are not able to see the parameters when you did not select "Show hidden data (toggle Ctrl+H)" in the Modeller tab of the Options window. The reserved parameters are hidden by standard, so while you are adding binaries (are doing KE work), please select this option.

Step 2, add the reserved parameters to the dataset:

Select the Dataset node in the workbase and do the following: 

  • Introduce the QBinaries object in the dataset by dragging QBinaries to the Workbase (the part left of the tree view);

Then select QBinaries in the Dataset and do the following:

  • Introduce the QBinary parameter in Dataset.QBinaries by dragging QBinary to QBinaries of the Workbase (the part left of the tree view);
  • Introduce the QBinaryID parameter in Dataset.QBinaries by dragging QBinaryID to QBinaries of the Workbase (the part left of the tree view);
  • Introduce the QBackground parameter in Dataset.QBinaries (not obligatory) by dragging QBackground to QBinaries of the Workbase (the part left of the tree view);
  • Introduce the QNrOfBinaries parameter in Dataset.QBinaries (not obligatory) by dragging QNrOfBinaries to QBinaries of the Workbase (the part left of the tree view); 

Now the basic structure is created but without any content.

Step 3, add content to the QBinary parameter:

First of all, please note that the @BINARY attribute (see the dataslot of the Frame Viewer) in both the QBinary and QBackground parameter makes that no data can be typed in their cell values through the keyboard; the only way to input data is through the Workbase right mouse menu Dataset>Include Binary Data. You can select any file to be included in the cell.

If a file is selected, the Workbase cell will show the name of the file. The file is now physically included in the Workbase and can be viewed in different ways. The file can be removed with the menu option Dataset>Remove FileName.

Cases can be added, inserted or removed with the standard menu options available for this purpose (see Getting Started KE & KE Tutorials).

In the screenshot below a QBinaries object is shown in which some pictures are included.

Moving the cursor through the QBinary cells will show the binary or a link to the binary in the Explanation browser component (if visible, can be made visible in the View menu), on any other cell, the QBackground binary (or a link to this binary) will be shown. If QBackground is not included in QBinaries, the picture logo.gif in the directory C:\Qnowledge\Quaestor directory will be shown, which can be any image (company logo, etc). If logo.gif does not exist there, the Quaestor Splash screen will be shown, if available, otherwise a blank image is shown.

An example of a created QBinaries data object:

Now you have created a database of images, you can make them available to the browser, either through the Knowledge Browser or through the Workbase. Please read the topics on Image management or Data use and management for further details to use binary data.

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