## QPix v2.2x | ## An image database step by step

Chapter index | Step: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

# Step 6: Setting up a QPix area

We will use a QPix plug-in area to display the thumbnail on the input form of table [Images]. We could also use a simple 4D variable, but the result would not be as well.

4D picture variables versus QPix areas

Because 4D (including v6.5) cannot display pictures compressed with QuickTime on Windows (it can on the Macintosh), using a QPix area is the right thing to do in case the database will need to be ported across platforms. Otherwise, we would be obliged to use decompressed pictures, which leads to performance penalty and several times heavier datafile.

Setting up the area with the advanced properties dialog

Create a QPix plug-in area on the input form and call it xThumbnail. Only by its name, QPix will look for a picture field with the same name and an underscore at the end, and automatically display the content of this field, if it exists. Beside being handy, this convention is popular with other major 4D plug-ins including 4D Write and 4D Draw.

Area setup in QPix can't get any easier: it's codeless. Simply invoke the Advanced Properties Dialog for the area object, and the following dialog will appear:

Choose the options that you want on this intuitive dialog and you're ready to go. When you will open your form, QPix will be set up down to the slightest detail. These settings can also be changed from within your code, by means of QPix's command set.

| If your image file has a resolution higher than that of the screen, you have the option to convert it to screen resolution and preserve its natural size, or display all pixels like Photoshop does. Learn more in Dealing with higher-than-screen resolutions

Done!

This was it! In a few simple and understandable steps we have created together a simple image database. Obviously this is not the full story because the needs of a real image database are extensive and diverse. QPix and QuickTime have much more power to offer, once you get familiar with this admirable technology.

The aim of this tour was to help you get started. Please refer to the next chapters of this manual for further discussion of what QPix can do for you. We invite you to use the demo database as a reference and as an example to answer your first questions about working with QPix.