Blob

A blob encodes general datasets into text, so they can be stored where text is stored.

Genogram-Maker Millennium stores two data types as blobs: Tags, and entire genograms.

If you look in a genogram file, you will see what appears to be a gibberish of random textual characters. But it's actually an encoded genogram!

We had two reasons for doing this:

• We wanted to be able to create genograms on one platform (say, Windows), and then view them on another platform (say, Mac).
• We wanted to be able to store genograms in the text fields of databases (such as Logician).

If you work with genogram files, this doesn't make any difference to you.

But if you wish to store genograms as a part of patient records in a text-based system, then blobs are the solution.

To get a sense of what is involved, perform the following experiment:

• Create a simple genogram.
• Click the Export button to copy the genogram to the clipboard as a blob.
• Paste the blob into a text editor so you can see that it's text.
• Clear the genogram from Genogram-Maker.
• Copy the blob back from the text editor to the clipboard.
• Use the Import button to paste the genogram back into Genogram-Maker.