When working with large objects such as Blobs, Pictures, and Text fields in 4D, improper handling can lead to performance issues and increased memory consumption. To ensure optimal performance and prevent excessive memory usage, follow these best practices when handling large objects in 4D:

1. Store Large Objects Externally
   
   4D allows storing large objects outside the database using external storage mode. This prevents excessive .4DD file growth and improves query performance.
   
   
   • Set the field to external storage in the structure editor.
   
   
   • Reference files with paths instead of embedding them directly.
   
   



2. Optimize Blob Usage
   
   Blobs are stored as 4 + real size + 4 bytes. For efficiency:
   
   
   • Use compressed Blobs where possible.
   
   
   • Store binary data in files rather than inside records.
   
   
   • Convert rarely modified Blobs into cacheable resources.
   
   



3. Efficient Text Field Handling
   
   
   • Avoid long text fields in frequently accessed tables.
   
   
   • If using large text blocks, store them in a related table or as external files.
     
   
   
   • Index only the necessary portions of text fields to improve searches.