1. A method for accessing a large object (LOB) that belongs to a cell in a table, the method comprising the steps of: building an index on a column in which the cell resides, wherein the index has a key that includes a LOB identifier; receiving from a client a request to access the LOB; using a LOB identifier value for said LOB to use said index to locate an index entry for said LOB; following address information contained in said index entry to a storage containing at least a portion of said LOB; and accessing said portion of said LOB as specified in said request.