Transferring data to an Access DB

[fieldling]

Does anyone know if it is possible to transfer data from an old MSDos database into an Access 2003 one?

If so any idea how you would go about doing this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[GaryPanic]

if you can get the data in txt, csv, xls then yes
dump data into one of these formats and then use the import wizard
you might need to mess around with this a bit - but all do-able - you may lose a bit of formating if you are not carful so check each column .


g

 

[fieldling]

Thanks. Any idea how I can export the data into an xls or csv format? I know nothing about how MSDOS works.

 

[GaryPanic]

can you see any of the structure ???

how big is the data source??
this could be one for the experts

g

 

[Rabbie]

MSDOS was an operating system. Do you know what database software was being run?

 

[Dennisk]

Once I converted an MSDOS db that used a proprientry db format, and I used DbaseV to parse out the data . Took me 80 hours work as each record was variable in length and some empty fields had a marker and some did not. It was a nightmare!

MSDOS dbs :- DBASE, Clipper, FoxPro, RBase, Dease, all of these had a decent development environment so you could export data as CSV files. What is are the file extensions of the db files.

 

[fieldling]

Thanks for your replies. I had a feeling this wouldn't be easy.

The DOS database has approx 20,000 records in it. I don't know how to view the structure. I really do know nothing about it!

It uses a .bat file to open it but as it's loading the following text appears:
Reading .LBL file Does this mean anything?

It is going to be a complete nightmare due to formatting, field lengths etc. I'm almost considering transferring all the data manually but that will definitely be a last resort.

Cheers

 

[Dennisk]

have a look at this site

http://filext.com/file-extension/LBL

If all else fails you will need to use a hex viewer to determine the structure.

 

[GaryPanic]

do you know how many fields there are - as a starting point - I would import everything as memo fields and see if from this you can decifer what the flipflop is going on -

ie any field with less than 255 char then convert to text, any that are numeric etc - this could be a long job - glad its you doing it and not me ..
g

 

[Rabbie]

It uses a .bat file to open it but as it's loading the following text appears:
Reading .LBL file Does this mean anything?

Can you post the batch file here so we can see what it contains.

 

[KenHigg]

You may want to take a peek at the file in notepad or wordpad to see what the structure looks like...

ken

 

[Ron_dK]

As an alternative, you might try DBFviewer . Assuming the dbase is Dbase IV or Clipper. With this tool you may edit or transfer data from yours to another Database format.
Here's the link :

http://www.filedudes.com/DBF_Viewer_2000-download-15952.html


Btw,
Hello Ken, long time no see. How's the weather in Atlanta ?

 

[KenHigg]

Btw,
Hello Ken, long time no see. How's the weather in Atlanta ?

Thanks for asking - Good. We're finally getting some long needed rain. (But now I have to keep the grass cut )

 

[fieldling]

I've been thinking about this and I think trying to transfer this is going to be more trouble than its worth. I think manually inputting the data is going to be much easier. If I start today I should be done by 2012...

Thanks to you all for your advice on this, I really appreciate it. I'll let you know if I do decide to take this further.

P.S. I have another post titled Label Wizard/ Printer problem if anyone wants to take a look. It might save a printers life. It nearly went out the window 10 minutes ago...

Cheers

 

[KenHigg]

How small is the file when you zip it? Can you post it and let me take a look at it?

 

[fieldling]

I can zip the batch file but it has no data stored in it when I do. Does that matter?

Sorry if I sound stupid but I know nothing about this sort of thing. As you can probably tell....

 

[KenHigg]

The original 'MSDos database' has no data in it?

???
ken

 

[fieldling]

No that's got about 20,000 records in it! All I can find file-wise is the batch file to access it. I can't find the actual database, don't know where it's located. That's half my problem.

 

[neileg]

Can you post the text from the batch file? Just open it with Notepad and copy it here.

 

[KenHigg]

Or can you print it to a file? What options do you have when it comes up?