Also you will need Btrieve.exe
you can create a batch file like this one:
@echo off
btrieve
butil -recover yourfile.dat newfile.csv
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Question
.DAT file conversion.
Hi there.
I have a client that has an old DOS Btrieve database with several .dat files named customer.dat, etc. I am looking for some kind of utility to convert these .dat files into something usable, such as a csv file. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thank you in advance.
ComputerGuy : -)
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Answers
Hi Computerguy,
Unfortunately, butil won't actually create a file in csv format. The format it does create is a Btrieve "unformatted", or sequential file, but it is neither clear ascii text (as you've found out) nor legible as a csv.
There are third-party tools that will do this, and Bill might have one on his site, but here's one I've found in the Pervasive Component Zone:
http://www.pervasive.com/C
Give it a try and let us know how it works out. There might be an even better one out there somewhere.
Wayne Freeman
Analytica Business Systems
www.analyticabiz.com
You can also get more information about what it takes to extract data from a Btrieve database from our white paper on ODBC Access of Btrieve files, located at www.goldstarsoftware.com/p
As you'll see by the paper, it sometimes gets quite complicated, we also offer services to perform the extraction for various companies. Given the data set, and sometimes a sample application, we can provide a turnkey extraction for you if you are interested in outsourcing the process.
Well, it won't exctract a csv file but will output each record on the database.
Then you need to know the key.
For example:
In the output file you will see the "record length" at the begining of each line, a number and a comma. Ex; 130, This means 130 bytes.
From here you will have to guess what is each byte if it's a String, Date, Bfloat etc..
If the data was stored as string you should see plain text on your recovered file if not you will see only strange characters, as you do.
If you have they key, you can download pervasive 6 (i say 6 because it was the one i used to do this) and open those btrieve files and put the key manally.
If you don't have they key or don't have any idea of programming, i'd suggest BillBach advise.
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by: ch2Posted on 2006-11-02 at 05:44:36ID: 17857851
You can use BUTIL.exe
Download here:
http://www.goldstarsoftwar