Question

Coldfusion query a DBF file

Asked by: BuMp

I'm trying to query a .dbf file (what kind I dont know), using Coldfusion.  I read that this would be the command for a dynamic connection:

<CFQUERY NAME="qContact"
 DBTYPE="dynamic"
 CONNECTSTRING="Driver={Microsoft dBASE Driver (*.dbf)};DriverID=277;Dbq=c:\file.dbf;">
SELECT *
</CFQUERY>

But that doesn't work, I get this error:

The tag does not have an attribute called CONNECTSTRING. The valid attribute(s) are name, datasource, dbtype, sql, username, password, maxrows, blockfactor, timeout, cachedafter, cachedwithin, debug.

I have set up ODBC on the server so I could use that or this dynamic way, whichever works.  Any ideas?

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Asked On
2003-08-05 at 15:33:55ID20700796
Tags

dbf

,

coldfusion

,

query

Topics

ColdFusion Application Server

,

ColdFusion Studio

Participating Experts
4
Points
250
Comments
18

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Answers

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-05 at 15:42:26ID: 9084542

are you using ColdFusion 5.0?  This tag is supported in CF 5.0 and later.

CJ

 

by: jyokumPosted on 2003-08-05 at 18:01:52ID: 9085103

actually CONNECTSTRING is no longer supported in CFMX.

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-05 at 19:57:30ID: 9085436

Even 5.0?

I thought it was a part of 5.0.

CJ

 

by: jyokumPosted on 2003-08-05 at 20:00:28ID: 9085447

you can use it in 5.0 but not MX

 

by: anandkpPosted on 2003-08-05 at 21:30:37ID: 9085879

OOPS - DSN Less connections [using connection string] are obsolete in CFMX :(

 

by: substandPosted on 2003-08-06 at 11:42:33ID: 9093625

is there a reason you cannot set up a datasource?

 

by: BuMpPosted on 2003-08-06 at 12:52:04ID: 9094225

Hi, sorry I'm just responding, my email wasn't working.  I have no reason to use DSNless connection.  The problem is I couldnt find out how to do it the normal way.  I think the problem may be the dbf file now that I have gotten a little further.  I set up ODBC System DSN to connect via FoxPro driver to the folder where the dbf file is.  Then my query is like this:

<cfquery name="qContact" datasource="DSN">
SELECT *  
FROM dbf_file
</cfquery>

I think thats the way to do it, because dbf's dont have table names, so the FROM is the actual file name.  I'm not sure of this however, because the query errors out saying:

[MERANT][SequeLink JDBC Driver][ODBC Socket][Microsoft][ODBC Visual FoxPro Driver]Not a table

I've also tried ODBC connecting to Microsoft dbase file and get same problem.  I am able to open the dbf file in a dbf viewer and everything looks fine.

 

by: substandPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:10:08ID: 9094376

interesting... i can't think of anything but the file name either...

 

by: BuMpPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:21:11ID: 9094456

OK I tested this last way with a smaller dbf and it works fine.  So the problem must be my dbf file, which again opens fine in a dbf editor.  Its 30mb, with 600 fields and about 3,000 records.  So maybe thats a problem, too big or some sort of timeout setting?

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:21:28ID: 9094459

How did you setup your DSN?  Have you tried different drivers rather than just the Merant one?

Did you set it up as a free table directory?  Does the directory have all hte files?

you named the DSN = 'DSN'

A simple solution would be to import the dbf file into Access :-)

I have seen many people import to access than deal with Fox Pro dbf files.

CJ

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:22:00ID: 9094467

 

by: BuMpPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:38:14ID: 9094607

OK I have tried many other dbf files from the same program and they all connect and query fine in CF.  So i'm assuming i have it all set up right, but that the main dbf I want is just too big.  This program is our main accounting app so needs to stay in dbf.  I tried importing into Access and SQL and both said it was too many fields.  I can, however connect to it with Corel Paradox without that error.  So is there a setting in CF regarding table size or timeout?

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:41:02ID: 9094630

I don't think so.  We have run queries where CF executes a query against a Table that had millions of rows and the DB itself was around 30GB

CJ

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:41:51ID: 9094637

Though the driver could limit it as well :-/

CJ

 

by: BuMpPosted on 2003-08-06 at 13:44:23ID: 9094648

I could post a blank dbf file of the one I'm using to see if you can get it to connect.  If you can get it to work I will increase to 500 points.  If thats ok let me know.

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-06 at 14:24:06ID: 9094926

a blank dbf file?  aren't dbf files binary.

CJ

 

by: BuMpPosted on 2003-08-06 at 14:28:58ID: 9094954

I meant a file with not records in it.  BUT I have solved the problem.  Like you said, it was a driver issue.  There's a few different dbf drivers and this one happened to be Microsoft dbase version III.  I opened the dbf with a different app and it said exactly what it was.  It opens fine now!  So it was the ODBC all along.  Thanks for your help!

 

by: cheekycjPosted on 2003-08-06 at 14:33:11ID: 9094981

Great! Good to hear you got it working.  Thanx for the "A"

CJ

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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