asked on

Reading Applied Solutions .DAT and .IDX files

I need help converting ASI .dat and .idx files to a readable format. A similar post to this from 1/2004 failed to mention that this software was developed by Fred Smith (ASI's owner) as a powersports dealer management and inventory control software- This is NOT the same ASI which is currently a security software company today. Fred Smith's ASI company went out of business in the early 90's and originally ran on a THEOS operating system. Fred ported the software for us in the late 90's to run in the windows environment through an emulator. I think Fred may have passed away as there have been no replies from him since April 2008. I desperately need to update price files, but first I have to be able to understand the format. I hope someone can help.

The price updates consist of a .dat file and a .idx file. I will include the first few lines from the files:
First from the .dat file:
0NH622212000HD SHOCK SPRING, 7602A
0NH623141000HD FORK SPRING 7200A
101811111000BRUSH 1488A
102111810000S/S 102111810100 4D
102111810100GASKET,CYL HEAD 430A
102113610000S/S 109113610000 4D
102114000000S/S 102114000100 2915A
102114220000S/S 102114220100 1307A
102116330100S/S 102116330200 102A
102116330200PIN,PISTON

The entire file looks like above.
Now from the .idx file:

þSÿ ( ÖÙ . ÖÚ ÿ~ "30X1163101Y0 æ30X1163101Y0 ç ò0NH622212000 0NH623141000 0WG390801010 0WG411311300 0WG413555100 0WG413625010 0WG413625110 0WG4A2460000 0WK811311000 0WK811351300
0WK811631200 0WK8250EG010 101156360000
101156370000 101161340000 101163110000 101163210000 101163280000 101181370000 101212770000 101212790000 101217900000 101241870000 101243560000 101245150000 101247230000 101254120000 101272160000 101283230000 101811111000 102111810000 r4ES2173F2000 ÖÓ4ES2173F2100 ÖÔ4ES2173F3000 ÖÕ4ES2173F4000 ÖÖ4ES2173F5000 Ö×4ES2173L0000 ÖØ4ES2173L0100 ÖÙ

Some of the file is readable and some uses special characters. Does anyone know this files format? can you recommend a software product to read the contents of these files or better, upconvert ascii files to the correct format?

Thanks in advance!
Jay

Jim P.

It looks like the .dat files are the ones you have to worry about, and not the index files.

Are you trying to continue using the software, or are you just trying to extract it to use in a new application. If just trying to extract it, you can probably build a data importer using VBA and an Access DB and extract it that way. If you're trying to edit data that gets into a much messier issue.

J_Conaway

ASKER

I am just trying to extract data at this time, however if possible, we would like to continue using the app.
The price files are designed to import to the application to update pricing in the database. If I can determine the format used, I thought that I could recreate the files with new data. I am very familiar with Access, but not so with VBA import. Could you describe the process?

TIA
Jay

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Jim P.

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Jim P.

What could I have done to make this a an A grade?