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ngmarowa

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Add a file extension

I am using an application where the programmer changed dbf files (DBase IV) to .fmm files. If you change the extension to dbf I can open it in Access or excel. I can associate .fmm to excel and access but cannot import external data from the files.

I do not change the extension every time i want to manipulate the data as this can cause data corruption on saving. I would rather create a a data source or make it appear on the list of DBase files.

Any ideas???
 
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ngmarowa

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Thanks for the response.

To Rincewindwizz:

The situation is similar to the link you sent but it wasnt fully resolved. Opening is not a problem. I need to use the DBMS properties of Excel or Access to manipulate the data. Using queries etc

To pcelba:
Creating a copy is fine but I was looking at real time access to the files and be able to make modifications to the files.

I was hoping for a solution where the fmm extension is recognised by excel and/or access as a dbase format and can link the files into access and run my queries
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The application seems to be hard coded to fmm.

Will get back to you on using DBase to open the files. Need to install it first.

I am not updating the indexex when using excel I was tring to avoid open the files with excel
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Also a possibility to change all DBF occurences to FMM in ODBC driver exists...

Such unauthorized program changes are just a good way how to void warranty. But I agree, it could work sometimes.
Ok. After a lot of trials I have given up. The .fmm extension is hardcoded into the application and the application uses custom dll files for each module. Ultraedit was very helpful but did not solve my problem. As it turns out the application locks a .fmm file then creates a copy and renames it to .dbf and manipulates it. It keeps an internal record of locked files. When I went to the documentation there is a fine print that makes this illegal (warranty wise) as it can be termed reverse engineering.

So my work stops here.

Thanks guys for the input.
I am glad you decided to work with a copy of the production file. To make changes in data which you don't know in all details would also be very dangerous.

If the application uses DLLs than it means it is not created in standard database tool like FoxPro or dBase but in some CodeBase library etc. DBF file format is just used as the most known data format.

Practical suggestion to try out and solve the problem