Hi Jessica Ann,
I suppose the first question is, do you have the old database running on
a computer, or do you just have its data files?
1) If you've got it running, the preferred approach is to export the
data from the old program into a common format (e.g. CSV files), copy
these to your Windows computer system (e.g. via floppy disk), and then
import them into Access or Excel.
Even in those days, most database software could export to CSV files. If
yours has no export function, can you get it to print out the data in a
very plain tabular or report format? If your IT guy is on the ball he
will probably be able to redirect what the the program thinks it is
sending to the printer to a disk file; with a bit of work it will be
possible to turn this into something Access or Excel can import.
Partly it depends on how much data there is. If it's just a hundred or
so names and addresses it's probably quicker just to re-type them and
proof-read the result. If there are thousands, it's worth going to some
trouble to avoid re-keying. So yet another possibility is to print the
data onto paper and then use a scanner and OCR software to read it back
into the Windows machine, then import into Access, print out again, and
proof-read.
2) If you have the data files but not a computer that can use them, the
choice is between re-keying the data (assuming you have it on paper) and
somehow reading the files. If this is the case, feel free to email me
examples of the data files (be sure to remove the reversed spam-trap
from my address) and I'll take a shufti and let you know how difficult
that might be.
