Is it possible to import Data from a C language Database (.DBP files)

[Mota]

Hi;
We have an old program that runs on DOS operating system and uses some .dbp
files as its Database files to show their data.
When i double click on a .dbp file,just a blank MsgBox opens.Nothing more.
We seriously need the data of that .dbp files,otherwise we have to enter
more than 50,000 records into 2 related tables manually.I contacted to its
programmer.She says this is a C program and that files are made and just for
use by C language programs and can not be converted to any other format.(I
mean a useable format for Access such as mdb,xls,txt,dbf and so on).
I wonder if the C language can make its own Database (is it true?) but have
nothing to say about.What i have doubt on is the term "There is no way to
change .DBP files". I believe that in this word,there must be a way to
convert them at least to .dbf format,then i can easily import .dbf files
into Access tables using dBase drivers.In fact,what i want is to kinda
import data from dbp files to Access tables.Directly or indirectly.
So i ask you help me to do something on this files if you know about C
language or its dbp database files,or if you have access to a professional C
programmer.
I will be so much grateful to you and thank you in advance for your help.

 

[MikeB]

programmer.She says this is a C program and that files are made and just for
use by C language programs and can not be converted to any other format.(I
mean a useable format for Access such as mdb,xls,txt,dbf and so on).

Dos the program Print its' data to a printer? If so, find yourself a print
Capture program ( I used a program called PrintQ that was a DOS spooler program
that spooled the output to formatted text files, but you could specify that the
files NOT be deleted after printing). You can probably capture the output as
text, then write your own parsing program to extract the data to your database.

 

[Pat Hartman\(MVP\)]

If there are no tools out there to convert this file type, hire a C
programmer to write a specific one. They can create a .csv file or fixed
width .txt file which ever they are more comfortable with. It shouldn't
take more than two hours.

 

[Mota]

Dear Mike;
Do you mean printing to a file?
Thanx.

 

[Mota]

What are .csv file and how they can help me?are they compatible with DOS?
Thank you for ur help.

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

What are .csv file and how they can help me?are they compatible with DOS?
Thank you for ur help.

CSV files are simply a another VERY common format, and simply VERY widely
used. (perhaps even more common then the old dbase DBF formats).

CSV are often referred to comma delimited files...

And, often MANY programs can export their data as csv files. (quickbooks,
Simply Accounting...dbase...ms-access...Excel...the list goes on and on as
to what products can export as csv. Since the format is so common, then if
you were to export the data from this product, you have a very big chance
the format that would be chosen is CSV. In fact, if you hired a developer to
import the data, then this would be the format of choice.

Note that if in fact the developer did build a custom data format (and, that
was common to do so back then), you HAVE A VERY BIG chance that the data is
fix length in nature. This actually means that ms-access might be able to
import this data...

So, there is no reason why any competent access developer can't write some
code to import the data from those files. Especially if they are fixed
length in nature. (any developer worth their salt would simply open up the
data file with their favorite file editor..and within seconds be able to
determine if the data is fixed length or not).

So, the suggestions are to at least check if some export features exist with
the product. (and, comma delimited = CSV). Developers often choose CSV
format since it is so easy to write (don't want to crack open a bunch of
books to figure out the dbase, or ms-access format...so, developers use
CSV..as it is easy to write..and further most software can import this
format). So, the CSV format don't really help you, but you want to be aware
of its existence...and how common it is. And, if the old software does have
a export option...likely it would be CSV (or called comma delimited...or
perhaps even tab delimited).

And, the other really good suggestion given is if there is any
reports/printouts that shows all the data you need. In this case, you simply
print the report to a file, and then have ms-access import that text file
(again, either using the import wizard...or often simply writing some code
in ms-access to parse out the data as needed).

So, any competent access developer should be able to write some code to read
those files...especially if they are fixed length in desing.....

 

[MikeB]

Dear Mike;
Do you mean printing to a file?

Well the first question would be can you print data that you select to a
printer? If that answer is yes, then you might be able to do as I suggested
and get a dos print capture program like "PrintQ". Alternatively, if you are
able to print to a File, then the problem is made simpler, just print your data
to a file and write a program in access to parse the text into the database as
necessary.