I am working on a project now where I need to convert an old DOS based
btrieve database to CSV or any other format I can work with. Does
anyone know of any good software or some tips/tricks I can use to get
this data? I have the original software and can access the data that
way, but I can't do anything I need to do with the data there.

I have done some searching and came across the Pervasive Data
Integrator suite. But since I haven't gotten a trial license I am not
sure if it is going to work or not. I can do DOS or Linux based
applications if necessary.

Thanks,

Fred

On Jan 29, 3:07*pm, Fred <fbne... (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
You will need the DDF files which are the data dictionary files to
export your data. You can use BtSearch at www.nssdd.com to help you
analyze the file and build the DDF files. Also after you have the DDF
files it will export the Btrieve data to CSV format.

Gil

Fred,

You can export the raw data using BUTIL -SAVE. If you're lucky the data
will all be stored as text (as opposed to binary). Then you can treat the
exported records as fixed field length format with the record length stored
as the first field at the beginning of each record. Even if the records
contain binary data you can sometimes determine what that data is by putting
those fields into integer, real, or decimal variables and comparing the
result to what you see in the application.

HTH,
Brad Kunkel
Integrated Business, Inc.


"Fred" <fbnewtz (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

Here's a white paper that more fully describes the problem, with
possible solutions:
http://www.goldstarsoftware.com/press.asp
Grab the paper on ODBC access of Btrieve data.
Goldstar Software Inc.
Pervasive-based Products, Training & Services
Bill Bach
BillBach (AT) goldstarsoftware (DOT) com
http://www.goldstarsoftware.com
*** Pervasive Training - March 2009 in Chicago ***


Fred wrote:

On Jan 29, 10:36 pm, nelsonsoft <nelsons... (AT) nssdd (DOT) com> wrote:
Gil,

Thanks for the info. I wasn't able to make it run on my XP
machine. I am trying the software on the old DOS machine next.

Thanks,

Fred

Fred,

One note is you must have the Windows Pervasive Btrieve drivers
loaded. If the software is DOS based then you may not have those
drivers. You can download the trial version at Pervasive's website or
contact me thru my site for any additional questions you may have.
Thanks,
GIl