Hi all,
I got a backup from a D3 database and would like to access it but I
don't have the associated software. Is there a way, with an open
source or free solution to acess it ?

Thanks in advance.
tipiac

<wikitipiac (AT) laposte (DOT) net> wrote
providing this sort of helper software attractive to any code-writers.

Your situation is especially desperate if this was d3 on top of windows,
but even on *nix, you won't get much useful info by doing
cat /tmp/backupfile | strings | more

You'll need to either buy D3, or buy a competing 'flavor' of pick; then
import the D3 data. Or, get a D3 shop to host your data on one of their
computers for you, and migrate it from there to your ultimately desired
database. I'm confident that RainingData would be willing to put you in
contact with one or more pick shops in your area...

D3 is substantially more complex than, say, Dbase, and beyond the obvious
bulk of data you intend to transfer, there are almost certainly some features or
information that you'll miss in your first few attempts to move it to another
database. Search in this newsgroup for 'translate', 'program triggers', 'basic',
'system()' for nitty gritty details.

Any D3 reseller can provide a fully functional, time-limited version
of D3 for demo purposes, or for one-shot operations like this. Now,
it's open for debate as to whether a D3 reseller is motivated to
provide this service so that you can migrate D3 data away from their
market.

If you don't have experience with D3 then you should contract with
someone to perform the data extraction service, or to load the
software on your system and extract the data. This can be done
remotely using GoToMeeting or the equivalent.

[General statement prompted by the request for open source and free
solutions]
If you're looking to do this without cost and with no help,
then I'm afraid it simply won't get done. I find way too many people
choose not doing something as the alternative to paying anything to
accomplish business goals. It's generally assumed that the cost of
doing business somehow no longer includes anything related to data or
software, and then when people don't find free solutions they blame
the technology. If for one do not support this devaluation of IT.
Further I'm a bit miffed that people assume that Open Source
equals Free. Let's not quibble with words, when people say they want
something that's open source (free=liberty), that's just a euphemism
for free=beer. If someone did provide open source code in C/C++ to
manipulate data, the majority of people grabbing this code wouldn't
care about whether they could modify (or heaven forbid, improve) the
source. Their next step would be to ask for free advice on how to
compile it down to an executable so that they can use it for free.
That's not what open source is intended to be and this bastardization
of the concept creates very unreal expectations of what end-users can
and should get from vendors who only exist through sales of their
software and services.

Ahem ... I'm curious to know which way this particular effort goes.

TG@ removethisNebula-RnD.com


"Frank Winans" wrote:

I'm not quibbling about Open Source ?= free or not, but you have to admit
that the plethora of "free" software and add-ons available over the web has
conditioned people to look for a no-cost solution. As I do .

I was sent a .dwg file recently by an architect, which of course I could
not open. So what was the first thing I did...Google ".dwg file reader free"
and bingo, there it was, 2 minutes later, on my PC. Worries about spyware
and what-have-you aside, this sort of thing makes me want to look for the
free solution always (aside...how the hell do these free-solution providers
stay in business, anyway?)

So if OP is not Pick-aware but is of normal web-savviness, it would be
perfectly normal for him/her to at least look for such a beast, Tony's
chiding manner notwithstanding. I don't think that anyone of normal chutzpah
level would expect to get free advice and support for a free product,
certainly I wouldn't.

Chandru Murthi

"Tony Gravagno" <address.is.in.posts (AT) removethis (DOT) com.invalid> wrote in
message news:t5hh43pblhlpu86m99tk9491mq96s3poqh (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...

It is possible to download a single user, limited functionality (non-
activated) version of D3 for free (=beer). However, it is likely that
installing and configuring said non-activated copy of D3 will prove
problematic for someone not already familiar with D3, and of limited
utility if you are not familiar with the pick database environment as
well.

Your best bet, as Tony mentioned, is going to be to find someone to
help you. There are quite a few Pick sites in France (I'm guessing
that's where you are located). And although you may occasionally get
snapped at, it is my experience that reasonable questions posted to
this forum will produce helpful replies.

Good luck,
/Scott Ballinger
Pareto Corporation
Edmonds WA USA
206 713 6006

wikitipiac (AT) laposte (DOT) net wrote:
compatible with R83 (unlikely) you have many options. If you just
have a file, pay to find out what you have. Work forward from there.
Not cheap, but not expensive. Tom deL has the most current experience
in this area that I am aware of. He would be who I would go to. He
can provide a solution this if anyone can.

Patrick, <;=)