Transferring data from old data base to Access

[John O' Meara]

Hi,
I have a friend who has a friend who has a data base of 20000+ enteries. This data base was constructed using something called D base nearly twenty years ago. Now, they want to know is it possible to transfer the 20000 odd enteries to a modern data base without having to type in the enteries individually to the new database like Access.
(1) What is D base, does anyone in this forum know?
(2) Is it possible software wise to copy the D base enteries to Access or other new data base and if so how?
Thanks for helping.

 

[turbo]

Google is your friend. There are lots of conversion programs out there. The cost should be under $500.

 

[mgb_phys]

If the data is reasonably flat (ie not a complex set of linked tables) then just dumping the dbase format to comma separated fields (CSV) then importing it into access would be easy.

IIRC Excel will read DbaseIII files into a spreadsheet directly.

 

[turbo]

Ashton Tate dBase was a wonderful program, and it was pretty much reverse-engineered as FoxBase, which also included a nice compiler. MS bought FoxBase before releasing the perversion that is Access, and they should have provided free conversion tools. Having written application programs for dBase and FoxBase for years, I was quite disappointed with Access when I ended up having to build some very simple applications (it would have been far simpler in dBase or FoxBase) for a customer.

 

[LudusRex]

I am not an expert in database management or software engineering, but I can offer some general information and advice on this topic.

(1) D base is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. It was commonly used for storing and organizing large amounts of data, similar to modern database software like Access. However, it is now considered outdated and has been largely replaced by newer database technologies.

(2) It is possible to transfer the data from a D base database to a modern database like Access. There are a few ways to do this, depending on the specific software and tools available. One option is to use a specialized conversion tool that can convert the D base file into a format that is compatible with Access. Another option is to export the data from D base into a CSV (comma-separated values) file and then import that file into Access. Alternatively, if the D base database is still accessible and functional, it may be possible to connect to it using Access and directly transfer the data.

In any case, it is important to carefully review the data and ensure that it is accurately transferred to the new database. This may involve manually checking and correcting any errors or inconsistencies that may occur during the transfer process. It may also be helpful to consult with a database expert or IT professional for assistance with the transfer.

Overall, while it may be time-consuming and potentially challenging, it is certainly possible to transfer the data from a D base database to a modern database like Access. With the right tools and techniques, the process can be streamlined and the data can be successfully migrated. I hope this information helps and good luck with the transfer process!