opening/converting .dat files 1

[misterie]

I have been assigned the task of basically extracting the information from an application, written inhouse a few years ago for my employer, to import into a new old. The problem is that the old does not allow exporting information. The tech support for that old program, along with the help files, informs me that it is written in clarion and uses btrieve pervasive.sql. When I check out the data files they have .dat, .lck, .rpt extensions. Did I mention that the engine for crystal reports is used in this program as well?

That said, here is the essence of my problem. We do not have any full versions of any of those programs, so I cannot open those files. I do have vb6.0 and access2000. How can I open/convert the files, .dat specifically I believe, into ASCII, or anything else that I could use.

One other thing, when opened in notepad it is gibberish.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

 

[icici]

U can download a latest trial version (VALID FOR 30 DAYS) of pervasive sql from

http://www.pervassive.com

and try out the same.


GOOD LUCK

 

[grnelson]

You might take a look at BtSearch at

http://www.nssdd.com.

It can help you build the DDF(data dictionary files) files necessary to export your data out of the btrieve files. Once built it also allows you to export to dbase or ascii formats which can then be imported into most other programs. Gil