Pervasive SQL

[GoBruins]

Hi,



We have some data files that were created using Pervasive SQL (2000i). The extensions are .DAT.

We are trying to import the data into Access. Has anyone had recent experience doing this? I'm having a difficult time even finding a trial version of Pervasive SQL.



Thanks in advance.

[ssanfu]

I Googled "Pervasive SQL" and found about 470,000 hits.

The data files have an extension of .DAT? Can you open the files with a text editor (Notepad, NotePad+)?
What does the data look like?

[GoBruins]

Hi, and thanks for the reply.

Those Google links seem to be going nowhere for me, but I'll keep perusing.

The .Dat files when opened with Notepad show garbled characters, along with some discernible data. But defintely not something I can work with.

[help_me_with_access]

I know you *can* import DATs. have you tried to select them via the wizard in access? can you do that at all? you can possibly open the files in other programs and then try to copy and paste.

I can't remember what I read previously on dat files....try some of those options!

[GoBruins]

I think it's possible if the .Dat files are text based. I've tried changing the extension from .Dat to .Txt, but it's not working.

[help_me_with_access]

what happens when you do such a thing? upload some examples. I may be able to help you. I think access takes import such that the delimiters are spaces, special characters a tabulated data.

i'm sure there's a way to manipulate it such that you can get it into an access file....

[GoBruins]

Hi,

When I try to import the .Dat file, the structure is so random that it can't possibly import the underlying data.

[ssanfu]

You cannot just import the DAT file because it is not in ASCII format. It is a Btrieve file. If you have the Pervasive SQL program you could export the data in ASCII (text) format..... but you need the program. There are some conversion programs. I was looking at the dBForums and found this thread:

http://www.dbforums.com/visual-basic...onversion.html

and this:

http://bytes.com/topic/sql-server/an...ql-server-file


I Googled "convert btrieve file"..........

[GoBruins]

Thank you for this. It looks like much of this involves Access 1.0 or 2.0.

I'm thinking that we should just bite the bullet and purchase a Pervasive SQL license.