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General discussion

Converting database files

Aug 31, 2010 4:36AM PDT

I have a small business which has been running for years with an ancient program custom written in dBase III Plus and using a lot of Word Perfect files. When Windows first came along I was told that there was no way to convert these programs to anything which would run with Windows, especially the many macros, and that it would be very expensive to re-write all of the files. Since then things have come a long way, and I wonder whether there is any such programm today which would do this conversion. It is becoming even harder to maintain things with this old system. I presently have a Windows 7 PC as well as my old PC with DOS still working. I'm not optimistic but thought I would throw it out.

Discussion is locked

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Re: converting
Aug 31, 2010 4:46AM PDT

Converting the (old) data stored inside the dBase III Plus database to any other database probably is the easy part. Converting the program and the macro's is hopeless, now even more than it was 10 years ago, because knowledge of those old tools is rapidly diminishing.

Starting all over in any modern tool to built a custom system is one option. Replacing it by a standard application package is another option, and far preferable if even remotely possible. The only prerequiste is that your business is common enough for a standard application to exist. You didn't tell anything about that.

Kees

Kees

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Re: Converting
Aug 31, 2010 6:31AM PDT

Thanks, Kees. That was sort of as I expected. I was just reaching for straws I guess. My business involves serving civil process and some investigating. Lots of little things that are hard to duplicate in a boxed program. Retirement is not too far away so am not looking to invest big sums in the business at this time.
Bob

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Why change? Why not DosBox?
Sep 4, 2010 9:53PM PDT

Many just use DOSBOX (see google) and run such in Windows with DOSBOX.

Bob