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conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

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    conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

    I have been developing in Clipper and dBase III files with a large system that I will need to rewrite for point of sale and inventory control etc.

    Are there any tips on my upgrade path and is there any help utiltlies to convert my dBaseIII plus data files to Alpha V formats ?

    #2
    Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

    Hi Sandy,

    Welcome to the Alpha forum.

    How large is your existing system? All data can be imported into Alpha, the question is, will you want dbf or sql? Either way all layouts will have to be rebuilt on those back ends.

    At this point I think you would need to ask for help on specific points as you need it with your conversion.
    Regards
    Keith Hubert
    Alpha Guild Member
    London.
    KHDB Management Systems
    Skype = keith.hubert


    For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

    Comment


      #3
      Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

      Possibly no conversion is necessary. Excel up to 2003 allows you to open dbaseIII files and save them as dbfIV. Alpha can use those dbfIV files natively.
      There can be only one.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

        About the only thing you can bring forward is the data/dbf files. As Stan said before.

        Welcome to the forum and alpha. I did clipper many(maybe 20 years ago ). I was on clipper 87. You will enjoy alpa immensly!

        Correct me if I am wrong, but did'nt clipper wind up with a large company and finally to another large company(maybe CA?)? One of the companies I worked for made all the transitions and changed the tables, code and everything over. Thank goodness I was gone by then.

        Most of the terminology is a bit different and where clipper was one off of c, alpha is 2 off c as best I can determine. It is written in c++.

        Any help that you need, we will all try to help.
        Dave Mason
        [email protected]
        Skype is dave.mason46

        Comment


          #5
          Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

          Yes absolutely correct. CA Clipper was the next compiled exe creator from C. Thanks in advance for help.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

            I was hoping there was an easier transition path for existing customer that may not have Excel etc thanks. This would have to run unattended without me having to hand hold for hundreds of customer scattered all over.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

              thanks fir the welcome ! Our system has about 180 dbfs some with memo fields and some without. The number of records can be up to 200,000. Is there a function in Alpha 5 that can be compiled into an executable that would simply be point and click ?

              Comment


                #8
                Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

                Sandy
                I am gradually re-writing.. adding modules not yet existing.. and replacing others - on top of a fully multi tasking integrated business and accounts system - all developed and still running - in S87
                Without much trouble , and whilst up to 20 concurrent seats operating in that system, I have some new Alpha systems running live and in some cases (where not writing) real-time and others making regular updates. The Clipper system has to be fully file and record lock enabled and set re-indexing has to be used in A5. Only the DBFs themselves are usable. But still a big YAY! for Alpha. I tried other offerings, many, over many years before this.
                My users have minor inconveniences that are made clear through messaging in both systems at critical times. The conversion process is certainly smoother than a scheduled major shutdown and restart in a new untried complete system.
                There is no general rule, each operation is assessed differently.
                Knowing the system design of both is key.
                I started on this about the date I signed up here and other than NEW A5 systems I developed that have gone in to new clients, only over the last year have I actually been accomplished enough to put working A5 systems on top of Clipper - its a long and cautious road for complete newcomers is what I am saying. But very empowering.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

                  Is there a function in Alpha 5 that can be compiled into an executable that would simply be point and click
                  I am so sorry Sandy, there is nothing in alpha that is made into an exe file. There are always other ways to do things though.

                  I start my apps with an executable that I made(it is in the code archive), but it does no actual work on data.

                  I could make a suggestion that starting with a few tables that make up a set(alpha term) and transitioning over may be a bit easier. You would also get more accustomed to the ways of alpha.

                  I know you know how to write a function, and you can do so in alpha. It has made my life better too.

                  Clipper used dbf tables early on from dbase 2 and then dbase 3 if I remember. and I am not so sure the tables won't open in alpha. the memos won't, but some work could make it easier(I think).

                  One other thought: I will preface with: I don't know what other programming tools you have.

                  You could possibly create a change over from db3 to excel to alpha dbf or on the web, there may be a changeover operation from db3 to foxpro0 which is what alpha uses.

                  You might look here: http://www.4shared.net/dbf+convert
                  I have not run this.
                  Dave Mason
                  [email protected]
                  Skype is dave.mason46

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

                    Originally posted by DaveM View Post
                    I am so sorry Sandy, there is nothing in alpha that is made into an exe file. There are always other ways to do things though.

                    I start my apps with an executable that I made(it is in the code archive), but it does no actual work on data.

                    I could make a suggestion that starting with a few tables that make up a set(alpha term) and transitioning over may be a bit easier. You would also get more accustomed to the ways of alpha.

                    I know you know how to write a function, and you can do so in alpha. It has made my life better too.

                    Clipper used dbf tables early on from dbase 2 and then dbase 3 if I remember. and I am not so sure the tables won't open in alpha. the memos won't, but some work could make it easier(I think).

                    One other thought: I will preface with: I don't know what other programming tools you have.

                    You could possibly create a change over from db3 to excel to alpha dbf or on the web, there may be a changeover operation from db3 to foxpro0 which is what alpha uses.

                    You might look here: http://www.4shared.net/dbf+convert
                    I have not run this.
                    Thanks I will try it and thanks for the tips !

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

                      very cool !

                      I also have complete record locking and file locking etc, so it sounds very similar.

                      May I ask which Alpha products you are using ?

                      You have given me inspiration and hope ! thanks

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

                        I am currently on version 10.5. I have desktop, unlimited runtime and the was. I am one of the desktop mostly people here.

                        There are some real smart people on here that will be happy to help at about every step.

                        I have found out that a search of the forum, wiki and a google search can really help with this.

                        I started using alpha in the late 80's when I needed to make an app in 1 month and I knew I could not do that in clipper so quickly. It took me a week in alpha. I still sold it for the same price I would have if done in clipper at 3 months work. Alpha is a RAD developement tool using dbf or most any kind of tables/db's.

                        You do know you can use sql with alpha and it is not hard to move dbf to sql either.
                        Last edited by DaveM; 06-15-2012, 05:29 PM.
                        Dave Mason
                        [email protected]
                        Skype is dave.mason46

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: conversion of dbase III plus / clipper files

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                          I convert applications Dbase / Clipper for Visual dBase (www.dbase.com) with use of 100% of the data because the tables are compatible DBFs despite the Visual DBase tables are already level 7. Specifically for windows environment and local network, I schedule in Visual Dbase, with an excellent platform to adapt without any problem from windows 98 to windows 7 up, and installation on servers running windows server.
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