Database Administrator Guide > Database Administrator Guide > Loading and Unloading Databases > Copy Operation > Copy in ASCII or Binary Format
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Copy in ASCII or Binary Format
When copying a database, you should copy the files in ASCII format unless you are copying the database to another instance on the same machine or to a binary-compatible machine. In these cases, use binary format.
If you are not sure, use ASCII format.
Copying the files in ASCII format allows you to:
• Move the tables you own to an instance with a different machine architecture
• Edit the data files before copying them into a database
To copy the database files in ASCII format, specify the -c option (create printable data files) on the copydb command. (In VDBA, use the Create Printable Data Files option in the Generate copy.in and copy.out dialog.)
To copy the database files in binary format, do not specify the -c option.
Notes:
• The -c option can affect the value of floating point numbers, as described in Floating Point Specification for Copy Database.
• Copying between releases of Actian X with different major release identifiers can cause problems if new columns were added to a later release to support new features. If you have made use of these new features in the later release and attempt to copy out and copy in to an earlier release that did not support the new feature, the copy in operation produces an error. Additionally, new reserved words can have been added and can require renaming tables and/or columns. To avoid this problem, simply edit the copy.in script to avoid loading the non-existent columns, or renamed tables or columns.
Caution!  If you copy the files in binary format, do not edit them; doing so causes problems.
Last modified date: 08/14/2024