Lesson 2 – Working with Pre v6.x File Formats
Scenario
In this lesson, you have Btrieve files with an existing set of table definitions. Btrieve files in a pre v6.x format are no longer compatible with the version of PSQL supported in this release of DDF Builder.
*Caution: DDF Builder supports version 6.x files but does not support files created prior to version 6.x.
Goals
The goal is to try and open the files with DDF Builder. This tutorial explains how DDF Builder handles pre v6.x file formats and v6.x and later file formats. This tutorial also provides a solution to make the files compatible with DDF Builder.
What You Need to Know
The files to use for this lesson and the remaining lessons in this tutorial reside in a folder named Tutorial2. Assuming you installed using the default installation locations, this folder is located at:
<Application Data>\DDFBUILDER\TUTORIALS\TUTORIAL2
You must create a DSN for this database before continuing.
The files specific to this lesson are KO.BTR and KO.MKD.
*Note: Refer to Create Data Source Names (DSN) if you need information about creating the DSN.
Open the Btrieve File
Begin by starting DDF Builder, if it is not already running.
1
In the DDF Builder Data Sources Explorer, expand the Databases node to see all of the available databases.
2
Locate the Tutorial2 database in the list.
3
Double-click the Tutorial2 database icon.
The following message displays:
4
Click Ok to close the message window.
You are unable to open all of the files because some files in the folder are pre v6.x.
Understanding the Warning Message
DDF Builder is unable to open files that are version 5.x and earlier because that format is no longer fully supported. To use the pre v6.x files, you must rebuild the files to a 6.x version or greater file format.
*Tip: DDF Builder is supported on PSQL v9 and later.
Before you rebuild the version 5.x and earlier files, check the log file to determine exactly which files you need to rebuild.
View the Log File
The files you need to rebuild are listed in the DDF Builder log file.
►
To access the log file
1
With DDF Builder running, click Help.
2
Click DDF Builder Log File.
The Log file displays in the default text editor on your system. The following is a sample from the log file for this lesson.
Notice that the log file lists each pre v6.x file, including the full data path for the file. Using this data path, you can locate the files that need rebuilding.
How To Rebuild My Files
Use the PSQL Rebuild Utility to rebuild your files to version 6.x or later. The Rebuild Utility is installed as one of the core utilities of PSQL and is available from the Tools menu of the PSQL Control Center.
Where To Go From Here
The Rebuild Utility is available from the PSQL Control Center. For information on using this utility, see “Converting Data Files,” in the Advanced Operations Guide.
Conclusion
This lesson introduced you to how DDF Builder handles pre 6.x version file formats and provided you with a solution for rebuilding your files to work with them in DDF Builder.