Summary of info. I received regarding file formats.

Following is the summary of some useful information regarding file formats:

        File Format Handbook
        Taylor, Allen
        1992
        $27.95 paperback
        Slawson Communications, Inc.
        175 Vallecitos de Oro
        San Marcos, CA 92069-1436
        800-752-9766
        619-744-2299

Marshall Abrams
ab2r_at_midway.uchicago.edu

The Lotus 1-2-3 file formats can be found at oak.oakland.edu, under the /pub/msdos/lotus or /pub/msdos/123 directory (I'm not exactly sure what the subdirectory name is, but it should be obvious when you get there.) As for the WordPerfect formats, you may have to purchase the WP software developers' kit from WordPerfect Corp. I don't know about the others.

If you get a response about a place to get the WordPerfect formats (for FREE), please e-mail me this info... Thanks.

--Lyle
johnson_at_apricot.gatech.edu

  Here is the xBASE format (used by dBASE, FOX, and (I think) paradox.   I alo have C and Pascal (turbo 3.0) source I found somewhere and I'll   mail that too if you'd like:
|
| (You can send me an e-mail if you want this format. --Sunita).
|

This information came directly from the Ashton-Tate Forum. It can also be found in the Advanced Programmer's Guide available from Ashton-Tate.

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Re Oracle - no information is useful.  The file formats differ according
to version and often the data is stored on "raw disk".  (This means that
the disk is not formatted and not mounted by the OS - Oracle drives it by
hand).
There was something in the SIMTEL MS-DOS archives about xBase formats.
I think informix uses c-isam files.
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============================================================================

 I know for sure that Dbase III (probably IV) include the format in the manuals.
 For the other PC based formats(Paradox,Foxbase,Access) and probably other PC formats try a good computer book store or or call MS,Borland,etc.
For instance, I called Lotus for their format and they will send it after you 
sign a non-disclosure.(Funny though, Release 3(current) was free after signing
you had to pay for the book of the previous releases.)


kmajkut_at_netcom.com
============================================================================

if i remember correctly, there is a publically available set of
programs to convert a variety of picture file formats to a common
format and back.  these were called pbm, pbmplus or something (for
portable bitmap).  i know i had downloaded the OS/2 2.x version almost
a year ago, but was only interested in the executable.  but the source
should be available.

about paradox: as far as i know, the format is proprietary.  i say
that because at work, we use a C library (AccSys for Paradox) that
accesses paradox tables, and evidently the author has to
reverse-engineer the tables each time there is a new version.
probably dbase is more standard.

From fernand_at_slinky.cs.nyu.edu 
===========================================================================

In the DOS environment, Informix tables are stored thus:

1. Each table is stored in a separate <name>.dat file.  The <name> portion 
   of the filename is:
   a. For system catalog (data dictionary) tables, the first eight characters 
      of the table name;
   b. For user-defined tables, the first five* characters of the table name, 
      followed by the three digit table id number.  (* Names less than five 
      characters long are padded with '_'.)

2. Each row/record in a table/file consists of a sequence of columns/fields, 
   described below, terminated by a line feed character (10 dec, 0A hex).

3. Columns/fields are NOT separated by delimiters of any kind.  Individual 
   columns/fields are sized as follows:

      Type        Coltype  Size
   a. CHAR(n)        0     n bytes, with trailing blanks
   b. SMALLINT       1     2 bytes
   c. INTEGER        2     4 bytes
   d. FLOAT          3     9 bytes
   e. SMALLFLOAT     4     5 bytes
   f. SERIAL         6     4 bytes, INTEGER with auto-increment
   g. DATE           7     4 bytes, INTEGER number of days past 12/31/1899
   h. DECIMAL(n,m)   5     round (n/2) + 1; thus DECIMAL(15,2) requires 9 bytes
   i. MONEY(n,m)     8     round (n/2) + 1; thus MONEY(14,2)   requires 8 bytes

4. a. Tables are defined in the SYSTABLES table (file SYSTABLE.DAT). 

   Column name          Type

   tabname              CHAR(18)
   owner                CHAR(8)
   dirpath              CHAR(64)
   tabid                SERIAL
   rowsize              SMALLINT
   ncols                SMALLINT
   nindexes             SMALLINT
   nrows                INTEGER
   created              DATE
   version              INTEGER
   tabtype              CHAR(1)     = 'T' table; 'V' view
   audpath              CHAR(64)

   b. Columns within tables are defined in the SYSCOLUMNS tables (file 
      SYSCOLUM.DAT). 

   Column name          Type

   colname              CHAR(18)
   tabid                INTEGER
   colno                SMALLINT    Position of column in table.
   coltype              SMALLINT    See 3 above.  Add 256, if NOT NULL.
   collength            SMALLINT    = n for CHAR;
                                    = n * 256 + m for DECIMAL or MONEY

   c. Indexes are defined in the SYSINDEXES table (file SYSINDEX.DAT). 

   Column name          Type

   idxname              CHAR(18)
   owner                CHAR(8)
   tabid                INTEGER
   idxtype              CHAR(1)     = '-' not unique;  'U' unique
   clustered            CHAR(1)     = '-' unclustered; 'C' clustered
   part1                SMALLINT    = +colno if ASC
   part2                SMALLINT    = -colno if DESC
   part3                SMALLINT    = 0 if not used
   part4                SMALLINT
   part5                SMALLINT
   part6                SMALLINT
   part7                SMALLINT
   part8                SMALLINT

   d. Views are defined in the SYSVIEWS table (file SYSVIEWS.DAT).

   Column name          Type

   tabid                INTEGER
   seqno                SMALLINT
   text                 CHAR(64)    SQL used to create the view

That's a good start.  There are additional details, of course.  If you 
have questions, let me know. 

I would appreciate receiving the other information you accumulate.

Regards,
Alan
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==========================================================================

I also have a shar file of two programs, one is a Turbo Pascal(3.0) the other
is Turbo C that someone mailed it to me.  Both will read xBASE (dBASE II 
compatible) file structures.  If you would like to have it, I can mail it
to you.

Thanks
Sunita.
e-mail: jethani_at_plains.nodak.edu
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