Re: dBASE III+/dBASE IV Files

Keywords:

Somebody at "vtt.uucp" wrote requesting a program to read dBaseIII files. I erased the message before "returned mail" hit me with an address unknown, so I'm posting the reply here. I have a program that does this, part of a package to read dbf files and then load them to an Oracle table.

The following is the README file from this program -- available via ftp. Hope it helps. I haven't written a program yet to WRITE dbf files.

Jeff

Jeff.Stander_at_ml.csiro.au        _--_|\        Database Analyst
CSIRO Division Of Fisheries    /      \       Pelagic Fisheries Resources
GPO Box 1538, Hobart           \_.--._/       Tasmania 7001, Australia
Aus Tel: 002-325-332                 v        Intl Tel: +61-02-325-332
Aus Fax: 002-325-000                          Intl Fax: +61-02-325-000


___________________________________________________________________________


NAME
	dbfx 	- extract data from dBase/Foxpro DBF files
	mkloadf - format extracted data for loading into Oracle RDBMS

RELEASE
	dbfx 	- version 1.4
	mkloadf - version 1.4

DESCRIPTION
	Dbfx is designed to directly read uncompressed dBase/FoxPro DBF
	database files created on a PC.  It was written in order to
	facilitate direct import into mainframe databases such as
	Oracle without requiring preprocessing on a PC.  On the UNIX
	machine the DBF files must have been imported using binary mode
	transfer.

	Mkloadf creates control, sql, and shell scripts to load into
	Oracle the data extracted by dbfx.  Since mkloadf works with
	text files it is also useful for general importing purposes.

	This software is distributed without any warranties express or
	implied.  Use it at your own risk.  See DISCLAIMER below.

AVAILABILITY
	Dbfx is available by anonymous ftp:

	host:	aqueous.ml.csiro.au
	IP:	192.67.12.100
	dir:	/pub/jstander/dbfx

BUGS
	The present version will not incorporate memo fields into its
	output and I'm not certain how it handles dBase IV files.
	I would appreciate feedback on any problems encountered.

INSTALLATION
	1. This software is distributed as a shell archive (shar)
	   file.  Upon extraction the archive will create a directory
	   ../tsmlib which contains a general purpose C function
	   library required to be present when linking dbfx and other
	   necessary programs.  If you already have a ../tsmlib
	   directory the contents will NOT be overwritten unless "-c"
	   is added to the extraction command.

	2. Create a directory where you want to extract the software
	   (e.g. $HOME/src/dbfx).  Move the shar file to that
	   directory.

	3. Uncompress the shar file if compressed.

	4. Enter "sh dbfx.shar [-c]" (-c to overwrite existing files)

	5. Edit the Makefile and make any required changes.  E.g.  the
	   C compiler and install target directory may need to be
	   changed.

	6. Enter "make" or "make opt" to compile the library and
	   programs.  
	   
	   The current default is to use the "-g" compiler option to
	   create symbol table info for debugging.  To call the
	   compiler in optimization mode enter "make opt"

	7. Enter "make install" to copy commands and scripts to the
	   target bin directory.

HISTORY
	Version 1.0	10.01.93 new
	Version 1.1	22.01.93 handle "unzip -l" lowercase folding
	Version 1.2	22.01.93 add foxpro version number handling
	Version 1.3     04.02.93 minor bug fixes in reading zip files
	Version 1.4     21.02.93 ".txt" suffix becomes ".mrg" suffix

DISCLAIMER
	Copyright (c) 1993 by CSIRO Division of Fisheries, Hobart,
	Tasmania, AUSTRALIA.
	
	Written by Jeffrey M. Stander.  
	
	Not derived from licensed software.

	Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any
	purpose on any computer system, and to redistribute it
	freely, subject to the following restrictions:

	1. The author or CSIRO is not responsible for the consequences
	   of use of this software, no matter how awful, even if they
	   arise from defects in it.  In no event will the copyright
	   holders be liable for any damages resulting from the use of
	   this software.

	2. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented,
	   either by explicit claim or by omission.

	3. Altered versions must be plainly marked as such, and must
	   not be misrepresented as being the original software.

	That having been said, please send any problems or comments
	via email to the Internet address jstander_at_ml.cisro.au. For
	bug reports, please include the version of dbfx, the make
	options you used to compile it, the machine and operating
	system you are using, and any other relevant additional 
	information.



___________________________________________________________________________


Jeff.Stander_at_ml.csiro.au        _--_|\        Database Analyst
CISRO Division Of Fisheries    /      \       Pelagic Fisheries Resources
GPO Box 1538, Hobart           \_.--._/       Tasmania 7001, Australia
Aus Tel: 002-206-206                 v        Intl Tel: +61-02-206-206
Aus Fax: 002-240-530                          Intl Fax: +61-02-240-530


___________________________________________________________________________