Database

Re: Reading Basic PDS ISAM Files [modified]

31-Mar-10 8:44

Hi all,

I have a legacy database system which was developed with the old MS Basic PDS ISAM. Does anyone know of a way to import the data into Access?

Thanks

PIEBALDconsult31-Mar-10 15:22

31-Mar-10 15:22

I don't, but it sounds interesting (at least mildly).

The first step would be to find documentation of the file structure.

Or maybe the Jet Engine can read them? Did you search online?

Edit: Or an ODBC driver?

modified on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:44 PM

rmiller101-Apr-10 4:50

1-Apr-10 4:50

I haven't been able to find any documentation of the file structure, and I'd rather not go that route if possible.

An ODBC driver is exactly what I'm looking for. I have had no luck reading them with any of the Jet drivers.

I have searched online, and information on this seems to be fairly rare.

There has to be a simple solution, I'm just not seeing it!

PIEBALDconsult1-Apr-10 9:35

1-Apr-10 9:35

I did some searching as well.

Out of curiosity... Is this a one-time copy of the data to a "better" database system? Or something you'll need to continue to do?

The best I can think of is to use that version of BASIC (I found a place from where it can be downloaded) to write a DLL with the required interface and call it from whatever language you want to use. Or maybe in the package there's a DLL you could call.

I also just took a quick look at an old (1999) ODBC book I have and nothing jumped out at me.

I'll give it some more thought after I have a nap... my brain hurts.

rmiller101-Apr-10 9:42

Re: Reading Basic PDS ISAM Files [modified]

1-Apr-10 9:42

Thanks for the replies

It will probably be an ongoing thing until I can convert the program that creates it to a more modern language.

I thought about doing that, too, and tried to download it yesterday, but I got an error!! What site did you find it on?

PIEBALDconsult1-Apr-10 13:50

1-Apr-10 13:50

rmiller10 wrote:
What site

http://vetusware.com/download/Microsoft%20BASIC%20Professional%20Development%20System%207.1/?id=225[^]

I didn't try it.

Edit: I just downloaded it from there...

Edit: There is a file named ISAMIO.LI$, which I'm sure becomes ISAMIO.LIB when the product is installed -- maybe it can be accessed by P/Invoke?
After reading the README.DOC I see that there is (or might be) a TSR that has to be loaded -- I wouldn't be surprised.

modified on Thursday, April 1, 2010 9:05 PM

PIEBALDconsult1-Apr-10 14:31

1-Apr-10 14:31

Maybe try:http://www.easysoft.com/products/data_access/odbc_isam_driver/[^]

rmiller107-Apr-10 9:48

7-Apr-10 9:48

Maybe try:http://www.easysoft.com/products/data_access/odbc_isam_driver

Is this free?

Getting an article published on CodeProject should be easier and faster.

Luc Pattyn1-Apr-10 11:10

Luc Pattyn

1-Apr-10 11:10

In a one-day special Topeka pointed me here[^], maybe that helps.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]

PIEBALDconsult1-Apr-10 13:42

1-Apr-10 13:42

Is it C-ISAM? I saw a mention of that in my search, I think in some Jet Engine documentation.

Getting an article published on CodeProject should be easier and faster.

Luc Pattyn1-Apr-10 13:57

Luc Pattyn

1-Apr-10 13:57

I don't know, the subject line said Basic PDS ISAM (not sure what it all means), however the one link looked interesting, however it might be all but relevant.

Smile | :)

Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]

Re: Reading Basic PDS ISAM Files [modified]

PIEBALDconsult4-Apr-10 14:45

4-Apr-10 14:45

Hee heeee!! I just installed MS Basic PDS 7.1 on my Win XP system!

During the install, there is the option for using a TSR for ISAM or building the routines into the program -- I chose the latter.

Now to see whether or not I can wrap the ISAM routines in a DLL that I can access from .net... Cool | :cool:

Edit: Maybe I shouldn't have selected that option. Or maybe it just won't work on XP.
I built the ISAMDEMO app, but it keeps reporting not enough ISAM buffers.
I tried linking in the ISAM routines (see here[^]), but to no avail. Sigh | :sigh:

modified on Monday, April 5, 2010 12:04 AM

rmiller107-Apr-10 9:46

7-Apr-10 9:46

Sorry for the late reply, I've been on vacation.

That was the same site I had tried and got an error, so I went back and tried again, clicked the button, and nothing happened, but no error. I am at work, so it's possible it's a firewall issue.

Yes, the ISAM library links in to your source when you make the executable. I never tried the TSR. I'm not exactly sure how to convert the lib to a .net dll, but that might work for me.

I'm sure I can get it working by somehow getting the pds and developing software to read it, but that doesn't really solve my problem with porting it to Access. I would have to run the program each time I needed to grab some data and then import it.

Many Thanks

rmiller107-Apr-10 9:53

find average of not null records

7-Apr-10 9:53

PIEBALDconsult wrote:
Edit: Maybe I shouldn't have selected that option. Or maybe it just won't work on XP.
I built the ISAMDEMO app, but it keeps reporting not enough ISAM buffers.
I tried linking in the ISAM routines (see here[^]), but to no avail.

IIRC, there may be an environment variable that needs to be set.

raghvendrapanda31-Mar-10 5:18

raghvendrapanda

31-Mar-10 5:18

Hy,
Is there any function through which i can find the average of the not null rows only.Like total/number of rows containg data
Thankz & Ragards
,
raghvendra Panda

R. Giskard Reventlov31-Mar-10 5:22

R. Giskard Reventlov

31-Mar-10 5:22

Why would you store rows that have no data?

In any case maybe what you are asking is how, for instance, do I get all records where one field is not null?

select count(*) from table where not column3 is null

might be close to what you want.

me, me, me

"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right!"
Larry Niven

Tips/Tricks|Brainbench certifications

thatraja31-Mar-10 5:47

thatraja

31-Mar-10 5:47

I hope it will help you.

NORTHWIND Database

SQL

SELECT 
COUNT(UnitPrice) AS [NoOfItems], SUM(UnitPrice) AS [TOTAL], AVG(UnitPrice) AS [AVERAGE] 
FROM Products 
WHERE UnitPrice IS NOT NULL

OUTPUT

NoOfItems   TOTAL                 AVERAGE
----------- --------------------- ---------------------
77          2222.71               28.8663

thatraja

raghvendrapanda31-Mar-10 5:55

raghvendrapanda

31-Mar-10 5:55

Thnks for ur reply I had taken avg(isnull(column),0)..is that the reason why my function is also considering null rows also?

Chris Meech31-Mar-10 7:21

Chris Meech

31-Mar-10 7:21

raghvendrapanda wrote:
avg(isnull(column),0)..

The answer is yes, but as a test why don't you try the following.

avg(isnull(column),42) ..

Chris Meech
I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar]

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]

Getting an article published on CodeProject should be easier and faster.

Luc Pattyn31-Mar-10 8:06

Luc Pattyn

31-Mar-10 8:06

I see, the "average" function needs to be calibrated first. Laugh | :laugh:

Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]

Chris Meech31-Mar-10 8:11

Chris Meech

31-Mar-10 8:11

Just like the random function needs to be seeded. Big Grin | :-D

Chris Meech
I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar]

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]

PIEBALDconsult31-Mar-10 8:33