Difference between revisions of "Export DataPerfect"
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Data Perfect is a DOS based database system. It's latest release is 2.6Y from June 2008. It can be downloaded via http://dataperfect.nl/ . | Data Perfect is a DOS based database system. It's latest release is 2.6Y from June 2008. It can be downloaded via http://dataperfect.nl/ . | ||
| − | === | + | === Install and run DOSBox === |
: To run DataPerfect a DOS emulator is needed. The free emulator DOSBox works quite well. Go to http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1 or http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox/, download the latest release and install it. For this articles DOSBox 0.74 will be used and installed under Windows 7. | : To run DataPerfect a DOS emulator is needed. The free emulator DOSBox works quite well. Go to http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1 or http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox/, download the latest release and install it. For this articles DOSBox 0.74 will be used and installed under Windows 7. | ||
| − | === | + | === Download DataPerfect === |
: Go to http://dataperfect.nl/ and download the DataPerfect. Unzip the files into a specific folder. The folder used for this article is ''C:/DOS/DP26Y''. | : Go to http://dataperfect.nl/ and download the DataPerfect. Unzip the files into a specific folder. The folder used for this article is ''C:/DOS/DP26Y''. | ||
| − | === | + | === Copy your data files in the DataPerfect Folder=== |
: You can either copy them directly in the folder or create a subfolder for your data files and copy them in there. The data files for this article are located in the directory ''DIAS/'' within the DataPerfect folder. | : You can either copy them directly in the folder or create a subfolder for your data files and copy them in there. The data files for this article are located in the directory ''DIAS/'' within the DataPerfect folder. | ||
| − | === | + | === Start DOSBox=== |
: When starting DOSBox a second console window is opened. When running several instances of DOSBox these additional windows can bloat the window bar quite a bit. To avoid this just start the version ''DOXBox-0.74/Extras/DOSBox 0.74 (noconsole)'' from the Program Menu. | : When starting DOSBox a second console window is opened. When running several instances of DOSBox these additional windows can bloat the window bar quite a bit. To avoid this just start the version ''DOXBox-0.74/Extras/DOSBox 0.74 (noconsole)'' from the Program Menu. | ||
[[File:DPE01_DOSBox.png|frame|none|The DOSBOX Start Window]] | [[File:DPE01_DOSBox.png|frame|none|The DOSBOX Start Window]] | ||
| − | === | + | === Mount the DataPerfect Folder=== |
: After starting DOSBox the directory of the DataPerfect files needs to be mounted as a virtual drive. Type '''mount c C:\DOS\DP27Y''' to mount the folder and '''C:''' to change to the drive. | : After starting DOSBox the directory of the DataPerfect files needs to be mounted as a virtual drive. Type '''mount c C:\DOS\DP27Y''' to mount the folder and '''C:''' to change to the drive. | ||
[[File:DPE02_DOSBox_mount.png|frame|none|Mounting the DataPerfect Folder]] | [[File:DPE02_DOSBox_mount.png|frame|none|Mounting the DataPerfect Folder]] | ||
| − | === | + | === Start DataPerfect=== |
: Start DataPerfect by typing '''DP26YU''' and pressing Enter. | : Start DataPerfect by typing '''DP26YU''' and pressing Enter. | ||
{| | {| | ||
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|} | |} | ||
| − | === | + | === Change to the folder of your data files=== |
: If the data files are not in the directory of DataPerfect you need to change the directory. Press '''2''' to change the directory and type in the path to the directory of your data. | : If the data files are not in the directory of DataPerfect you need to change the directory. Press '''2''' to change the directory and type in the path to the directory of your data. | ||
{| | {| | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | === | + | === Open the data files=== |
: If you are in the correct directory you see the DataPerfect datasets within the folder. Use the cursor keys to select the correct data set and press enter. | : If you are in the correct directory you see the DataPerfect datasets within the folder. Use the cursor keys to select the correct data set and press enter. | ||
[[File:DPE07_DataPerfect_select_DIAS.png|frame|none|Selecting the DIAS data set.]] | [[File:DPE07_DataPerfect_select_DIAS.png|frame|none|Selecting the DIAS data set.]] | ||
| − | === | + | === Select the table to export === |
| + | You can now see the tables within this database project. Select the table you want to export by using the up or down keys and pressing enter. | ||
{| | {| | ||
|[[File:DPE08_DIAS_Overview.png|frame|none|The list of available tables.]] | |[[File:DPE08_DIAS_Overview.png|frame|none|The list of available tables.]] | ||
|[[File:DPE09_DIAS_Table1.png|frame|none|The first entry in the first table of DIAS]] | |[[File:DPE09_DIAS_Table1.png|frame|none|The first entry in the first table of DIAS]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | === | + | === Navigate the Table === |
| + | ''This these steps are not necessary for the export, but will be documented here anyway.'' | ||
| + | Here are important keys for navigating thought a table: | ||
| + | * '''Tab''' the next field is highlighted | ||
| + | * '''Down''' on a field which has references to entries in another table, that referenced entry is displayed | ||
| + | * '''Up''' The list of entries in this table where the content of the current field is displayed. Navigate though this list using the '''Up''' and '''Down''' keys. When typing characters this list the focus will jump to the entry whose unique key column is like the typed characters. For example in the table displayed in the image below, typing a number will focus on the entry with that id. The corresponding entry is automatically displayed. To edit this entry, press '''Enter'''. | ||
| + | * '''F7''' Goes to the next upper level in the hierarchy. For example if the list of entries is opened, it will jump back to the | ||
[[File:DPE10_DIAS_Table1_browse.png|frame|none|Browsing through the first table of DIAS]] | [[File:DPE10_DIAS_Table1_browse.png|frame|none|Browsing through the first table of DIAS]] | ||
| − | === | + | === Select Report === |
[[File:DPE11_DIAS_Table1_Report_List.png|frame|none|The list of available reports.]] | [[File:DPE11_DIAS_Table1_Report_List.png|frame|none|The list of available reports.]] | ||
| − | === | + | === Set Export Properties === |
| + | Set the export settings as shown in the first image below. Press the number of the property you want to change. For example, to change the file name of the output file, press '''2''' and the file options will appear, as can be seen in the second image. Press '''1''' to create a new file and enter the name of the file (image 3). | ||
| + | The filename of the export file must not be longer than 8 characters without file extension and the file extension itself (without the dot) must not be longer than 3 characters. | ||
{| | {| | ||
|[[File:DPE12_DIAS_Table1_Export_1.png|frame|none|Export Settings Overview]] | |[[File:DPE12_DIAS_Table1_Export_1.png|frame|none|Export Settings Overview]] | ||
| Line 55: | Line 64: | ||
|[[File:DPE14_DIAS_Table1_Export_3.png|frame|none|Changing the File Name]] | |[[File:DPE14_DIAS_Table1_Export_3.png|frame|none|Changing the File Name]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | === | + | |
| + | === Run Export === | ||
| + | To start the export press '''Shift + F7''' again. The screen now shows a counter of how many elements from the table have already been exported. DOSBox starts with a limited CPU speed for the programs running in it. The speed can be increased by pressing '''Ctrl + F12'''. Increasing the speed to much, however creates a big overhead which will also result in a slower export. For some reason when increasing the speed the CPU load will jump from around 5% of one core to 100% within just 2-3 increase steps. So the CPU load should be watched when increasing the speed of DOSBox. On a DualCore 3 GHz Processor a speed of 50000-55000 cycles (can be seen in the title bar of the DOSBox Window) appears to be a good export speed without overhead. | ||
[[File:DPE15_DIAS_Export.png|frame|none|The export is running.]] | [[File:DPE15_DIAS_Export.png|frame|none|The export is running.]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | After the export is done, you will see the list of available reports again. To step to the next higher level of the hierarchy press '''F7'''. Repeat this until you see the list of tables within this database project again. Now repeat the export process for all the other tables you want to export. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Converting special characters === | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Documenting Foreign Key Relations === | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Importing into a modern relational database === | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Next Steps === | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Alternative Ways of exporting data from a DataPerfect database === | ||
Revision as of 12:15, 6 March 2012
This article describes how to export data from a DataPerfect database, based on the Rohwer data set.
Data Perfect is a DOS based database system. It's latest release is 2.6Y from June 2008. It can be downloaded via http://dataperfect.nl/ .
Contents
- 1 Install and run DOSBox
- 2 Download DataPerfect
- 3 Copy your data files in the DataPerfect Folder
- 4 Start DOSBox
- 5 Mount the DataPerfect Folder
- 6 Start DataPerfect
- 7 Change to the folder of your data files
- 8 Open the data files
- 9 Select the table to export
- 10 Navigate the Table
- 11 Select Report
- 12 Set Export Properties
- 13 Run Export
- 14 Converting special characters
- 15 Documenting Foreign Key Relations
- 16 Importing into a modern relational database
- 17 Next Steps
- 18 Alternative Ways of exporting data from a DataPerfect database
Install and run DOSBox
- To run DataPerfect a DOS emulator is needed. The free emulator DOSBox works quite well. Go to http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1 or http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox/, download the latest release and install it. For this articles DOSBox 0.74 will be used and installed under Windows 7.
Download DataPerfect
- Go to http://dataperfect.nl/ and download the DataPerfect. Unzip the files into a specific folder. The folder used for this article is C:/DOS/DP26Y.
Copy your data files in the DataPerfect Folder
- You can either copy them directly in the folder or create a subfolder for your data files and copy them in there. The data files for this article are located in the directory DIAS/ within the DataPerfect folder.
Start DOSBox
- When starting DOSBox a second console window is opened. When running several instances of DOSBox these additional windows can bloat the window bar quite a bit. To avoid this just start the version DOXBox-0.74/Extras/DOSBox 0.74 (noconsole) from the Program Menu.
File:DPE01 DOSBox.png
The DOSBOX Start Window
Mount the DataPerfect Folder
- After starting DOSBox the directory of the DataPerfect files needs to be mounted as a virtual drive. Type mount c C:\DOS\DP27Y to mount the folder and C: to change to the drive.
File:DPE02 DOSBox mount.png
Mounting the DataPerfect Folder
Start DataPerfect
- Start DataPerfect by typing DP26YU and pressing Enter.
File:DPE03 DataPerfect start.png Switch to C: and start DataPerfect |
File:DPE04 DataPerfect welcome.png The Welcome Screen of DataPerfect |
Change to the folder of your data files
- If the data files are not in the directory of DataPerfect you need to change the directory. Press 2 to change the directory and type in the path to the directory of your data.
File:DPE05 DataPerfect open.png The initial screen of DataPerfect |
File:DPE06 DataPerfect change directory.png Change to the data directory |
Open the data files
- If you are in the correct directory you see the DataPerfect datasets within the folder. Use the cursor keys to select the correct data set and press enter.
File:DPE07 DataPerfect select DIAS.png
Selecting the DIAS data set.
Select the table to export
You can now see the tables within this database project. Select the table you want to export by using the up or down keys and pressing enter.
File:DPE08 DIAS Overview.png The list of available tables. |
File:DPE09 DIAS Table1.png The first entry in the first table of DIAS |
This these steps are not necessary for the export, but will be documented here anyway. Here are important keys for navigating thought a table:
- Tab the next field is highlighted
- Down on a field which has references to entries in another table, that referenced entry is displayed
- Up The list of entries in this table where the content of the current field is displayed. Navigate though this list using the Up and Down keys. When typing characters this list the focus will jump to the entry whose unique key column is like the typed characters. For example in the table displayed in the image below, typing a number will focus on the entry with that id. The corresponding entry is automatically displayed. To edit this entry, press Enter.
- F7 Goes to the next upper level in the hierarchy. For example if the list of entries is opened, it will jump back to the
File:DPE10 DIAS Table1 browse.png
Browsing through the first table of DIAS
Select Report
File:DPE11 DIAS Table1 Report List.png
The list of available reports.
Set Export Properties
Set the export settings as shown in the first image below. Press the number of the property you want to change. For example, to change the file name of the output file, press 2 and the file options will appear, as can be seen in the second image. Press 1 to create a new file and enter the name of the file (image 3). The filename of the export file must not be longer than 8 characters without file extension and the file extension itself (without the dot) must not be longer than 3 characters.
File:DPE12 DIAS Table1 Export 1.png Export Settings Overview |
File:DPE13 DIAS Table1 Export 2.png Changing the File Options |
File:DPE14 DIAS Table1 Export 3.png Changing the File Name |
Run Export
To start the export press Shift + F7 again. The screen now shows a counter of how many elements from the table have already been exported. DOSBox starts with a limited CPU speed for the programs running in it. The speed can be increased by pressing Ctrl + F12. Increasing the speed to much, however creates a big overhead which will also result in a slower export. For some reason when increasing the speed the CPU load will jump from around 5% of one core to 100% within just 2-3 increase steps. So the CPU load should be watched when increasing the speed of DOSBox. On a DualCore 3 GHz Processor a speed of 50000-55000 cycles (can be seen in the title bar of the DOSBox Window) appears to be a good export speed without overhead.
File:DPE15 DIAS Export.png
The export is running.
After the export is done, you will see the list of available reports again. To step to the next higher level of the hierarchy press F7. Repeat this until you see the list of tables within this database project again. Now repeat the export process for all the other tables you want to export.
