Export DataPerfect

Export DataPerfect

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/ .

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Select the table to export

File:DPE08 DIAS Overview.png The list of available tables.

File:DPE09 DIAS Table1.png The first entry in the first table of DIAS

9. (Navigate the Table

File:DPE10 DIAS Table1 browse.png

Browsing through the first table of DIAS

10. Select Report

File:DPE11 DIAS Table1 Report List.png

The list of available reports.

11. Set Export Properties

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

12. Run Export

File:DPE15 DIAS Export.png

The export is running.