[GLLUG] Moving from a Paradox database on Microsoft to Linux

[Chris Bell]

On Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:40:36 BST John Winters via GLLUG wrote:
> On 28/07/2020 17:01, Chris Bell via GLLUG wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I have been asked how best to transfer the data from a Paradox database to
> > something suitable on Linux. Any information welcome. Thanks.
> 
> When called upon to move large datasets between systems, I've generally
> done it via CSV files, which makes it easy to check the data and
> identify which half - export or import - has a problem if there are
> issues.  A quick web search indicates that there are a wide range of
> exporters which will turn Paradox into CSV.
> 
> The biggest issue which I've found is with character encodings.  You
> need to check what the existing database uses, and then check further
> that the text fields do indeed contain data in that encoding.  Sometimes
> I've found that the source database claims one encoding, but then some
> of the text fields are in a different one.  The matter is further
> complicated when you have to deal with third parties who don't know what
> a character encoding is and behave as if you've invented them just to
> annoy them, mentioning no names, cough, iSAMS.
> 
> Importing into any Linux database from a CSV file is easy-peasy and can
> be accomplished in 5-10 lines of code.
> 
> HTH
> John
Thanks for the info, I am passing all the information on.
-- 
Chris Bell
Website http://chrisbell.org.uk