[GLLUG] Reading/converting unknown database file

[Alain D D Williams]

On Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 01:28:12PM +0100, Greater London Linux UUG wrote:

> This is about a windows program so a little off topic here.
> Windows programs that use databases can choose from a wide variety of
> databases and formats.
> Hopefully the program is not a big binary blob, and instead it used a few DLLs.
> One of the DLLs might be the database API. You could then write a
> program that uses the DLL to access the data.

Slightly off-topic but relevant: This is a nice illustration of why Open
Standards (OS) are important. If this used OS then it would be using an Open
Format (OF) and it would be easy to decode and import into another application.

OS levels playing fields and really enables competition. This is why "market
leaders" do not document their file formats & network protocols, indeed will
make gratuitous small changes (undocumented of course) to leave competitors
always trying to catch up.

IMHO: Open Standards are more important than Open Source.

Government could make a difference here by insisting that anything that it buys
must fully document all its standards -- a pipe dream of course.

-- 
Alain Williams
Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer.
+44 (0) 787 668 0256  https://www.phcomp.co.uk/
Parliament Hill Computers. Registration Information: https://www.phcomp.co.uk/Contact.html
#include <std_disclaimer.h>