Help converting an old Random Access Database

[darkcyber]

Here's my problem. Years ago I wrote a program in DOS Basic language that would catalog music. It's basically a music search program. Over the years we've entered thousands of songs into it and then we can search it to find any of those songs. I used a Random Access file and I dimensioned an array of 5 variables and this is all saved in a .dat file.

This program worked fine in DOS, Windows 95 & Windows 98. It's had been working well in Windows XP Pro, but now I'm having problems with it locking up and have to reboot to get the pc unstuck.

Now to my question...does anyone have a clue of how I could convert this to something that some of the newer database programs could use?

Thanks!

 

[MrChad]

Does it run within DOSBox?

 

[darkcyber]

I've tried selecting the Compatibility feature in Windows XP, but that doesn't seem to help anything...tried the Windows 95, 98...etc. and still get the locking up. It use to run fine in XP, but doesn't anymore.

I didn't know if it could be converting to Excel or something.

 

[darkcyber]

No one got any suggestions?

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you have the source; then create an Ascii output file that you can suck it into another program

 

[darkcyber]

Yes, I have the source...all the code and everything...been years since I played with it.

But still my question remains...how? What other program(s) could use it...i.e. I'm talking about trying to convert it into something that Excel, Access, Word...etc. any kind of current program could use. Because I do not want to try and write something new for it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Relational databases have their own unique formatting/internal structures.

If you wish to use that format with another program; that second program MUST know the structure of the data.

If such a interface is not available/defined, it is easier to convert/export the existing DB into a format such that the tools that you wish to use can handle it.

This requires exporting all the data as a record into a simiple format that Excel, Acess, Word can understand (text) and then letting those program remanipulate the data internally.