urgent .dbs file help please!

[msi1337]

I have been trying to help a local store owner I know with an issue that has come up lately. His POS computer which ran the POS software Retail Ice (version 7.0.49) crashed. I was able to recover the database which has his POS information, but it is only a single file named "pos.dbs"

We have had no luck loading the database into the new computer. Every time we try, SQL server crashes with an error 4005 saying the log file is missing.

My question is.. is there any way to extract the data from this file? He is okay to start over with a new DB, but he needs some of the totals from the past years file.

any help is appreciated.

 

[EagleKeeper]

What was response from vendor when they were contacted? Do they have some export/import tool?

 

[msi1337]

the vendor won't help. The software is pretty old and they don't offer support unless you have an active account with them. Also, they no longer support the version he is using.

 

[EagleKeeper]

the vendor won't help. The software is pretty old and they don't offer support unless you have an active account with them. Also, they no longer support the version he is using.

Without the vendor giving you the database schema, you are screwed.
Between a rock and a hard place; get an active account for the minimum time frame allowed with the requirement that the vendor provide the schema. they may have to upgrade as part of the active account.

Vendors get you by the short hairs by hooking a company on a product and not properly supporting it unless a lot of $$ is continually sent for support contracts.

 

[Markbnj]

You sure this is a SQL Server file? The only databases I've heard of which use .dbs files are Gupta SqlBase, Sql Anywhere, and one other I can't recall that also isn't SQL Server.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Documentation on the web indicate a SQLbase type server

Copies of the POS.DBS are harder to get, as you
must copy the entire DBS file (and have the
necessary free space to save it) and you must also
make sure no one is logged into POS or Office Star
while you copy, and the SQLbase server must be
stopped. This is because you cannot copy a file that is
be accessed by others. The advantage to this type of
file is that the restore process is much quicker, as you
only have to copy the POS.DBS file back into the
proper folder.

You may be able to get assistance here link

And also, this thread is now showing up on GOOGLE - congrats

 

[Tweak155]

I worked on a wonky system once and believe it or not I could open the file in Excel. Hey, worth a shot.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I worked on a wonky system once and believe it or not I could open the file in Excel. Hey, worth a shot.

:thumbsup:

Nothing to lose; Databases apparently embed the schema for interpretation

 

[msi1337]

Vendor wants 250$ an hour to troubleshoot it. No luck opening with excel or access

 

[KLin]

http://support.guptatechnologies.com/supportwiki/index.php/Downloads

Try downloading/installing the driver packs, create an odbc connection and reference the .dbs file, then try linking the tables in access?

 

[KLin]

Looks like the drivers connect to a database server. There are downloads on that same page for sqlbase server as well.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Vendor wants 250$ an hour to troubleshoot it. No luck opening with excel or access

I suspect that more than $250 is being spent trying to solve the problem.

Pay the $250/hr for a set maximum (2-3 hrs) with the understanding that if the situation is not resolved before the max - no payment is made.

 

[KLin]

I suspect that more than $250 is being spent trying to solve the problem.

Pay the $250/hr for a set maximum (2-3 hrs) with the understanding that if the situation is not resolved before the max - no payment is made.

I would be very surprised if the vendor agreed to those terms.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I would be very surprised if the vendor agreed to those terms.

Much depends of the vendor has the solution.

As a vendor, that is the only reason to accept such conditions.

Potentially look for a specialist or (hate to say this) but contract offshore for someone that can crack the schema