convert data from msde mssql to vfp

[jjtaylor]

My company acquired several branches which have been using a 'freebie' software built around msde/mssql server distributed by an equipment vendor. We need to import the data into a more robust vfp6 program we have been using. What options do I have to access the .mdf/.ldf files? What tools will allow me to determine the structure of the mdf files? I have little experience with sql server but would like to develop a runtime conversion and distribute the new vfp6 app to each location, import the data and avoid data transfer.

Any help/comments would be welcome.

 

[rgbean]

You can use ODBC, SQL Pass Through or ADO to access this data, and there are many articles on MS the KnowledgeBase and/or MSDN (

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;kbhowto

,

http://search.microsoft.com/advanced_search.asp?siteid=us/dev)

OR there are many threads here that refer to these techniques. You could also use SQL Server's export capability to put it into a form you could Import into your tables.

Rick

 

[Mike Lewis]

Hi JTaylor,

Don't spend any time trying to understand the structure of the MDF files. They are complex, and not designed to be accessed other than via SQL Server or MSDE.

A much better bet would be to use a tool call DTS. Amongst other features, this lets you export SQL Server data to a text file, which you can them import into a DBF. Look for DTS on your Start menu, or go to Enterprise Manager and look for the Import/Export command.

Another option would be to write a little routine in VFP. In a nutshell, you would set up a remote view which accesses the SQL Server data. Then write a couple of lines of code to copy the contents of the remote view into a VFP table.

The above is only meant to be a brief outline. If you need any further details, please come back.

Mike

Mike Lewis
Edinburgh, Scotland

http://www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk