Symantec Q&A File Conversion
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I have a client that was using Q&A until the old computer died yesterday. He has backups of the data base, but not the program itself and Symantec has not supported Q&A for a long time. Can anyone point me to a low cost (or free) conversion utility to read these files? Or a copy of Q&A that I can use long enough to convert them to fixed ascii? I did find Sesame, which seems to have taken over Q&A, but they want $350 for the program - which is a lot to pay for a few file conversions. I also found conversion services, but again a lot of money. Any help appreciated!
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I have a client that was using Q&A until the old computer died yesterday. He has backups of the data base, but not the program itself and Symantec has not supported Q&A for a long time. Can anyone point me to a low cost (or free) conversion utility to read these files? Or a copy of Q&A that I can use long enough to convert them to fixed ascii? I did find Sesame, which seems to have taken over Q&A, but they want $350 for the program - which is a lot to pay for a few file conversions. I also found conversion services, but again a lot of money. Any help appreciated!
snowman53 wrote:
I did find Sesame, which seems to have taken over Q&A, but they want $350 for the program
Also found an online-converting service, but they'll be asking money too. If the data is worth more than those $350, go for it - and explain the concept of backups and/or a vendor lock-in.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: if you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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snowman53 wrote:
I did find Sesame, which seems to have taken over Q&A, but they want $350 for the program
Also found an online-converting service, but they'll be asking money too. If the data is worth more than those $350, go for it - and explain the concept of backups and/or a vendor lock-in.
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: if you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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They haven't updated their software since the mid 90's and are upset I can't re-install Q&A without the original copies!
snowman53 wrote:
are upset I can't re-install Q&A without the original copies!
Not very rational, is it? It'd be hard for anyone to install a copy without an installer :) Without that copy there's not much you can do, except trying one of the expensive converters. Perhaps your client could take the time and look for a second-hand version?
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: if you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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I have a client that was using Q&A until the old computer died yesterday. He has backups of the data base, but not the program itself and Symantec has not supported Q&A for a long time. Can anyone point me to a low cost (or free) conversion utility to read these files? Or a copy of Q&A that I can use long enough to convert them to fixed ascii? I did find Sesame, which seems to have taken over Q&A, but they want $350 for the program - which is a lot to pay for a few file conversions. I also found conversion services, but again a lot of money. Any help appreciated!
I know nothing about Q&A but a lot of the 90s databases were based around DBase formats and there was a whole family of drivers for reading various dbase files. The most comprehensive was DBase IV and the foxpro drivers.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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I know nothing about Q&A but a lot of the 90s databases were based around DBase formats and there was a whole family of drivers for reading various dbase files. The most comprehensive was DBase IV and the foxpro drivers.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH