Converting a mainframe database into Ms-Access using VB.NET

sivakumar mariappan

Hi, In my project, i was allocated into a database convertion work (ie we have a client db(it may be a Mainframe Db) and i have to convert it into Ms-access db) using VB.NET. We have a set of client db files which are having the below mentioned format. .hed, .inf, .chr, .idx, and .tad Please kindly share your ideas and codes to complete this development successfully... Actually i am new to .NET development...Now i am learning the VB.NET concepts for the purpose of this dev. Thanks, Sivakumar.M

ScottM1

sivakumar.mariappan wrote:

it may be a Mainframe Db

First find out exactly what the DBMS is, we can't help you if we don't know what you are working with.

sivakumar mariappan

As i mentioned, it is client's own DBMS (DBMS is INF*ACT DB). It is not derived from any other dbms like mainframe, sqlserver and oracle. Just now i got this details from my colleagues. All this database informations are available inside of these five file format's only. .hed, .chr, .tad, .inf and .idx If you want, i will send the sample files to you.. But i don't know how to attach the files with this forum. Thanks, Sivakumar.M.

Pete OHanlon

You basically have two choices: 1. Implement something that understands the binary structure of these files and extract the data out of them. 2. Extract the data out of the DB, and import the data manually.

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ScottM1

sivakumar.mariappan wrote:

As i mentioned, it is client's own DBMS

You didn't mention that.

sivakumar.mariappan wrote:

If you want, i will send the sample files to you

No thanks, have you tried it yet?

Lost User

A mainframe database? How many tables/records are we talking about? Do you seek advice or a solution?

I are troll :)

Pete OHanlon

Eddy Vluggen wrote:

Do you seek advice or a solution?

Option number 3. Coded and tested apps.

"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith

As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.

My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx

sivakumar mariappan

No, as i am a beginner of VB.NET, i don't have any idea to find this.

Pete OHanlon

So what exactly are you asking for? Somebody to decode the format for you? Somebody to write the conversion code? You need to be a lot clearer on what help you are after other than a vague "I'll send you some files".

"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith

As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.

My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx

Lost User

:((

I are troll :)

Baran M

.hed[^] You are the only person who knows better abt your problem. Gather some info. and ask questions :)

sivakumar mariappan

As you advised, I have collected some more details about this inf*act db which are given below. Nielsen Inf*Act db is a SQL db compatible with relational Star schema Data model. We are receiving the inf*act db datasource from the client in a folder(the folder should be in country code) and this folder contain the files with the formats of .hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad(5 files for each DB). If the datasource dump has 50 db means, the datasource folder will contain (50dbs*5files for each db) 250 files. We are adding each database through our tool by browsing the file in the format of (.hed ) from this datasource folder. One important thing is, if we delete any one of the file among those 5 files(.hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad) for a db, the database will not get added in our report template tool. As i discussed here, the data is available in .inf file. First i have to extract the data from this file. Then only i can import them into ms-access. So, i want the code in vb.net, that how to extract the data from this file and import them in ms-access. I think this will help you a lot :) Thanks, Sivakumar.M

sivakumar mariappan

As you advised, I have collected some more details about this inf*act db which are given below. Nielsen Inf*Act db is a SQL db compatible with relational Star schema Data model. We are receiving the inf*act db datasource from the client in a folder(the folder should be in country code) and this folder contain the files with the formats of .hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad(5 files for each DB). If the datasource dump has 50 db means, the datasource folder will contain (50dbs*5files for each db) 250 files. We are adding each database through our tool by browsing the file in the format of (.hed ) from this datasource folder. One important thing is, if we delete any one of the file among those 5 files(.hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad) for a db, the database will not get added in our report template tool. As i discussed here, the data is available in .inf file. First i have to extract the data from this file. Then only i can import them into ms-access. So, i want the code in vb.net, that how to extract the data from this file and import them in ms-access. I think this will help you a lot :) Thanks, Sivakumar.M

sivakumar mariappan

As you advised, I have collected some more details about this inf*act db which are given below. Nielsen Inf*Act db is a SQL db compatible with relational Star schema Data model. It is client's own dbms. We are receiving the inf*act db datasource from the client in a folder(the folder should be in country code) and this folder contain the files with the formats of .hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad(5 files for each DB). If the datasource dump has 50 db means, the datasource folder will contain (50dbs*5files for each db) 250 files. We are adding each database through our tool by browsing the file in the format of (.hed ) from this datasource folder. One important thing is, if we delete any one of the file among those 5 files(.hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad) for a db, the database will not get added in our report template tool. As i discussed here, the data is available in .inf file. First i have to extract the data from this file. Then only i can import them into ms-access. So, i want the code in vb.net, that how to extract the data from this file and import them in ms-access. I think this will help you a lot :) Thanks, Sivakumar.M

sivakumar mariappan

As you advised, I have collected some more details about this inf*act db which are given below. Nielsen Inf*Act db is a SQL db compatible with relational Star schema Data model. It is client's own dbms. We are receiving the inf*act db datasource from the client in a folder(the folder should be in country code) and this folder contain the files with the formats of .hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad(5 files for each DB). If the datasource dump has 50 db means, the datasource folder will contain (50dbs*5files for each db) 250 files. We are adding each database through our tool by browsing the file in the format of (.hed ) from this datasource folder. One important thing is, if we delete any one of the file among those 5 files(.hed,.chr,.idx,.inf and .tad) for a db, the database will not get added in our report template tool. As i discussed here, the data is available in .inf file. First i have to extract the data from this file. Then only i can import them into ms-access. So, i want the code in vb.net, that how to extract the data from this file and import them in ms-access. I think this will help you a lot :) Thanks, Sivakumar.M

Lost User

sivakumar.mariappan wrote:

i want the code in vb.net, that how to extract the data from this file and import them in ms-access.

You'll need to write it - this isn't a drive-through :) First, you'll need to determine the layout of the .inf file, and create a means of reading it into VB. If you need help, you can post an example of the contents of the .inf file here. Writing the data to an Access database would be the second step. Good luck :)

I are troll :)

Pete OHanlon

sivakumar.mariappan wrote:

I think this will help you a lot

Nope. I'm not writing your code for you - that's your job. This isn't rentacoder where you get some dumbnut to write code for you, and I don't get paid to do your job for you. Tell you what, put me in touch with your client, and my company will do the work for them directly - we'll even throw in a support contract for them.

"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith

As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.

My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx

darkelv

Ask the client whether any kind of connection is available to access the database. If there are none, ask them to export the content of database to certain format (CSV, XML, flat files) If they can't, ask the client if it is a known database that your team can understand if you need to get down and dirty to decode the database If it is not a known database format, ask if they got documentation on the database structures. If they can't or no document, tell your PM your team is in deep shit..