How do I import DOS files into Excel?

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My new boss has a DOS database with clients names addresses and account
numbers. The ultimate goal is to get this into Access. I am assuming I need
to get it into Excel first. How can I do this?
 
There is no need to get it into Excel first.
How you import it in to Access will depend on what export capabilites the
DOS database has. There are ODCB drivers for most of the common desktop
database systems. It could be possble to link directly to the files and
import the data directly from them. If not, the DOS database system should
have a way to export data, most likely to a delimited text file. In that
case, you can create the text files and use TransferText to import the text
files into Access. Since it is a DOS system, it probably does not have the
ability to create an xls file.

What is the DOS database? DBase, FoxPro, Paradox, etc.
 
I will find out tomorrow what DOS porgram it is. I am technically not at the
new company yet, I start the 26th, but I am being proactive with this issue
for her. I am completely DOS stupid, so if this is possible I would need some
step by step instructions. Can I import it into excel as well? I am new to
Access, so having an excel copy will make things easier in case I screw up
the Access file.

Thanks for your help and your quick response. I thought it would be days
before I got an answer. I'm so glad I didn't lie when I told her it was
possible (actually it was an educated guess...you can import just about
anything, it's just a matter of knowing how)
 
Okay. Post back when you know more. In addition to what kind of database
files they are, it may be helpful to know what version.
This is going to be interesting because it has been a long time since anyone
used any DOS systems. The last time I was involved in such a conversion was
1999 when we convereted a Foxrpo system to Access.
 
I've never even heard of PFE. Can you determine what the file format is?

Only 23! When you were born, I had been programming for 6 years :)
 
I've never even heard of PFE. Can you determine what the file format is?
Click to expand...

You must have been working on big metal back then! PFE: First Choice was
a fairly common lightweight database program. IIRC it goes back, like
dBase, to the days before DOS.

I never used it seriously but am pretty sure it could export to text
files or some other standard format (DIF, perhaps). If not, a web search
may reveal some conversion software. Failing that, the file format is
likely to be fairly simple (much like DBF and nothing like MDB) so given
a file and sight of what the data's meant to look like it shouldn't be
too hard to write one's own converter.
 
True enough, but I did start working with DOS database products in about
1986. DBase III, FoxBase, Clipper, Quicksilver, Paradox, and later FoxPro
dos versions from 1.0, but PDE: First Choice is one I missed.

I tried googling it, but did not find everything.

What I did find is that the file extension for the data files is .fcd, but
no info on the file format. Apparently it was produced by a company named
SoftKeys International which appears to be a German company. I tried
www.Softkey.com and working through that came up with this info trying to
find technical support on their products.

Mindscape UK Ltd
41 Basepoint Business Centre
Metcalf Way, Crawley
West Sussex
RH11 7XX

Hope this will give the OP a place to start looking.
 
Wow. So, I'm guesing we don't know if this is possible then?

Would I be better off trying to just manually enter the info into a new
database?
The IT guy here said that he tried to convert it to Microsoft, but it is
only compatible with Window's 98.
 
Hi Jessica Ann,

I suppose the first question is, do you have the old database running on
a computer, or do you just have its data files?

1) If you've got it running, the preferred approach is to export the
data from the old program into a common format (e.g. CSV files), copy
these to your Windows computer system (e.g. via floppy disk), and then
import them into Access or Excel.

Even in those days, most database software could export to CSV files. If
yours has no export function, can you get it to print out the data in a
very plain tabular or report format? If your IT guy is on the ball he
will probably be able to redirect what the the program thinks it is
sending to the printer to a disk file; with a bit of work it will be
possible to turn this into something Access or Excel can import.

Partly it depends on how much data there is. If it's just a hundred or
so names and addresses it's probably quicker just to re-type them and
proof-read the result. If there are thousands, it's worth going to some
trouble to avoid re-keying. So yet another possibility is to print the
data onto paper and then use a scanner and OCR software to read it back
into the Windows machine, then import into Access, print out again, and
proof-read.

2) If you have the data files but not a computer that can use them, the
choice is between re-keying the data (assuming you have it on paper) and
somehow reading the files. If this is the case, feel free to email me
examples of the data files (be sure to remove the reversed spam-trap
from my address) and I'll take a shufti and let you know how difficult
that might be.
 
The old database is running on a machine. On Monday I will bombard my IT guy
to try the CSV thing. I will let you know how it does sometime next week.

Thanks so much for you help!!
Jess
 
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