ODBC and DBF File in MS Access

[tj]

I recently upgraded a venfor software package that uses DBF files.
The only problem is that they renamed their DBF files to UDB and SDB.
I was using the foxpro VFP ODBC driver to link via access and create
my own custom reports. The tables are not listed when trying to link
tables in ACCESS.

Does anyone know of a way to get around the DBF extension limitation
(otherwords - use vfp odbc in Access with extensions other than DBF)?

One theory I had; is there a way to create pointer files to other
files. Similiar to a shortcut but without the LNK extension on the
end. Maybe a pointer file that had DBF extensions. I could then
trick ODBC out by seeing the DBF files which in turn opened the UDB
files. Just a thought.

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Terry.

Does anyone know of a way to get around the DBF extension limitation
(otherwords - use vfp odbc in Access with extensions other than DBF)?

Two ways:

1.) Change the file name extensions to DBF; or
2.) Add the UDB and SDB file name extensions in the Windows Registry for
the driver you're using.

is there a way to create pointer files to other
files.

Sorry. Symbolic links from Unix-land only work for pointing to other
directories in Windows, not to other files.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[John Nurick]

Sorry. Symbolic links from Unix-land only work for pointing to other
directories in Windows, not to other files.

Hi Gunny,

I'm not a Unix person so am hazy about symbolic links, but NTFS allows
hard links which should do what Terry needs. See e.g.
https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/fsutil.mspx?mfr=true

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, John.

Thanks. I was aware of the directory junction points, but not hardlinks.
It sounds like that utility will do the trick.

On doing some further investigation, Vista has NTFS symbolic links, much
like Unix. Please see the following Web page for more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_symbolic_link

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[tj]

Hi, Terry.


Two ways:

1.) Change the file name extensions to DBF; or
2.) Add the UDB and SDB file name extensions in the Windows Registry for
the driver you're using.


Sorry. Symbolic links from Unix-land only work for pointing to other
directories in Windows, not to other files.

HTH.
Gunny

Seehttp://www.QBuilt.comfor all your database needs.
Seehttp://www.Access.QBuilt.comfor Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.comhttp://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.htmlfor contact
info.

I tried changing the registry to allow for the UDB and SDB extensions
but it didn't make a difference. I thought that would have worked but
guess not. Extensions must be hard coded in the driver DLL. Thanks
for the input. terry

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi, Terry.

I tried changing the registry to allow for the UDB and SDB extensions
but it didn't make a difference.

I've altered my Registry to accept additional extensions for the Text
Driver. As I recall, it's three different Registry keys, not just one.
It's been four years, so don't ask me which ones they were, because those
memories have long since flown the coop. If you still want to go the
Registry hack route, then try to find documentation on altering the Text
Driver to give you hints on which Registry keys to alter for the VFP Driver.

But it would probably be easier to go with John's suggestion of a hardlink.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blog: http://DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact
info.

 

[tj]

Hi Gunny,

I'm not a Unix person so am hazy about symbolic links, but NTFS allows
hard links which should do what Terry needs. See e.g.https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/prod...

The hard link using FSUtil does appear to work and do exactly what I
need. Except for one small thing. FSUTIL doesn't like file paths
that have spaces in the directory name. I know this is probably
command line 101 but is there a bracket or other way to get fsutil or
commands to accept directory names with spaces between words ie: f:\my
files\myfile.udb

 

[John Nurick]

The hard link using FSUtil does appear to work and do exactly what I
need. Except for one small thing. FSUTIL doesn't like file paths
that have spaces in the directory name. I know this is probably
command line 101 but is there a bracket or other way to get fsutil or
commands to accept directory names with spaces between words ie: f:\my
files\myfile.udb

Quotes, not brackets:
"F:\my files\myfile.udb"

 

[tj]

Quotes, not brackets:
"F:\my files\myfile.udb"

Thanks. I tried quotes but they didn't work. I walked away from it
for anhour and tried again and it worked. I must have been typing
something wrong. thanks for all your help. This resolves and issue
for lots of people that use this program.

TJ