Hello,

I need to retrieve data from an Informix file(s), while I know nothing from Informix. (FMPro specialist)

Info that I found :
All the data is on one HDD on an old Compacq 386 machine.
OS : SCO XENIX system V from Santa Cruz Operation Inc. release 2.3.3
I don't know which Informix version. I search in old archives and found an invoice from 1992 for an update on the Informix files. So I think the Informis release will be from around 1992.....
No track of a manual.
No track of back-ups - tape streamer is broken for several years.....
One floppy drive.

How can I retrieve the info on floppy ? What is the syntax to use ?
What with files greater then the capacity of one floppy ?

For now I'm somewhat frightened to try something. Don't know the syntax and there is no back-up. The developer(s) are gone for years and we need the info to restart a project.

Can somebody point me into a direction with a solution ?

Thanks

JW

What tools are used now ? How do you query the database ? Attaching an output of the directory that contains any informix may be helpful. How much data are you trying to extract (how many rows/how big are the rows) ?

Thanks for reply,

To be honest, I don't know.
There is one person in that company who can start the program, put info/data in fields, and perform finds. We can do that with a handwritten 'tutorial' that we found way back in a drawer.

When we follow the inputscreen there are 14 fields for data in one file [if that's the right name - I use FM language now ;-) ]

Meantime I managed to make a copy from a file to a floppy.
There are two files with the same name, but different extention : *.dat and *.idx. *.dat = 75 kB, *.idx = 17 kB. But I was afraid to make a wrong 'move', I don't know anything about syntax, but I do know we don't have any back-up and don't know how to make one.....

"Attaching an output of the directory that contains any informix may be helpful."

Do you mind I sent you the file of forum ?

JW

No problem.

What is the nature of the software that this database supports ? (e.g. is it banking/hr/... software).

When was the last time the developers modified this package ?

"What is the nature of the software that this database supports ? (e.g. is it banking/hr/... software)."

Tracking isotopes.

When was the last time the developers modified this package ?

As I mentioned in my first post, there is an invoice from the 'supplier' (company doesn't exist anymore) : Update Informix soft - 17-03-1992.

So we believe this was the last update/change.
Apparently the tape-streamer (for back-up) broke down two years later. No back-up was made eversince, while files were used for another 3 or 4 years.

The project need a restart, but on FMpro, and we need the 'historical' data.
If I could get the files as Tab-Separated text file or Comma-Separated text file. First I need to know how to retrieve them from the HDD.

Which address to send the files ?

JW

Go to member list. Find/click on my id. You will see the options there.

check your private messages.

I see your location is Antwerp. If you have any problems/questions with an Informix database, you could always contact your local Belgium IBM Office.
IBM Software is stationed in Zaventem.
Or you could send me an email. I'll make sure your problems dissapear!