Using Otis and DBU9

[bluebird]

Dear Members

I need help from you veterans about making DBF changes using the tools in this title:

I wanted to modify a field in my database by extending its character size. From the forum I located the tools above.

1. I used Otis to modify the dbf structure and saved it as an unpopulated file. since Otis did not seem to allow me to append the entries in the old dbf file.
I then tried dbu9 and it did allow me to append. Job done, but not as easy as I had hoped. Was there a better way to do this?

2. The result created a file of extension FPT nor the usual DBT for memo feilds. Please explain why the new file type.

Thanks to anyone who may help. I have been out of touch with the forum for a long time buy enjoy using it.

bluebird

[Georg_BA]

Hello

The easiest is to use only DBU9.exe
The MEMO file type will not be changed
Make a copy of the point file with a different name
example AAA.DBF to BBB.DBF and DBT file of course AAA.DBT to BBB.DBT

Run dbu9.exe AAA
Close the database - ESC
and press F3 - Create Database
adjust what you need
press F4 - Save Structure
press F5 then Enter
if everything is fine you don't have to do anything
if a problem arises
press ESC - Close the database
press F6 -Utility - ZAP - the contents of the database will be deleted
press F6 -Utility - APPEND
and select file BBB.DBF
press F5 then Enter and check the contents of the database

Best regards, Georg

[bluebird]

Thank You for answering the call.
In your example is AAA a parameter of dbu9?

[hansmarc]

Hi Bluebird,

1. I used Otis to modify the dbf structure and saved it as an unpopulated file. since Otis did not seem to allow me to append the entries in the old dbf file.

Take a look at the latest version of Otis.
Download at https://github.com/hansmarc/Otis/tree/master/Download

Below a extract of the changelog.

Regards
Hans (Otis developper)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New : 'Inspector'
Add button 'Struct.Editor'. This permits to change the structure of the opened table.
The "Struct.Editor" is FILLED with the structure of the opened table.
You can save the structure to a new table,
or
to the same table name that is currently open in the "Inspector".
In that case the the current opened table will be closed, renamed to *.bak, a new table is created with
the same name as the original one and data will be appended from the old table.
Memo files .dbf, .fpt and .smt are also recreated and filled with the original data.
All 'cdx' index tags are recreated and updated if the table and index file have the same name.
Permits thus a runtime/life structure modification/update of a table that was opened in the 'Inspector'.

[Georg_BA]

Hello

TO DBU9, yes AAA is parameter /name/ dbf file to open
if you run it without a parameter
to open the database, press F2, select DATABASE and search for the necessary file. Running with a parameter is much more convenient

Georg