Just to follow through on this -- I am posting similar messages to the
CF-Linux list.
If you run CFMX on a non-windows box, you *can* directly interface
MS-Access databases!
So everyone is clear, I don't propose to use MS-Access as a production
online db -- just as a means of converting data to/from offline
MS-Access databases to more robust online RDBMSes.
OpenLink Software has a package that allows you to establish a TCP/IP
connection between CFMX and mdb filles on real or emulated windows.
MS-Access can be running, or not -- against the same mdbs, or not.
The OpenLink solution is $500, which seems a little pricey, at first,
But, when you consider the cost of Win OS, MS Office, an emulator, it's
not too bad.
If you ever have the need to move data between MS-Access and more
robust online RDBMSes, you can easily recover the cost of OpenLink --
You can write CF programs to move the data directly -- no messing
around with incompetent wizards, CSV files, temp dbs, incompatible
datatypes, etc.
An added benefit is that the conversion logic is captured in CF
programs-- and is repeatable.
The $500 cost is for a retail product -- OpenLink does not currently
have a developer offering for this package -- but they are looking into
it.
OpenLink Software is at:
http://www.openlinksw.com
As a longtime Mac user, I was used to not being able to use MS-Access
databases except under emulation.
With the advent of Mac OS X (Unix) and the port of CFMX (Linux), I
assumed that finally I would be able to interface MS-Access databases
from CFMX.
I was surprised that I couldn't interface MS-Access databases directly
from CFMX Linux -- no way, no how. (according to answers to this
thread on CF-Talk, CF-Linux and other sources)
To get that capability, you must run CFMX on windows (in my case this
means emulated windows -- not really an option).
Some digging revealed the OpenLink solution.
I have benn fooling around for the kast day, or so, converting a 33 meg
client mdb to a Sybase ASE database -- creating tables, validating
data, normalizing and populating -- with CFMX programs. I am using the
same programs that I used several years ago to convert from MS-Access
to SQL-Server with everything running on windows platform.
Now, CFMX & Sybase run native on Mac OS X -- the mdbs are on a
VirtualPC emulated windows (Ive tested both NT & XP). I am told that
this could all run on Linux, with VMWare or wine in plave of VirtualPC.
it just works!
To say it again:
If you run CFMX on a non-windows box, you *can* directly interface
MS-Access databases!
I am pretty excited about this!
Thanks for all the help & responses
Dick
On Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at 04:23 PM, Jochem van Dieten wrote:
> Dick Applebaum wrote:
>> On Wednesday, October 9, 2002, at 10:39 AM, Jochem van Dieten wrote:
>>
>>> - use a utility to move the data (available for most open source
>>> databases such as PostgreSQL and MySQL).
>>
>> Can you point me to a reference?
>
> http://pgadmin.postgresql.org/pgadmin2.php?ContentID=1
> http://www.google.com/search?q=mysql+access+converter&spell=1
>
>
>> Is it true that you these utilities create a mirror (MySQL or
>> PostgreSQL) db as an intermediate to the ultimate target RDBMS?
>
> They usually just take the data and move it. Normalization etc. still
> has to be handled by the programmer later, but it does not require a
> separate database, just some separate tables to store the data
> temporarily.
>
>
>>> - make an ODBC datasource for the RDBMS you are going to use, create
>>> the
>>> tables in it and use Access linked tables to move the data over.
>>
>>
>> As I understand this, you are essentially mirroring the Access tables
>> on equivalent target RDBMS, and copying over the data. Any
>> validation,
>> normalization then uses the target RDBMS linked tables as a source.
>>
>> So the target RDBMS Access linked tables are an intermediate step/copy
>> of the data.
>
> Yes.
>
>
>>> - export the data as .csv and read it into the new database
>>>
>>> The last to can also move data in the other direction.
>>>
>>
>>
>> These both involve intermediate files or databases, correct?
>
> Intermediate files and tables, not necessarily databases.
>
>
>> What I am looking for is a solution where I can write a CF program
>> that:
>>
>> 1) runs on a non-win platform
>> 2) can read/write MS-Access dbs directly (no intermediate files or
>> dbs)
>
> Hadn't I read your OpenLink comment, I woud have said that these 2
> already are conflicting (unless you count virtual PC simulators). But
> OpenLink like software is what you need.
>
> Jochem
>
>
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