Old unknown database

Question

I got this work assignment from my boss where I shall try to get information from an old database. The thing is, we know nothing about it. We hope it is some known format and not something the developer made himself.

It comes standalone with an application (unknown language) and seems to be a mix of file types. In one folder there are, for example:

MISCINFO.BRG (27 531 kb)
MISCINFO.IDX (264 kb)
MISCINFO.LOG (30 422 kb)

In another folder where there are a bunch of VIS-files.

I don't really know where to start. I need some driver to access these files, preferbly by ODBC or just by open them somehow.

Answer 1

Well, the best way to go is to look at what software is known to use files with those extensions. LOG isn't much use, but BRG, VIS and IDX are reasonably rare.

VIS files:

• Picture File
• StudioPro 3D File
• Vision Executive (Report) by Lasata Software
• VISkompakt (Objects Description File) by PDV-Systeme GmbH
• Vista Graphics

BRG files:

The only reference I can find is for Age of Mythology, which seems unlikely.

IDX files:

• AOL (Temporary Internet Mail File)
• ArcView (Geocoding Index For Read-Only Datasets) by ESRI
• Ca Visual Objects Platform for Developer (CAVO) (Index File) by CA
• Clip Gallery 1.x (Index) by Microsoft Corporation
• Complete Works (Index File) by Toplevel Computing
• Corel QuickFinder Information
• FAX File
• FoxPro (Index) by Microsoft Corporation
• ICQ (Index) by ICQ Inc.
• Java (Applet Cache Index) by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
• LaTeX Index
• NoX
• Outlook Express (Mailbox Index) by Microsoft Corporation
• Pro/ENGINEER (Index File) by PTC
• RCA/Lyra Handheld MP3 Player (Database Index) by RCA
• Symantec Q&A (Relational Database Index File) by Symantec Corporation
• VSFilter (Index File)

Since none of those look that hopeful (there are no products I can see in the lists for VIS files and IDX files), I think unfortunately your hopes that it's not a custom format seem likely to be in vain.

Answer 2

You might want to try the 'file' on those files on a linux system. File ignores the file extension, it actually examines the file to identify it. So copy the files to a linux machine and execute the following command in a terminal window:

Usage:

$ cd my_directory_with_unknownfiles
$ file *

Answer 3

.brg could be a bridge file mentioned here:

http://www.recital.com/adminDBS.htm

Answer 4

The application in question comes with some DLL files. One of them is DATABASE.DLL, which contains a couple of names of people in plain text. I've searched some names on Google and found a Delphi programmer which I've contacted and waiting reply from. I've verified Delphi as the application language with some other sources.

According to Dependency Walker the DATABASE.DLL contains some functions for open/close a connection and fetching, updating and deleting data. Some functions indicates the DLL to be custom made. Perhaps I can use the same DLL.

Dependecy Walker only shows exported functions and not anything about parameters. Some files it can't open at all because they are 16-bit.