Reading Paradox Database files

Question

I'm working with a client who has an existing system, built on what is apparently a Paradox database. I've got the database, in the form of a zip file containing .DB, .MB and .PX files, one for each table.

I need to take (some) of this data and import it in to a Web application that's using MySQL. Does anybody have a way for me to extract this data, that doesn't involve installing Paradox?

If not, does Paradox export in some readable format? Either as SQL or something that can be parsed reasonably easily? The person in charge of this system for my client is a volunteer (they're a non-profit), so I'd like to go to him with a solution - because last time I asked for the data, I got this, which is clearly no good.

Answer 1

Paradox is a native format for the Borland Database Engine, which is included with various Delphi programming products. Ownership has changed hands at least once recently, but at one point there were free "Express" versions of Delphi available that would let you write a simple program to export this stuff. If a free version is no longer available, the lowest available SKU should include BDE functionality.

Answer 2

MS has instructions for using the MS Jet driver to read data from files produced by Paradox 3-5. That can act as (at least) an ODBC driver, so you can use it to read a Paradox file from just about anything that knows how to use ODBC.

Answer 3

Both the Paradox for DOS and Paradox for Windows platforms will export data tables in Delimited Text, Fixed-Length Text, and Lotus 1-2-3 formats. The older Paradox for DOS also writes Lotus Symphony, while the slightly less antique Paradox for Windows does a passable Excel 5.

However, someone will have to sit down and export the tables one by one, or write a script do to it. Of course you'd need to have Paradox installed to write the script.

-Al.

Answer 4

You have a few options:

1. Get your hands on the original Paradox software, and use it to export the database into CSV format. Unfortunately, Borland no longer sells it and the most recent version doesn't run well on Windows XP or above.
2. Access the database using either a Paradox or dBase/xBase ODBC driver. Paradox and xBase are very similar, so you may be able to extract the data using drivers meant for either of them. You may be able to get a Paradox ODBC driver somewhere on firebirdsql.org.
3. Use Borland Delphi to write a program which will export the data you need. As someone else mentioned, you can get a free version called Turbo Explorer. You will also have to install the BDE seperately, as it doesn't come with Turbo Explorer.

Answer 5

Using MS Access 2007 you can import Paradox 7 and below using the BDE distribution included with the free Paradox Database Editor program (google it). Use a connection such as:

DoCmd.TransferDatabase acImport, "ODBC Database", _
    "Paradox 3.X;HDR=NO;IMEX=2;ACCDB=YES;DATABASE=C:\apache\Archive;TABLE=Messages#db", _
    acReport, DailyArchiveName, "MyDatabase"

Answer 6

The wikipedia article about Paradox lists two other things, that might be interessant, both under GPL license:

• pxlib: Library to read and write Paradox databases
• pxtools: convert a Paradox-database into a SQL-database

And if you have Delphi and want to write a converter yourself (which would need the BDE to work) you can take a look at this article or at the source code of ConvertCodeLib on this web site. Both make use of TClientDataset, which can write a CDS (binary format) or an XML file.