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Export
Starting the Export

Click the Export button to begin exporting records from the selected BDE table to the output file. When all of the records are exported to the output file, BETA displays the message "Export complete."


Fields To Export
Specifying Fields To Export

The Fields to Export list shows all the available fields in the BDE table selected in the Source Table edit field. Those fields with a check mark beside them are written to the export file when the Export button is clicked. Double-clicking on a field toggles the checkmark and the fields' selection for exportation.

Not every field datatype can be exported. BDE Export to ASCII does not support BLOB datatypes. Therefore, BLOB datafields show as red in the list of Fields to Export and cannot be marked for inclusion. In addition, certain out of the ordinary datatypes in some databases cannot be interpreted correctly by the BDE and cause BETA to fail. An example of this is the array type structure in InterBase files. The BDE does not properly report these field datatypes and therefore, they cannot be detected automatically by BETA.

When you encounter an abnormal field type, BETA will fail with a "Capability not Supported" error. You have to determine which field in the table is causing the problem and exclude that field from the export. Keep in mind that Borland's Database Desktop, Database Explorer, and SQL Explorer utilities do not necessarily show the true field definitions either (since they are based on the BDE, which misreports these fields anyway). For example, you will not spot InterBase array field types in SQL Explorer, but will have to display the native InterBase table definition using InterBase ISQL.

Date/time fields will be written to the export file in the format defined by Borland's BDE Configuration Utility.


Output Filename
Specifying an Output Filename

Use this edit field to specify the filename to which the data is exported.

Output Filename Edit Box

Specifies a name for the export file. If the file already exists, BETA asks if you want to replace the existing file.

Files List Box

Displays the files in the current directory that match the file type in the Save File As Type combo box.

Save File As Type Combo Box

Choose a file format for saving a file. All files in the current directory of the selected type appear in the Files list box.

Directories List Box

Select the directory where you want to store the file. In the current directory, files that match the file type in the Save Files As Type combo box appear in the Files list box.

Drives Combo Box

Select the current active drive. The directory structure for the current drive appears in the Directories list box.


Overview
Overview of the BETA Utility

The BDE Export To ASCII utility, referred to as BETA, is a standalone data export utility for BDE databases. Its purpose is to produce fixed ASCII export files from Paradox, dBase, InterBase, or other BDE databases in a format suitable for import into a FlashFiler table. BETA does not export data from FlashFiler tables.

To use BETA:

1.	Select a BDE alias for the database from the Source Database list box. A list of tables from the selected database is displayed in the Source Table list box.

2.	Choose the table from which you wish to export. The Fields to Export list box is filled with the fields available in that table.

3.	Select the fields to export from the Fields to Export list box.

4.	Provide a path and filename for the export file in the Output Filename edit field.

5.	Click the Export button to begin the process.

In addition to producing the ASCII text file containing the exported data, BETA also produces a schema file describing the structure of the exported data. The schema file is written to the same directory and has the same name as the export file, but is given an extension of SCH. If the Schema Only checkbox is checked then no data is exported; only the schema file describing the structure of the selected fields is produced.


Source Database
Specifying a Source Database

Double-click the BDE alias for the database containing the table to export. Once you have made a selection, the Source Table displays the tables within that database. Only native BDE aliases as defined in Borland's BDE Configuration Utility are shown. BETA cannot be used to export data from FlashFiler databases.


Source Table
Specifying a Source Table

Once you've provided a BDE alias in the Source Database edit field, double click the table you want to export. When you select a table from the table list, the fields in that table are shown in the Fields to Export list to the right. You may now select the fields to export.