14 replies to this topic

[Moose74]

Hi,

I've just started a new job and they have a ProIV system in place handling a lot of the day to day information processing. Only problem is no has any documentation on the system itself appart from the licensing.

Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of some tutorials on ProIV or refer me to some books? I'm trying to find out how to find what sort of back end database it is connecting to.
Also is it possible to export the database?
There doesn't seem to be any backups done of this database at all so i need to located the actual database the application is using!

Any help much appricated!

[Joseph Bove]

Moose,

Are you on a Windows or Unix Server?

If Unix, are you connecting in character or GUI?

Regards,

Joseph

[Moose74]

Moose,

Are you on a Windows or Unix Server?

If Unix, are you connecting in character or GUI?

Regards,

Joseph

Hi Joseph,

Its a Windows system using a range of clients (Win NT workstation through Win98,W2k,WXP)

There is a graphical front end to the system through which users log in.

I can't find any files on the server that look like database files that i know. Does ProIV have its own database structure or does it have to use a 3rd party database?

Cheers,
Moose

[Phil]

Whats the "in-house" system name, that could provide a fast track to solving your problems ?

Edited by Phil, 25 August 2005 - 06:55 AM.

[Moose74]

Whats the "in-house" system name, that could provide a fast track to solving your problems ?

Hi,

System is called "WMCOM" , i've got a .piv file thats run on the client machines to gain access to the system. I'm assuming this is some sort of scripting file?

A short cut calls the Proiv.exe file and passes the parameters
"wmcom.piv -P LOG LOG HDATA"

[Richard Bassett]

If you can't find anything you recognize as a database it is quite likely the system is using Pro-ISAM.
Pro-ISAM is a very simple, proprietary ISAM filesystem that is bundled with ProIV on Unix and Windows.
ProIV uses Pro-ISAM for its own "runtime files" (commonly referred to as the "bootstrap").
Applications can use Pro-ISAM for their data files (and many do).
Pro-ISAM files almost always have their default extension, which is ".pro".
ProIV's own runtime files include functdef.pro, genfile.pro, msgf.pro, logonf.pro and security.pro (and usually many others).
Application data files would almost always be put in a separate directory from the ProIV runtime files.
Maybe this will help you find things

[Moose74]

Pro-ISAM files almost always have their default extension, which is ".pro".

Aha!

Yup got a ton of these files, some of them very large which i would imagine would be database files!

You any idea what default folder would be used for database files?

Also anyone know if its possible to open these files in some other application,
(Excel, Access, SQL server or other) and check the contents?
Obviously only would attempt this with copies of the files in a safe location! lol

Cheers, Thats been a great help!

[Vol Yip]

Try dig into the Window server and search the file pro4.ini

It probably tells you where is PROPATH (the folder which stores the bootstraps) and PRODATA (the folder of data files, if your system uses PRO-ISAM). Or else, it tells your what database you are using and how to connect to it.

[Moose74]

Try dig into the Window server and search the file pro4.ini

It probably tells you where is PROPATH (the folder which stores the bootstraps) and PRODATA (the folder of data files, if your system uses PRO-ISAM). Or else, it tells your what database you are using and how to connect to it.

Cheers,

Yeah that gives me a datafolder, looks like it is using the ISAM.
Also from the looks of this none of it is backed up as its listed in the backup software.... hmmm


Cheers for all the help guys!

[Joseph Bove]

Moose,

Also anyone know if its possible to open these files in some other application,
(Excel, Access, SQL server or other) and check the contents?
Obviously only would attempt this with copies of the files in a safe location! lol

You can usually see some data if you open a ProISAM file in notepad. The quality of what you is slightly better than terrible, but not much.

If you wanted to get at the data in a meaningful way, you'd have to use ProIV or a the Transoft ProISAM ODBC driver.

Regards,

Joseph

[Vol Yip]

Years ago, there was a software PROTRACK. But I don't know if this still exists in the market.

[Chris Pepper]

If nothing is being done about reorganising these files (once you have them backed up of course!) then this might be a good idea. It will need to be done when there are no ProIV users using the system. You use the "ispack" utility for this. Not sure what the rules are on a Windows server for running this. I'm sure someone will chip in with the relevant info.

[Moose74]

Cheers for all the help and info guys!

have got a much clearer view on everything now!

[notchpaguia_062208]

Hi there guys!

I'm also a newbie in PROIV... although i've also had my share of experiences in other languages... hehehe...

just reading the forum helped me on some things that somewhat confuse me...

keep up the good work guys!

hope i could pass the training...