AREV, OpenInsight and Pick
Revelation's AREV and OpenInsight, plus UniVerse, UniData, D3, jBASE and QM. Multi-value records, dictionaries and day-number dates, all decoded.
Legacy database conversion
Get your data out of old databases and into something you can use.
We convert AREV, OpenInsight, Pick, dBase, FoxPro, Paradox, Access, Btrieve, FileMaker and other old databases into SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Excel, CSV and other modern formats. Every table, every memo and multi-value field, every date decoded properly.
Fixed prices from$1,190AUD + GST
Free trial: 100 records or 10% of every table, whichever is lower, converted before you pay anything. No data, no fee.
SMITH, JANE│14 KING ST·PARRAMATTA NSW 2150│ 0412 555 019│20455│ INV0091·INV0107·INV0123│ 125000·34000·89990
converted
customers
| id | name | address | phone | joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C10482 | Smith, Jane | 14 King St, Parramatta NSW 2150 | 0412 555 019 | 2024-01-01 |
customer_invoices
| customer_id | line | invoice | amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| C10482 | 1 | INV0091 | 1,250.00 |
| C10482 | 2 | INV0107 | 340.00 |
| C10482 | 3 | INV0123 | 899.90 |
│ field separator· repeating value20455 = a stored date125000 = $1,250.00
Databases we convert
Decades of old databases, one fixed price.
dBase, FoxPro and Clipper
The DBF family, including Visual FoxPro, Lotus Approach and Alpha Four. Memo fields rejoined, deleted records left out, and old DOS text converted to UTF-8.
Paradox
Borland Paradox tables from DOS and Windows. Memo and graphic fields extracted, and password-protected tables converted when you supply the password.
Microsoft Access
Access 97 to 2003 files that current software won't open, including password-protected ones. Damaged files recovered as far as the file allows.
Btrieve and Pervasive
The record manager under many older accounting and industry systems. Converted using your .DDF definition files, or with the layout worked out with you when they're missing.
FileMaker, DataEase and Q&A
Older FileMaker Pro (versions 3 to 6), DataEase and Symantec Q&A databases from the DOS and early Windows years.
Something else? Ask. If it stores structured data, there's a good chance we can get it out.
Why it's hard
Old databases don't store data the way modern ones do.
Advanced Revelation and OpenInsight keep records in linear hash files (.LK and .OV pairs), and UniVerse, UniData and other Pick-style databases use their own hashed files. Each record is one long string split by field and value marks, dates are day counts from 31 December 1967, and column names live in separate dictionary files, if they still exist at all.
dBase, FoxPro and Clipper store each table as a .DBF file, with long text kept in a separate memo file (.DBT or .FPT). Paradox uses .DB tables with .MB memo files. Text is often in an old DOS character set, and in DBF files deleted records stay in the file, only flagged, until it's packed.
Btrieve files hold raw records with no column names at all. The layout lives in separate .DDF definition files, or only inside the original program. Old Access and FileMaker files can be password-protected, damaged, or simply too old for current software to open.
Open these files with a generic export tool and you get garbled characters, missing notes, or deleted records mixed in with live ones. We read each format the way the original system did, so what comes out the other side is clean, typed and relational.
What we handle
The awkward parts, done properly.
@VM · @SVM
Multi-value fields
In AREV, OpenInsight and other Pick-style databases, lists inside fields are split into proper child tables with keys and line numbers, so nothing gets crammed into one cell.
DICT · HEADER
Field definitions
Field names, types and conversions are read from dictionaries, table headers or definition files and used to name and type each column.
D · MD2
Dates and amounts
Internal dates, times and implied-decimal amounts are decoded into real date, time and decimal values.
.DBT · .FPT · .MB
Memo fields
Notes and long text kept in separate memo files are joined back to their records, so nothing is cut off.
CP437 → UTF-8
Character sets
Text in old DOS and Windows character sets is converted to UTF-8, so accents and symbols come out right.
COUNT
Verification
You get a report comparing record counts in the original files against rows in the converted output, including any deleted records we left out.
Output formats
Converted to the format you need.
Microsoft SQL ServerMySQL / MariaDBPostgreSQLSQLiteOracleMicrosoft AccessExcel (.xlsx)CSVJSONXML
Need something not listed? Ask. If it takes structured data, we can most likely produce it.
How it works
From old files to a working database.
Get in touch
Tell us about your system, why you're converting and any deadline.
Send your files
Copy the database folder, including any dictionary, memo and index files, and send it to us securely.
Free assessment and trial
We send back a list of tables and record counts, 100 records or 10% of every table (whichever is lower) converted for you to check, and a fixed quote.
Conversion
Once you approve the quote, we extract every table, split multi-values, rejoin memo fields and decode dates and amounts.
Delivery
You receive the converted data, a schema description and the verification report.
Pricing
Fixed prices, matched to what you need the data for.
Every price is per database system and fixed before we start. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Archive
For closed businesses, or records you must keep for tax, legal or audit reasons.
$1,190+ GST
$1,309.00 incl. GST
- Every table exported to CSV or Excel
- Dates, times, amounts and memo fields decoded
- Column names from your dictionaries or table definitions
- Record count verification report
Standard
Most chosenFor businesses moving their data into a modern database.
$1,999+ GST
$2,198.90 incl. GST
- Everything in Archive
- Relational database: SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle or Access
- Multi-value fields split into related tables with keys
- Text converted to UTF-8
- Schema description of the converted data
Migration-ready
For businesses moving to a specific new system that need the data ready to import.
From$4,500+ GST
Fixed quote after assessment
- Everything in Standard
- Data mapped into the new system's structure and import format
- Cleanup of duplicates and invalid values
- Trial import and one round of fixes
Free trial conversion
Send your files and we convert 100 records or 10% of every table, whichever is lower, so you can check the result before you pay. No charge, no obligation.
No data, no fee
If we can't extract your data, you don't pay anything.
Fixed price
You approve a fixed price before we start. It doesn't change.
Extras
| Rush turnaround | +40% |
| Each extra output format | +$350 |
| Data cleanup and deduplication (Archive or Standard) | Quoted |
| Several systems or branches | Discounted |
| Hosted searchable archive of your old records | $30 / month |
Extras are + GST.
How it compares
| Hourly contractor | Often 20 to 40 hours at $150 to $200 an hour, with no fixed outcome |
| Doing it yourself | Staff time spent learning old file formats, with a high risk of missed or garbled data |
| Leaving it on the old machine | Records at risk every time the old hardware fails |
| Retrovert | Fixed price, a free trial from every table, and nothing to pay if we can't extract it |
Questions
Common questions
Which databases do you convert?
Advanced Revelation (AREV), OpenInsight, UniVerse, UniData, D3, jBASE and QM; dBase, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro, Clipper, Lotus Approach and Alpha Four; Paradox; Microsoft Access 97 to 2003; Btrieve and Pervasive; and older FileMaker Pro, DataEase and Q&A databases. If you have something else, ask: if it stores structured data, there's a good chance we can get it out.
Our system no longer runs. Can you still convert it?
Usually yes. We work from the data files themselves, so the original application doesn't need to be running. A copy of the data folder is enough.
What if the field definitions are missing?
dBase, FoxPro, Paradox, Access and FileMaker files keep their field definitions inside the database, so this is rarely a problem. AREV, OpenInsight and other Pick-style databases keep them in dictionary files, and Btrieve in .DDF files. If those are missing, we still extract the data, name columns by position, and work with you to identify what each field holds.
Our tables are password-protected. Can you convert them?
Yes, if you have the password. Paradox, Access, FileMaker and some other databases can protect files with one, so send it along with your files.
Some files are damaged. Is that a problem?
We recover as much as the files allow and list any records that couldn't be read in the verification report, so you know exactly what you have.
What does the free assessment include?
Send us a copy of your database files and we return a report listing the tables we found and their record counts, plus a free trial conversion: 100 records or 10% of every table, whichever is lower, delivered as CSV or Excel. There's no charge and no obligation.
Which records are in the trial?
We take them from across the whole table, not just the oldest, so the sample gives a fair picture of how all your data converts.
What if you can't extract our data?
Then you don't pay. Our prices are fixed, and if we can't get your data out, there's no fee.
Which tier do I need?
Archive if you only need to keep or look up old records. Standard if you're moving the data into a database. Migration-ready if you're moving to a specific new system and want the data ready to import. The assessment will confirm which fits.
What does "per system" mean?
One application's database and its files, converted to one output format. Several separate systems or branches are discounted, and extra formats are $350 each.
Is my data kept confidential?
Yes. Your files are used only for the conversion and are deleted once you confirm you have the converted data.
Enquire
Get a free assessment and trial conversion.
Fill this in and we'll reply with how to send your files, then return the assessment and a fixed quote.
Contact us
Prefer to talk it through?
Call or email us about your old database. We'll tell you what we can get out of it and what it will cost.
Phone+61 2 8038 6646
Emailhello@retrovert.com.au
Business hours9am to 5pm, Monday to FridaySydney time (AEST, or AEDT during daylight saving)