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Re: R2002 data to R6

I have run R2002 on my Mac using Virtual PC and Windows XP Home for about 10 years.  I have now purchased a new Mac and Parallels in order to run Recorder.  However the efforts of my computer gurus to transfer XP to the new machine failed and in the process it appears that Windows on the old machine has been corrupted and it will not boot up.

The idea was to transfer my Recorder data to my new machine and to the person who has taken over the running of the Water Bug Recording Scheme from me, who also has a Mac and has R6 running on Windows XP.  However, I have no access at the moment to the Recorder database files apart from the Data file, which I always backed up.  I expect R6 has an up to date dictionary file but offhand I cannot remember what other files live in the database folder.  Would it be possible to retrieve the data for R6 from the R2002 Data file alone?

I feel that the answer is probably 'NO' but I rather hope not!!  The other option is to try and repair Windows - I'm sensing a pile of broken glass!  I appreciate any help on this.
Sheila

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Re: R2002 data to R6

If you have the files nbndata.mdb and nbndict.mdb it will  be possible to transfer the data into R6. As long as these files are available you don't need to be running R2002 to do the transfer. Assuming thr new copy of R6 has no data of its own then a normal R2002 to R6 transfer should work and can be done on the new machine running R6.  If there is already data on the R6 version then it gets bit more complicated, but can still be done.

Mike Weideli

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Re: R2002 data to R6

Thanks Mike.  My colleague has been playing with R6 but has not seriously started adding data.  However, I only have the data file available and it would seem that a transfer is not possible if I cannot access the dict file.  Would the dict file on his R6 not suffice???
I have not looked into repairing Windows XP yet but that may have to be the next move.

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Re: R2002 data to R6

If you can get a copy of nbndict.mdb and the 3 index files (Index_Taxon_Group.mdb, Index_Taxon_Name.mdb and Index_Taxon_Synonym.mdb) from another Recorder 2002 system you should be able to transfer the data to Recorder 6 using the transfer facility on the Recorder 6 installation disks. Without these files the only option would be to transfer the data using queries you write yourself in, say, Microsoft Access. The main problem will be user added species and habitats. Does your system contain any of these? If you can open nbndata.mdb in Access you will be able to check for user added species and habitats. If any of the taxon list item keys in the taxon determination table start with your Site ID you have user added species. Likewise with biotope list item keys in the biotope determination table for habitats. The names of these species and habitats are stored in nbndict.mdb so you will have lost the names for them if you don’t have this file.

Please note that the transfer facility on the Recorder 6 installation disks will only transfer data from Recorder 2002 version 2.3.1 or later. The setting table in nbndata.mdb will tell you your Site ID and the version of Recorder 2002.

Sally Rankin, JNCC Recorder Approved Expert
E-mail: s.rankin@btinternet.com
Telephone: 01491 578633
Mobile: 07941 207687

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Re: R2002 data to R6

Many thanks Sally & Mike for your information.  After a long chat with my Mac computer man there seems to one avenue to try in order to access the necessary files.  He thinks it might be possible to boot up my old computer in Windows from a copy he made on my external hard disc.  Not sure at the moment if that copy was corrupted but I will not be able to check it out until at least tomorrow. I need to give this a try but I may need some help from him if I get bogged down.  So for the moment I will give this a go and report back.
Thanks,
Sheila

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Re: R2002 data to R6

Sally & Mike,
I am very happy to report that I have managed to access my old Windows and have retrieved the 5 files from the Recorder database.  I am now waiting for a new copy of Windows to load on to Parallels and I may return with more questions when I install Recorder on that.  Meanwhile thank you for your time.  Panic over for the moment!
Regards,
Sheila