Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ptsfa!well!espen
From: espen@well.UUCP (Peter Espen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Dbase III files and 4D
Summary: 4D and DBase III files
Message-ID: <4714@well.UUCP>
Date: 12 Dec 87 03:58:29 GMT
References: <3135@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Lines: 22

In article <3135@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>, beloin@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Ron Beloin) writes:
> Some folks here are trying to choose between dBase Mac and Fourth dimension
> for relational db work. One consideration is being able to read dbase III
> files. We've heard that 4D is faster and there is a utility to convert
> file formats from dbase III to 4D. Anyone have any details or comments?
> I would appreciate any suggestions, experiences, rumors, etc.
> --ron.
>  Ron Beloin, Ecosystems Research Center, Corson Hall, Cornell, Ithaca,NY 14853
>  >> opinions << BITNET:BELOIN@CRNLTHRY; INTERNET:beloin@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu
>  >> are mine << UUCP:{cmcl2,shasta,uw-beaver,rochester}!cornell!tcgould!beloin

	We are looking into the same thing at my company. From what I have 
found out so far, 4D (like most of the pro database progs for the Mac) allows
for importing data from other programs if they are in ASCII, SYLK,etc. but it
does not allow importing DBASE III files automatically. The conversion process
needed to import data seems rather awkward. DBASE Mac seems to have the most
sophisticated built in mechanisms for automatically reading othe database progs
data files (i.e. IBM Dbase files, Omnis, etc. ).
	I am certainly not an authority on this subject, but I believe that
what I have stated here is correct. Anyone out there can let us know if I'm 
incorrect.
	espen@well