This information is for Version 2.0 of Cardbox for Windows.
We recommend that you upgrade to Cardbox 3.

Home Very old databases  

If you have a very old database (created by a pre-1988 version) then you cannot convert it directly to Cardbox for Windows but need to go through Cardbox-Plus version 4.

"Very old" databases are those created by:

  • Cardbox, Cardbox-86 and Portable Cardbox for CP/M (8-bit) and MSDOS, published by Caxton Software between 1982 and about 1990.
  • Cardbox-Plus for CP/M (8-bit).
  • Cardbox-Plus for MSDOS, Versions 1 and 2.

Databases created by the following programs are not "very old" and can be converted directly by following the upgrade instructions at the bottom of this page:

  • Cardbox-Plus for MSDOS Versions 3 and 4.
  • Cardbox-Plus for VAX/VMS.
  • Picture Cardbox.
  • Personal Cardbox-Plus.

Databases created by any version of Cardbox for Windows can always be opened directly by later versions. See this page for details if you are upgrading to Cardbox for Windows 3.

In these instructions we assume that your database is called MYFILE.

Exporting the data from your existing version

What you need:

  • The database file MYFILE.FIL.
  • The format file MYFILE.FMT.  (Do not confuse this with a Cardbox for Windows format file, which can also have the filetype .FMT. Old-fashioned format files are 3456 bytes in size; Cardbox for Windows format files are usually much larger).
  • Your old version of Cardbox or Cardbox-Plus.
  1. Open your database in your existing version of Cardbox or Cardbox-Plus.
  2. Use the CLear command to go to level 0 (no active selections).
  3. Go to the first record if you're not already there (hit the up-arrow to do this).
  4. Use the WRite command to write out all your data in [INTERNAL] format (W, R, Return, O, MYFILE.DMP, Return, ESC, G). Choose a filename such as MYFILE.DMP to make identification easier.

Importing the data into Cardbox-Plus version 3 or 4

What you need:

  • The dump file MYFILE.DMP.
  • The format file MYFILE.FMT.
  • Cardbox-Plus version 3 or 4.
  • The database file MYFILE.FIL must not exist.  (You can rename it rather than erasing it).
  1. Open Cardbox-Plus and select MYFILE (press F, then MYFILE, then Return).
  2. The only available (highlighted) option should be "Create Format File".
    • If "Edit/Create Formats" is highlighted, then a file called MYFILE.FRM exists. Leave Cardbox, and rename or erase that file.
    • If "Repair Database" is highlighted, then a file called MYFILE.FIL exists. Leave Cardbox, and rename or erase that file.
  3. Move the cursor onto "Create Format File" and hit F10.
    F edit/create field  E edit screen  D delete field  P set print formats
    L list entire format definition        ESC exit
    Enter function code:
  4. Hit ESC followed by Q.
    OPERATION=[EDIT]     FORMAT = ((native)) <== NOT FOUND
    Hit letter for option (O, F), or Alt-F10 to cancel:
  5. Hit O twice.
    OPERATION=[READ]     FORMAT = ((native))
                         READ-FROM-FILE =
    Hit letter for option (O, F, R), or Alt-F10 to cancel:
  6. Hit R, type MYFILE.FMT, hit Return, then F10.
  7. You should now see the format design on the screen in front of you.
    F edit/create field  E edit screen  D delete field  P set print formats
    L list entire format definition        ESC exit
    Enter function code:
  8. Hit ESC followed by S.
    OPERATION=[EDIT]     FORMAT = ((native))
    Hit letter for option (O, F), or Alt-F10 to cancel:
  9. Hit Alt-F10. You should now be back at the main menu, but this time "Create Database" will be highlighted to show that it is available. Move the cursor onto it and hit F10.
    Enter command:
  10. Enter the REad command (R, E, Return).
    Enter command: READ FROM FILE =
                        MODE = [INTERNAL]
    Hit letter for option (F, M), or Alt-F10 to cancel:
  11. Hit F and type MYFILE.DMP, then hit Return.
    • If you are upgrading from Version 1 of 16-bit Cardbox-Plus, then leave the MODE setting untouched.
    • If you are upgrading from any 8-bit version of Cardbox-Plus, or from any version of Cardbox or Portable Cardbox (published by Caxton Software), then hit M once to change the MODE setting to [IMPORT].
  12. Hit F10 and all the records should be read in. Check that they appear reasonable.
  13. Enter the QUit command (Q, U, Return), and then Alt-F10 to leave Cardbox-Plus.

Upgrading to Cardbox for Windows

Upgrading to Cardbox for Windows 2 or below

What you need:

  • The database file MYFILE.FIL.
  • The format file MYFILE.FRM.
  • Cardbox for Windows.
  • The old format file MYFILE.FMT must not exist.  (You can rename it rather than erasing it).
  1. Open Cardbox for Windows.
  2. Use the command File > Open to open MYFILE.FIL.
  3. Cardbox will tell you that the format file MYFILE.FMT does not exist: do you want to create it from MYFILE.FRM? Say Yes.
  4. Your database is now open in Cardbox for Windows.

Upgrading to Cardbox for Windows 3

What you need:

  • The database file MYFILE.FIL.
  • The format file MYFILE.FRM.
  • Cardbox for Windows.
  • The old format file MYFILE.FMT must not exist.  (You can rename it rather than erasing it).
  1. Follow the instructions here to convert MYFILE.FRM to the new format, MYFILE.FMT.
  2. Open Cardbox for Windows.
  3. Use the command File > Open to open MYFILE.FIL.
  4. Your database is now open in Cardbox for Windows.

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