Re: Which xBase module?

[roboticus]

in reply to Which xBase module?

parser:

I've not used any xBase packages, but if I were going to, I'd probably try DBD::Xbase first because I use the DBI package for all other database work.

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.

[parser]

I installed DBD::XBase and gave it a try. It works much better than the previous two modules. Especially for correct interpretation of field types.

I am still scratching my head around how to get a list of field types but I'll read the module source and see what is being passed back.

Cheers

[Jenda]

See the docs of DBI instead, the table_info() and column_info() methods. I think that's what you are looking for.

[lo_tech]

I'd second Jenda's response. DBI is has some magic that will get you what you need, most of the time. My only comment would be that calling $table->header_info() method will give you some details of the table structure of the database file.

[parser]

Thanks Jenda.

I have been using the base module and not the DBI version but I am already using the DBI module for MySQL in the same code base so that may make more sense.

Cheers

[petdance]

I endorse DBD::Xbase. I've had it in production until a year ago when we finally abandoned the legacy FoxPro database we still had to read from.

DBD::Xbase also comes with a handy little program, dbfdump.

[parser]

I found the nugget that is dbfdump in the XBase.pm module. It is called get_header_info and is perfect for what I am doing.

Thanks to all for the great thoughts and advice!

Cheers