I have a custom made program for DOS. This program generates a .DAT file containing an address list, which i want to extract as .CSV format.
Can somebody made me an application for DOS to convert .DAT to .CSV?
I am willing to pay for the service.

Thanks,

Peter.

: I have a custom made program for DOS. This program generates a .DAT
: file containing an address list, which i want to extract as .CSV
: format.
: Can somebody made me an application for DOS to convert .DAT to .CSV?
: I am willing to pay for the service.
:
: Thanks,
:
: Peter.
:

Just post a sample DAT file or the EXE, we'll do it for free :)

Yeah. there is no standard for .DAT files. It's a basic extension alot of people use as it is self explanatory. Like Atex said, post it here and we can most likely make a program to extract it.

Thank you very much for your soon reply.
Attached are 2 files:
- The .dat file
- The source file POTCUST.PAS of the executable program to display the content. (I have the executable file but Its not allow to upload it here).

Thanks in advance for you help.

POSCUST.PAS is not the entire source. Four other files are missing: TACCESS.PAS, APDB.PAS and KEYBOARD.H. A fourth file is named GETN.INC or GETN.PAS or possibly just GETN.

Here attached are the missing files. Sorry my ignorance. Thanks again.

I made some modifications to the program, now it will save the current DAT file in CSV by pressing O in the main menu. Compile with TP7.

The files:

{csv.inc, requires potcust.pas}

const c=',';

function process_rec(a:custrectype):string;

 function tostr(l:longint):string;
  var so:string;
  begin
   str(l,so);
    tostr:=so;
  end;

 function check(s:string):string;
  var
      i:byte;
      s2:string;
      l:byte;
      trig:boolean;
  begin
   l:=length(s);
   trig:=false;
   s2:='';
   for i:=1 to l do
    if s[i]='"' then begin
     s2:=s2+'"'+s[i];
     trig:=true;end else s2:=s2+s[i];
   if (trig or (pos(c,s)>0) or (pos(#32,s)>0)) then s2:='"'+s2+'"';
   check:=s2;
  end;

 var s:string;
 begin
  s:=tostr(a.status)+c;

  if a.name='' then s:=s+'""'+c
               else s:=s+check(a.name)+c;

  if a.adr='' then s:=s+'""'+c
               else s:=s+check(a.adr)+c;

  if a.zip='' then s:=s+'""'+c
               else s:=s+check(a.zip)+c;

  if a.city='' then s:=s+'""'+c
               else s:=s+check(a.city)+c;

  if a.state='' then s:=s+'""'+s
               else s:=s+check(a.state)+c;

  if a.country='' then s:=s+'""'+c
               else s:=s+check(a.country)+c;

  if a.number='' then s:=s+'""'+c
               else s:=s+check(a.number)+c;

  if a.comment='' then s:=s+'""'
                  else s:=s+check(a.comment);
  process_rec:=s;
 end;


procedure save_csv;
 var csv_:text;
     fname:string;
     ior:integer;
     n,t:longint;
     sa:string;
 begin
  writeln(#13#10);
  fname:=namefile+'.csv';
  assign(csv_,fname);
  {$I-}
  rewrite(csv_);
  {$I+}
  ior:=ioresult;
  if ior<>0 then begin
   writeln(#13#10,'Error occured creating > ',fname);
   writeln('Dos error > ',ior);
   halt;
  end;
  SearchKey(idxFName,recnum,skey);
  GetRec(dbfile, RecNum, ACust);
  n:=recnum;
  t:=0;
  writeln(csv_,'Status,Name,Address,ZipCode,City,State,Country,Number,Comment');
  repeat
   sa:=process_rec(acust);
   writeln(csv_,sa);
   inc(t);
   NextKey(idxFName, RecNum, TempCode);
   GetRec(dbfile, RecNum, ACust);
  until n=recnum;
  writeln(t,' lines written to: ',fname);
  writeln('Press any key to Exit');readkey;
  close(csv_);
  halt;
 end;

uses crt,dos,taccess,printer,apdb;
label e1;
const
     Esc = #27;
     KeyName = 15;
     KeyZip  =  13;
     KeyState=  8;
     KeyCtry =  8;
type
  NameType = string[50];
  TABDEF = array[1..4] of CUSTRECTYPE;

var
   chc          : Char;
   DuplicateFlag,
   ExitFlag,
   insrt        : boolean;
   ACUST        : CUSTrectype;
   skey         : NameType;
   TempCode     : NameType;
   KeyIndex     : string;
   dbfile       : datafile;
   idxFName     : indexfile;
   CustRecVar   : CustRecType;
   temp         : String;
   recnum       : longint;
   II,
   inp_pos      : integer;
   ch           : char;
   NameFile,
   NameTest     : String;
  P: PathStr;
  D: DirStr;
  N: NameStr;
  E: ExtStr;


function Exist(Name:STRING):Boolean;
var F:FILE;
begin
  {$I-}
  Assign(F,Name);
  reset(F);
  Close(F);
  {$I+}
  Exist := ( IOResult = 0 ) and ( Name <>'');
end;


Function UpSir(S:string):string;
var i:integer;
begin
  UpSir:='';
  For I:=1 to Length(S) do S[i]:=UpCase(S[i]);
  UpSir:=S;
end;

procedure mes(x,y:integer; s:string);
begin
  gotoxy(x,y); write(s);
end;

Function MakeKey(S:String; Lung:byte):string;
var X:String;
begin
    X:=S;
    While Length(X) < Lung do X := X + ' ';
    MakeKey := X;
end;

procedure CreatIdxName(Name : string);
var
  Fidx : IndexFile;
  i : LongInt;
begin
  Writeln;
  Writeln('Create index file '+ Name+'N.IDX ..... ');
  writeln('Please   Wait ...!');
  MakeIndex(Fidx,   NameFile + 'N.IDX', 15, Duplicates);
  for i := 1 to FileLen(dbfile) - 1 do
  begin
        GetRec(dbfile, I, ACust);
        KeyIndex := Copy(ACust.Name,1,15);
        KeyIndex := MakeKey(KeyIndex, 15);
        if ACust.Status = 0 then AddKey(Fidx, I, KeyIndex);
  end;
  Closeindex(Fidx);
end;


Procedure InitCust(Var A:CUSTrectype);
begin
  with A do
  begin
       Status :=0;
       name:='';
       adr:='';
       zip:='';
       city:='';
       state:='';
       country:='';
       number := '';
       comment:='';
  end;
end;


{$I keyboard.h}
{$I getN }


Procedure DISP(A:CUSTrectype;S:string);
begin
  clrscr;
  gotoxy(1,1); write(S);
  GOTOXY(2,3);  Write('CUSTOMER NAME :',A.Name);
  MES(2,6,'ADDRESS');
  GOTOXY(5,8);  Write('STREET        ',A.adr);
  GOTOXY(5,10);  Write('CITY          ',A.city);
  GOTOXY(5,11);  Write('STATE         ',A.state);
  GOTOXY(5,13);  Write('ZIPCODE       ',A.zip);
  GOTOXY(5,14);  Write('NATION        ',A.country);
  GOTOXY(5,17);  Write('COMMENT       ',A.comment);
end;



procedure READCUST(X:NameType);
label e1,l0,l1,l2,l3,l4,l5,l6;
var s:string[2];
    ch:char;
    i:integer;
    TempCode : NameType;

begin
  clrscr;
  if not DuplicateFlag
  then  initCust(ACUST)
  else
  with ACUST do
  begin
       Status :=0;
       name:='';
       adr:='';
       number := '';
       comment:='';
  end;
  DISP(ACUST,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - ADD');
  ACUST.Name := X;
  gotoxy(45,1); write('Filesize : ',FileLen(dbfile):4);
  mes(2,1,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - ADD');
  l0:gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
  mes(2,3,'CUSTOMER NAME     '+ACUST.Name);
  mes(2,6,'ADDRESS');
  l1:getS(5,8,'STREET        ',ACUST.adr,50);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then write(^G);
     if Chc=F5 then
     begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          goto l0
     end;
  l2:getS(5,10,'CITY          ',ACUST.city,25);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto l1;
     if Chc=F5 then
     begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
          goto l2
     end;
  l3:getS(5,11,'STATE         ',ACUST.state,5);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto l2;
     if Chc=F5 then
     begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
          goto l3
     end;
  l4:getS(5,13,'ZIPCODE       ',ACUST.zip,10);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto l3;
     if Chc=F5 then
     begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
          goto l4
     end;
  l5:getS(5,14,'NATION        ',ACUST.country,15);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto l4;
     if Chc=F5 then
     begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
          goto l5
     end;
  l6:getS(5,17,'COMMENT       ',ACUST.comment,50);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto l5;
     if Chc=F5 then
     begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
          goto l6
     end;

  TempCode := ACUST.Name;

  With ACUST do
  begin


           AddRec(Dbfile, Recnum, ACUST);
           FlushFile(DbFile);

           KeyIndex:=Copy(Name,1,KeyName);
           KeyIndex := MakeKey(KeyIndex,KeyName);
           AddKey(idxFName,RecNum,KeyIndex);

  end;
  e1:
end;

procedure ADD;
label l0;
var
   x : NameType;
begin
  clrscr;
  repeat
        clrscr;
        if DiskFree(0)  < 3 * SizeOf(CustRecType) then
        begin
             write(^G^G^G^G^G);
             mes(5,5,'Disk Full ! Press any key for continue.');
             ch:=readKey;
             ExitFlag := True;
             Exit;
             ClrScr;
        end;
        gotoxy(45,1); write('Filesize : ',FileLen(dbfile):4);
        mes(2,1,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - ADD');
        mes(2,3,'CUSTOMER NAME ');
        x:='';
     l0:gotoxy(40,2);clreol; Write('(F5) Duplicate key ',DuplicateFlag);
        getS(20,3,'',x,30);
        if Chc = Esc then exit;
        if Chc=F5 then
        begin
          DuplicateFlag := not DuplicateFlag;
          goto l0
        end;
        x:=UpSir(x); gotoxy(20,3);write(x);
        skey := MakeKey(X, KeyName);
        x:=skey;
        FindKey(idxFName,Recnum,skey);
        if OKey then
        begin
            mes(5,5,'Duplicate Customer exist ! Do you want to add (Y/N) ?');
            mes(5,6,'Option:');
            repeat ch:=UpCase(readkey) until ch in ['Y','N',Esc];
            if ch = 'Y'
            then READCUST(X)
            else Exit;
         end else READCUST(X);
  until true = false;
end;

procedure CHANGE(var A:CustRecType);
label l0,l1,e0,e1,e2,e3,e4,e5,e6;
var
   s        : string[2];
begin
  e0:clrscr;
  DISP(A,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - CHANGE');
  l0:mes(1,23,'     ESC - QUIT   F2 - PREVIOUS  F4 -  NEXT ');
  gets(2,3,'CUSTOMER NAME :',A.Name,30);
  A.Name := UpSir(A.Name);
  gotoxy(17,3); write(A.Name);
  if Chc = Esc then Exit;

  if (Chc = F4) then
  begin
     NextKey(idxFName, RecNum, TempCode);
     GetRec(dbfile, recNum, ACust);
     A := ACust;
     DISP(A,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - CHANGE');
     goto l0;
  end;

  if (Chc = F2) then
  begin
     PrevKey(idxFName, RecNum, TempCode);
     GetRec(dbfile, recNum, ACust);
     A := ACust;
     DISP(A,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - CHANGE');
     goto l0;
  end;

 {
  if Chc in [F1,F2,F3,F4] then goto l0;
  }
  mes(2,6,'ADDRESS');
insrt:=FALSE;
  e2:getS(5,8,'STREET        ',A.adr,50);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then write(^G);
  e3:getS(5,10,'CITY          ',A.city,25);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto e2;
  e4:getS(5,11,'STATE         ',A.state,5);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto e3;
  e5:getS(5,13,'ZIPCODE       ',A.zip,10);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto e4;
  e6:getS(5,14,'NATION        ',A.country,15);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto e5;
     getS(5,17,'COMMENT       ',A.comment,50);
     if chc=Esc then goto e1;
     if chc=^E then goto e6;

     PutRec(dbfile,  Recnum, A);

     KeyIndex := Copy(ACust.Name,1,KeyName);
     KeyIndex := MakeKey(KeyIndex, KeyName);
     DeleteKey(IdxFName,    Recnum, KeyIndex);

     KeyIndex := Copy(A.Name, 1,   KeyName);
     KeyIndex := MakeKey(KeyIndex, KeyName);
     AddKey(IdxFName,    Recnum, KeyIndex);

   e1:
end;


procedure CHG;
var
   x, tempname:NameType;
   AC : CustRecType;
begin
  repeat
        clrscr;
        mes(2,1,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - CHANGE');
        mes(2,4,'CUSTOMER NAME ');
        x:='';
        getS(20,4,'',x,30);
        if Chc = Esc then exit;
        x:=UpSir(x); gotoxy(20,4);write(x);
        skey := MakeKey(X,15);
        x:=skey;
        SearchKey(idxFName,recnum,skey);
        if not OKey then
        begin
           mes(5,5,'Customer name was not found ! ');
           mes(5,6,'Press any key for Exit:');
           ch:=readkey;
        end else
        begin
                    GetRec(dbfile, RecNum, ACust);
                    AC := ACust;
                    CHANGE(AC);
        end;
  until true = false;
end;

procedure DSP;
var
   x, tempname:NameType;
   cnt:longint;
begin
  repeat
        cnt:=0;
        clrscr;
        mes(2,1,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - DISPLAY');
        mes(2,4,'CUSTOMER NAME ');
        x:='';
        getS(20,4,'',x,30);
        if Chc = Esc then exit;
        x:=UpSir(x); gotoxy(20,4);write(x);
        skey := MakeKey(X, KeyName);
        x:=skey;
        SearchKey(idxFName,recnum,skey);
        if not OKey then  begin
           mes(5,7,'Customer does not exist ! ');
           mes(5,8,'Press any key for Exit:');
           ch:=readkey;
        end else begin
{                 writeln('recnum=',recnum);readkey;}
                 GetRec(dbfile, RecNum, ACust);
                 repeat
                    DISP(ACust,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - DISPLAY');
                    gotoxy(1,23); write('ENTER  : ''N'' NEXT, ''P'' PREVIOUS ,''S'' STOP ');
{                    writeln(#13#10,'recNum= ',recnum);
                    writeln('tempcode= ',tempcode);
                    writeln('cnt= ',cnt);
                    inc(cnt);}
                    repeat  ch:=upcase(readkey) until ch in ['N','P','S'];
                    if ch = 'S' then exit;
                    if ch = 'N' then NextKey(idxFName, RecNum, TempCode);
                    if ch = 'P' then PrevKey(idxFName, RecNum, TempCode);
{                 writeln('## recnum=',recnum);readkey;}
                    GetRec(dbfile, recNum, ACust);
                 until true = false;
                 end;
  until true = false;
end;



procedure DDD;
var
   x, tempname:NameType;
   RecNr : LongInt;
   A :   CustRecType;
begin
  repeat
        clrscr;
        mes(2,1,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - DELETE');
        mes(2,4,'CUSTOMER NAME ');
        x:='';
        getS(20,4,'',x,30);
        if Chc = Esc then
        begin
             exit;
        end;
        x:=UpSir(x); gotoxy(20,4);write(x);
        skey := MakeKey(X, KeyName);
        FindKey(idxFName,Recnum,skey);
        if not OKey then
        begin
           mes(5,7,'Customer name :' + X + ': was not found ! ');
           mes(5,8,'Press any key for Exit:');
           ch:=readkey;
        end else
        begin
            RecNr := RecNum;
            GetRec(dbfile, RecNum, A);
            clrscr;
            gotoxy(1,1); write('POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENANCE - DELETE');
            GOTOXY(2,3);  Write('CUSTOMER NAME :',A.Name);
            MES(2,6,'ADDRESS');
            GOTOXY(5,8);  Write('STREET        ',A.adr);
            GOTOXY(5,10);  Write('CITY          ',A.city);
            GOTOXY(5,11);  Write('STATE         ',A.state);
            GOTOXY(5,13);  Write('ZIPCODE       ',A.zip);
            GOTOXY(5,14);  Write('NATION        ',A.country);
            GOTOXY(5,17);  Write('COMMENT       ',A.comment);
            gotoxy(1,23); write('You want to delete this customer ? [Y/N]');
            repeat  ch:=UpCase(readkey) until ch in ['Y','N',Esc];
            if ch in ['N',Esc] then Exit;

            Skey := A.Name;
            DeleteKey(idxFName, RecNum, skey);
            if not OKey then
            begin
              clrscr;
              writeln('Could not delete this record Error 1',^G^G^G^G);
              delay(2000);
            end;

            DeleteRec(dbfile, RecNr);
            flushfile(DbFile);
            writeln;
            Writeln('Record deleted ...',^G^G);delay(1000);
        end;
  until true = false;
end;

{$I csv.inc}

procedure proc1;
var ch:char;
begin
repeat
  clrscr;
  if ExitFlag then Exit;
  mes(5,1,'POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FILE MAINTENENCE');
  mes(5,2,'===================================');
  mes(5,4,'----------------------------------');
  mes(5,5,'A   -  ADD     POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS');
  mes(5,6,'C   -  CHANGE  POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS');
  mes(5,7,'D   -  DELETE  POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS');
  mes(5,8,'S   -  DISPLAY POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS');
  mes(5,9,'----------------------------------');
  mes(5,10,'Esc -  RETURN TO THE MAIN MENU');
  mes(5,11,'----------------------------------');
{###}
  mes(5,12,'O  - Convert to CSV ');{###}
  mes(5,15,'OPTION:');
  repeat ch := UpCase(readkey) until ch in ['A','C','D','S'{###},'O'{###},Esc];
  case ch of
    'A':ADD;
    'C':CHG;
    'D':DDD;
    'S':DSP;
    {###}
    'O':save_csv;
    {###}
    Esc:begin
             Exit;
        end;
    end;
 until true = false;
end;


begin
       INITCUST(ACUST);
       ExitFlag := False;
       DuplicateFlag := False;
       NameFile := '';
       clrscr;
       mes(5,8,'Customer file name (max. 7 char for name ) or  Enter to Exit:');
       getS(1,9,':',NameFile,30);
       if length(Namefile) = 0 then Exit;

       FSPLIT(NameFile,D,N,E);
       II := Length(N);
       NameTest := NameFile;
       If II >= 8 then Delete(N, Length(N) - (II - 8), 255);
       NameFile := Concat(D,N,E);

       if pos('.',NameFile) = 0 then NameFile := NameFile + '.DAT';
       if not exist(NameFile) then
       begin
            gotoxy(5,15);
            writeln('The file ---> '+NameFile+' doesn''t exist !!');
            gotoxy(5,16);
            writeln('You want to create a new file [Y/N] ?');
            repeat ch:= UpCase(ReadKey) until ch in ['Y','N',Esc];
            if ch in ['N',Esc] then Exit;
            if pos('.',NameFile) <> 0
            then Delete(NameFile, Pos('.',NameFile), 255);
             MakeFile(dbfile,      NameFile + '.DAT',MaxDataRecSize);
             MakeIndex(idxFName,   NameFile + 'N.IDX', 15, Duplicates);

             closeFile(dbfile);
             closeIndex(idxFName);

       end;
 if pos('.',NameFile) <> 0 then Delete(NameFile, Pos('.',NameFile), 255);

  clrscr;
  OpenFile(dbfile,NameFile + '.DAT',MaxDataRecSize);
  if not OKey then
  begin
       gotoxy(1,5); writeln('Could not open the datafile  ' +NameFile+'.DAT');
       Write(^G^G^G^G^G);
       delay(2000);
       Exit;
  end;



  OpenIndex(idxFName,NameFile + 'N.IDX',15,Duplicates);
  if not OKey then
  begin
       CreatIdxName(NameFile);
       closeIndex(idxFName);
       OpenIndex(idxFName,NameFile + 'N.IDX',15,Duplicates);
  end;


  e1:
  clearkey(idxFName);

   Proc1;

  closeFile(dbfile);
  closeIndex(idxFName);
end.

I compiled the files and the application works! Great JOB!
I want to thank you very much for your help.
The reason of converting that file is because the US post office won't accept our label format. The came out with some requirements that we cannot do it with our program. eg.
- city, state & zip in one row, (we have it in two)
- One space between city and state.
- Two spaces between state and ZIP Code.

Our old program is very reliable program, but have some limitations.
for that reason we want to improve our program, I wonder if you might be interested in doing the modifications in our program.
If you can send me your email address,I will give you more details.
Once again, Thank you!

Sent you a message, check your mailbox.

Patio Furniture
My office is at the 4th floor of the building but I always use the stairs to go up. It's always great to have an exercise. My friend call it Earth exercise.