Where can I learn how to build a utility to extract and database information from a binary file?
I can purchase a database of information I need but the only way the provider will give it to me is in binary file form. I am ambitious enought to try to learn how to extract, and collect this information but don’t know where to start?
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“Binary file” is not specific. Photoshop files, Word files, Excel files, MP3s, etc – those are all binary files.
What database program created the file?
@jaytkay, I’ve been told it is a 25 year old data base. The extraction key (pdf doc describing datum, positions order and length) is titled: File Description for: CAAS III Flat File extract. When I look at file properties it says, Type of file: BIN File. It a sample of the database and its approximately 50 MB in size.
There’s a slight chance it’s just a text file. That would make things super easy.
Open a copy with Wordpad or Excel, or equivalent if you are not using Windows (don’t mess with the original, keep a pristine copy in case something goes awry).
It will either be an easy to read text file or garbled.
Results look something like this after opening with wordpad:
Ùððôððò@@@@ððñðð@ððððøððò””
I do think its a type of text file.
The fast path to doing what you want is to open that puppy up in your favorite hex editor (dumping it using xxd works well). Then sit down and manually decode using the document you described as your decoder ring.
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