Q: I am still running DBL version 4.19c. How do I update to a more recent version?

A: If anyone is still running this ancient version of DBL they should upgrade immediately. The last version widely used in SIM is 4.40a, although 4.41 may be found.

To transfer files from a DBL 4.19c system to a DBL 4.40 system, the best method is as follows: On the 4.19c system you unload the files using the 4.19c version of the isload utility and then on the 4.40 system you re-load them into new empty isam files using the 4.40 version of the utility.

This means you must keep the 4.19c system operational until you have done the unload procedure. Then you either copy them over to a different machine that has the 4.40, or else you remove the 4.19 version of DBL and install the 4.40 version before proceding to reload the files.

Here are the steps:

1) Go to a DOS prompt.

2) Run the MENU once at the DOS prompt and exit. This should leave DBLDIR set in the environment. (If it doesn´t run, include the path to menu.bat, e.g. c:\bat\menu or c:\menu).

3) Change directory to GLFILE:

 cd \buspkg\glfile

4) Run the ISLOAD utility and unload YTDGLT:

 dbr dbldir:isload

(If it doesn´t run, include the path to dbr.exe, e.g. c:\dbl\dbr dbldir:isload).

 OPTION: unload

 Enter name of ISAM file to be UNLOADed: ytdglt

 Enter name of sequential file into which to UNLOAD: ytdglt

(If it says Cannot open ytdglt [32: superseding existing file], you already have a file by that name (ytdglt.ddf) in the directory. You can either delete the old file or choose a different name for this one (e.g. ytdglt1).

 What progress reporting interval? 1000

This creates a file \buspkg\glfile\ytdglt.ddf which contains the unloaded records.

5) Repeat step 4 for GLAMAS and GLWORK.

6) Change directory to JCFILE:

  cd \buspkg\jcfile

7) Repeat step 4 for COMAST, CURFLE, OUTMAS, and SECMAS.

8) Now copy all these .DDF files to floppy and copy them to the same directories of the new system. Or if you are staying on the same machine, now install DBL 4.40 and recompile the Buspkg under 4.40.

9) Go to a DOS prompt.

10) Run the MENU once at the DOS prompt and exit. This should leave DBLDIR set in the environment. (If it doesn´t run, include the path to menu.bat, e.g. c:\bat\menu or c:\menu).

IMPORTANT: The following requires the ISAM files on the new system to be empty. They also must be the right version 4.40 and not from the 4.19c system. If the files are not empty, you must CLEAR them using the ISLOAD utility.

11) Change to the GLFILE directory on the new system

  cd \buspkg\glfile

12) Reload the new ytdglt file with the records you unloaded above. To do this:

 dbr dbldir:isload

 OPTION: load

 Enter name of ISAM file to be LOADed: ytdglt

 Enter name of sequential file from which to LOAD: ytdglt

 What progress reporting interval? 1000

It now loads the file. When it has finished it asks:

 Enter name of continuation input file: <Ctrl-Z>

(That is, press Control Z to terminate the utility).

13) Repeat step 12 for GLAMAS and GLWORK.

14) Change directory to JCFILE

  cd \buspkg\jcfile

15) Repeat step 12 for COMAST, CURFLE, OUTMAS, and SECMAS.