I've been collecting music related data ever since my Apple II so you can imagine how much data I have in various databases and text documents.

I'm using XP Pro and MS Works for the last 15 or so years. I've been aware for awhile now that if any of my hardware goes down or the OP system crashes, I'm not going to have access to important info.

All data files are saved as .WDB .WPS .DOC (but 2004 version). I did some research and read that if I can save my files as .CSV, then Access or Excel can open them up so I can save them in this more permanent format.

One problem so far is that some of them are so big, the text gets truncated if I save as a .CSV (I lose data on the really big files). The other problem is there are just too many files to convert (about 1400).

I bought a laptop with Windows 10 on it. I can purchase the Access or Excel now but I can’t get clear answers on the following:

a) which of the two MS programs will open up the .CSV files and then convert them to the newer format?
b) will I lose data in the conversion
c) where else can I go to explore this situation

Would you believe I went to two Microsoft stores in my area and NONE of the personnel knew what to do. They didn’t even know how to operate Access OR Excel. Figures……they were all kids, and busy playing on their smart phones. Ask them anything else and they’re dumbfounded. When I called Microsoft I got people in foreign countries who could hardly speak English and didn’t even know the products. Their answers were guesses.

Anyone have any suggestions? Maybe I’m missing something simple? Anyone see a way of saving this info when the inevitable crash finally happens?

Mark

There is several very good alternatives to MS Office at no cost.
I.e. Libre Office ( http://www.libreoffice.org/ )
It's a full Office pack, and will handle most of the fileformats.
Just remember to set it to handle files as MS Office files during install, or in options afterwards.
Then it will save all files as if you did it in Word, Excel etc.

Libre Office reads and writes all MS formats. I have used it and its predecessor for years. It is an open format, and evolved from Open Office.

Bill……..I finally made it to a MicroSoft store. Again, no help at all. Would you believe they don’t have Access installed on any of their computers. And even then they don’t know how to work it anyway!

But…….I had a CSV file on my flash drive. I imported it and opened it up (on their computer) in Excel. All the data showed up in “fields” but they didn’t know how to make a database out of it.

As for the Works…..yes. I opened a half dozen Works files in the latest WORD program. No trouble there, at least.

The problem with saving as DBF is not all the data gets saved. It has huge dropouts of date here, there and everywhere.

Thanks for the “link” but they’re talking about saving as DBF and not CSV.

Do you, by any chance, run Excel and if you do, can I post to you a CSV that I converted and see if you can open it up and save it as a database.

I don’t know how Microsoft ever got so big with the poor service they have to their customers. All you ever get now is a foreign country with limited knowledge “specialists (?).