View contents of backup file

Hi All. I would appreciate all help to my query. I have a set of (presumably) binary files that I believe were generated following a backup of an informix database. I am told the "onunload" command was used. Each file corresponds to a table in the database. I would like to view the table contents ie each of the output files. Is there a command I can use to view the table contents please ? My problem description is a vague, because it is based on what I have been told and I am no expert informix backup/restore. Thank you in advance. Pete

On 10 apr, 17:55, vwb...@onetel.com wrote: > Hi All. > > I would appreciate all help to my query. > > I have a set of (presumably) binary files that I believe were > generated following > a backup of an informix database. I am told the "onunload" command was > used. > Each file corresponds to a table in the database. > > I would like to view the table contents ie each of the output files. > > Is there a command I can use to view the table contents please ? > > My problem description is a vague, because it is based on what I have > been told > and I am no expert informix backup/restore. > > Thank you in advance. > > Pete The info is binary in pages..... you could try strings <filename> |more which will display printable stuff.... Superboer.

On 11 Apr, 10:15, "Superboer" <superbo...@t-online.de> wrote: > On 10 apr, 17:55, vwb...@onetel.com wrote: > > > > > > > Hi All. > > > I would appreciate all help to my query. > > > I have a set of (presumably) binary files that I believe were > > generated following > > a backup of an informix database. I am told the "onunload" command was > > used. > > Each file corresponds to a table in the database. > > > I would like to view the table contents ie each of the output files. > > > Is there a command I can use to view the table contents please ? > > > My problem description is a vague, because it is based on what I have > > been told > > and I am no expert informix backup/restore. > > > Thank you in advance. > > > Pete > > The info is binary in pages..... > you could try strings <filename> |more > which will display printable stuff.... > > Superboer.- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - Thanks for that suggestion. I did try this but whilst the output contain mix/match of strings, the values that could be interpreted for some coloumns are not valid so I am not sure of using this approach. I would like to make a correction on the "problem description". I said the "onunload" command was used .. infact, the informix "dbimport" command is used. Pete

you could try and load it into a test instance.... if dbexport was used you'll have unload files. grab the schema out of the sql file and put it in a test instance. load the unload file. if it's onunloaded stuff, try putting it in a test instance usning onload... both ways you then can use sql to access it. Superboer.

On 11 Apr, 16:02, "Superboer" <superbo...@t-online.de> wrote: > you could try and load it into a test instance.... > > if dbexport was used you'll have unload files. > grab the schema out of the sql file and put it in a test instance. > > load the unload file. > > if it's onunloaded stuff, try putting it in a test instance usning > onload... > > both ways you then can use sql to access it. > > Superboer. Thanks again for your suggestion ... I will give it a try. Pete