Polaris Database Tools Help

Table of Contents

Compressing PackRat Files

Converting PackRat Files


Compressing PackRat Files

Your PackRat information file actually consists of two different files:  a *.prd file and a *.pri file.  The *.prd file is your data file and the *.pri file is the index file for your PackRat database.  Occasionally you may want to compress your PackRat file using PDBTools.  The only PackRat file that you need to compress is the *.prd File.

There are several reasons you may wish to compress this file:

If you delete a great deal of records from PackRat.

If the *.prd file becomes corrupted.

If you delete or somehow lose the *.pri file.

All of the data (records) in your PackRat database are contained in the *.prd file, while the *.pri file indexes those records.  If the *.pri file is accidentally deleted or somehow corrupted, you can compress the *.prd file using PDBTools and a new *.pri file will be generated.

Note:  Compressing even a moderately sized file can take a fair amount of time. You may want to consider waiting until the end of your work day before starting a compress.

Polaris recommends that you regularly back up your PackRat files, especially your *.prd, *.pri, and config.pdb file.  If any of your files get corrupted, try using the backup files in your PackRat backup directory (c:\packrat\backup is the default backup directory).

How to Compress

The compression process is extremely simple:

1.	Close PackRat (this is important - PackRat must be closed to compress).

2.	Open the Polaris Database Utility.

If you do not have a Polaris Database Utility icon on your desktop you may run it from the Windows File Manager by double-clicking on pdbtools.exe in your PackRat directory.

3.	Choose File menu - Compress.

The Select File Dialog Box appears.

4.	Select the file you wish to compress.

5.	Click OK.

The file will be compressed.

Repeat the above process for each file you wish to compress.

PDBTools creates backup copies of each file it compresses.  When you compress the *.prd file, *.bkd and *.bki files will be created and placed in your \packrat\backup directory.


Converting PackRat Files
Converting to 5.0 from old versions of PackRat

Updating from PackRat 4.1 to 5.0

The Convert process reads and copies your existing data into 5.0 data  files.  Your existing 4.1 files will not be affected.  The process is simple yet may be time consuming.  If you have large data files we recommend that you let the Convert run overnight.

PackRat 4.1 and 5.0 must be in separate directories.  If PackRat 5.0 was installed into the existing 4.1 directory, the executable files were overwritten.  You must reinstall PackRat 4.1 in order to prepare your existing data files for the conversion process.

How to Convert using the Polaris Database Utility

1.	Using 4.1, compress all of your 4.1 data files.

2.	Close (exit) PackRat 4.1.

3.	Make sure that PackRat 5.0 is closed.

4.	Open the Polaris Database Utility.

If you do not have a Polaris Database Utility icon on your desktop you may run it from the Windows File Manager by double-clicking on pdbtools.exe in your PackRat directory.

5.	Select File menu - Convert.

The Select File Dialog Box appears.

6.	Select the first PackRat 4.1 file to be converted and click OK.

7.	Repeat steps 5 and 6 for each file you wish to Convert.

How to Convert from PackRat 5.0

1.	Using 4.1, compress all of your 4.1 data files.

2.	Close (exit) PackRat 4.1.

3.	When 5.0 opens completely, select File menu -Close, and close any open data files. (PackRat automatically creates a file called "User" when you open it for the first time.)

4.	Select File menu - Convert.

The Select File Dialog Box appears.

5.	Select the first PackRat 4.1 file to be converted and click OK.

6.	Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each file you wish to Convert.

Accessing Converted Files and Information in PackRat 5.0

When the conversion process is complete, you will have a PackRat 5.0 file with the exact name (but different extension) as your 4.1 file.  To open these files in PackRat 5.0, select File menu - Open.  The Select File dialog box displays, enabling you to locate the directory where your PackRat 5.0 files are stored.  Select the file you wish to open and click OK.  The open file name(s) will display in the PackRat 5.0 Title Bar.

I can't find my all of my converted information!

Some SmartStart selections do not display certain forms as part of the default setup.  If you transferred particular types of information (Project and Resource Manager, for instance) from PackRat 4.1, you may not be able to find this information in PackRat 5.0 until you create/customize a List Viewer to display it.  The information is stored in the associated PackRat form (Projects form, Resources form), but you need to use a List Viewer object to display that form.

Updating from PackRat 4.0

For those users who are still using PackRat 4.0, there is a conversion utility available through the Polaris Sales Department that will move your data files into PackRat 4.1 format.  From here, your files may be converted to PackRat 5.0.  The name of the utility is [PR40TO41.EXE], and costs $49.95.  (1-800-PackRat)