Guidelines for manipulating the default dbf datasource

[alan]

FirstSpot comes bundled with a default dbf (i.e. dbase) datasource. We also support MySQL and MS SQL server (refer to readme.rtf for the exact requirements). As dbf is a file-based datasource, it is sometimes tempting for administrator to open the database files directly. Please note the following guidelines to prevent corrupting dbf tables:

1) never copy/backup the database files when FirstSpot is started. You can end up having an inconsistent database
2) never open the database files directly when FirstSpot is started. This might lock the files and break FirstSpot database access
3) Note that there are tools in the market that can change the dbf datasource. We encounter a lot of problems like corrupting the index by just opening the dbf files (without even saving!) with those tools in the past. So we strongly recommended against them. It should be okay to use MS Access for read-only purpose though.
4) The best (and official supported) way is to change the dbf datasource is to execute SQL against the table through the ODBC interface. You can execute SQL from PHP or MSQRY32.EXE (available in Microsoft Office). The table definition is in chapter 5 of firstspot_guide.pdf.

If you suspect your dbf table is corrupted, you can use the below steps to rebuild the database table (using table fsusr as an example):
1) stop FirstSpot
2) Export user table fsusr within Configuration Manager -> Users
3) Backup the files fsusr.dbf, fsusr.inf and fsusr.mdx in FirstSpot\datasource directory
4) Copy (and replace) the files fsusr.dbf, fsusr.inf and fsusr.mdx from the original setup zip file to the FirstSpot\datasource directory.
5) Import user table fsusr within Configuration Manager -> Users
6) start FirstSpot
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