On 10 July 2014 18:34, Mark Rotteveel mark@... [firebird-support] <firebird-support@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

On 9-7-2014 21:34, 'Edward Mendez' Emendez001@...
[firebird-support] wrote:
> I have a situation where I might have to open up a FIREBIRD Database
> file that I didn’t create or maintain. I probably will not know the
> exact version of FIREBIRD this file was used with. It can be anything
> from FIREBIRD 2.1.4 up to 2.5.2
>
> The database file will be given to me on a read only external HD. It
> will be accessed from a windows 7 PC. Everything I will need must
> already be preinstalled on this PC before taking possession of this
> Database File. (i.e. this PC will not be connected to the internet in
> order to install new software.) I can have an installer reside on a
> folder for install if I need it.

> One question I have was that if I install a FB 2.5.2 Server on this
> windows PC would I be able to open a Database that has been created
> using a 2.1.4 server?

Yes, a Firebird 2.5 can open database from Firebird 2.1. Upgrading the
database by backup and restore is a best practice (it upgrades the ODS
so new features are available), but it is not strictly necessary. With
Firebird 3 this is going to change!

> Are there any programs out there that can open up a Firebird DB locally
> without a server/embedded installed?

At a minimum you will need a program that uses Firebird embedded.

> My plan was to…
>
> 1)Keep a copy of the msi installers for Firebird server 2.1.4/5 & 2.52
> somewhere on the Disk of this PC.

That sounds like the wisest course of action.

> 2)Install a copy of IBEXPERT free edition on the PC to view the data/schema
>
> 3)Install FBExport & FBCopy in case I need to export the data into
> another format.
>
> Is there something I might have missed or something that will work
> better than what I plan to use.

Can't think of anything else right now.

However, the big question is: what is it you need to do with the
database? If the database is damaged and the needs to be repaired, then
Firebird will not be able to (correctly) read the file, and you'd sooner
need something like IBSurgeon FirstAID (assuming simple fixes with gfix
won't work).

Mark

--
Mark Rotteveel