I'm guessing the unreadable characters in your data are numeric values interspersed
among text strings.  The text strings will display normally but the numerics will come
out as odd, unreadable characters.

What do you mean by "flat file" format?  That's a database term and many Pascal
"databases" are already "flat file".

Also, look in the groups.google.com for postings on possibly this same subject.

You can get old versions of the language from the Museum; see c.l.p.b
mFAQ.  If you have the source that generated the file, it could be easy
to use that to help read it and rewrite it.

Delphi will read it, using packed records of suitable types.

But there are so many possibilities compatible with your description;
you would do best to talk it over with a local programmer, in front of a
computer, and sort it out that way.  The clues you can give as to
meaning will help the programmer extract fields and gain increased
understanding.

Do you need the whole data?  If you only need the legible parts, it will
be much easier.

RE: Converting Turbo Pascal file to ASCII or text
BY: Mary Westendorf <mary.westend...@uni.edu>

From your description it sounds like you have ONLY the DATA file.

Without the source of the program that created it, it is almost impossible to
convert it to another format (ASCII Delimited).

If you have the source to the program that created it, it is possible to create
a converter that would convert it for you.

Good luck!

Art Johnston

I would look for a repeating pattern which might indicate a structure. Then write a
simple program in whatever language you are familiar with to read the structure into
a simple record structure. Examine the result and see if you can make out data
fields and then add  add these to the record. You should be able to zero in on your
data. Its just a matter of how much time and trouble its worth.

good luck

frank