I got the following error when open a table

DBISAM Engine Error # 8961 Header information corrupt in the table 'ABC'

....then I use DBSys to repair the table, a log show that the error cannot be
fixed

Repair of table ABC started at 30/3/2007 17:58:32...
Invalid field data type (Unknown) for field Repaired_Fld0 in table header,
error cannot be fixed...
Repair of table ABC completed at 30/3/2007 17:58:33...

Any idea?

Louis

Louis,

<< I got the following error when open a table

DBISAM Engine Error # 8961 Header information corrupt in the table 'ABC'

...then I use DBSys to repair the table, a log show that the error cannot
be fixed

Repair of table ABC started at 30/3/2007 17:58:32...
Invalid field data type (Unknown) for field Repaired_Fld0 in table header,
error cannot be fixed...
Repair of table ABC completed at 30/3/2007 17:58:33... >>

The table header is completely messed up, and probably is not recoverable.
This also usually means that a lot of the table is in a similar state since
the Windows file system probably just inserted junk from other files into
the file after an improper shutdown of the OS.  If you want to email me the
table, I can look at it and see if it is recoverable.  I'll also need a good
empty version of the same table with the same structure that can be used to
extract the table header information.

--
Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com

Tim,

I am trying to send you the data file but the email is rejected. Please let
me know how can I send you the file.

Louis


  ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<timyoung@elevatesoft.com>
   (reason: 554 Transaction failed - unsolicited attachments)

  ----- Transcript of session follows -----
.... while talking to mail.elevatesoft.com.:
>>> DATA
<<< 554 Transaction failed - unsolicited attachments
554 5.0.0 Service unavailable


"Tim Young [Elevate Software]" <timyoung@elevatesoft.com> wrote in message
news:929199E5-82A8-48E7-B042-2DA4FCC682B5@news.elevatesoft.com...
> Louis,
>
> << I got the following error when open a table
>
> DBISAM Engine Error # 8961 Header information corrupt in the table 'ABC'
>
> ...then I use DBSys to repair the table, a log show that the error cannot
> be fixed
>
> Repair of table ABC started at 30/3/2007 17:58:32...
> Invalid field data type (Unknown) for field Repaired_Fld0 in table header,
> error cannot be fixed...
> Repair of table ABC completed at 30/3/2007 17:58:33... >>
>
> The table header is completely messed up, and probably is not recoverable.
> This also usually means that a lot of the table is in a similar state
> since the Windows file system probably just inserted junk from other files
> into the file after an improper shutdown of the OS.  If you want to email
> me the table, I can look at it and see if it is recoverable.  I'll also
> need a good empty version of the same table with the same structure that
> can be used to extract the table header information.
>
> --
> Tim Young
> Elevate Software
> www.elevatesoft.com
>

Tim Young [Elevate Software] wrote:
> Louis,
>
> << I got the following error when open a table
>
>  DBISAM Engine Error # 8961 Header information corrupt in the table 'ABC'
>
>  ...then I use DBSys to repair the table, a log show that the error cannot
> be fixed
>
>  Repair of table ABC started at 30/3/2007 17:58:32...
>  Invalid field data type (Unknown) for field Repaired_Fld0 in table header,
>  error cannot be fixed...
>  Repair of table ABC completed at 30/3/2007 17:58:33... >>
>
> The table header is completely messed up, and probably is not recoverable.
> This also usually means that a lot of the table is in a similar state since
> the Windows file system probably just inserted junk from other files into
> the file after an improper shutdown of the OS.  If you want to email me the
> table, I can look at it and see if it is recoverable.  I'll also need a good
> empty version of the same table with the same structure that can be used to
> extract the table header information.
>

Tim,
    Would it not be possible for the repair process to ask for an
identical table so it could borrow the table structure? This would
eliminate the manual repair process and could be something that can be
done in the field. (Please excuse the pun

Dave

Louis,

<< I am trying to send you the data file but the email is rejected. Please
let me know how can I send you the file. >>

Send me an email without the attachment, and then I will reply.  Then you
can send me the attachment.

--
Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com

Dave,

<< Would it not be possible for the repair process to ask for an identical
table so it could borrow the table structure? This would eliminate the
manual repair process and could be something that can be done in the field.
(Please excuse the pun>>

It's not that simple.  Sometimes the table header has been overwritten with
data that has been shifted forward in the file, but most of the time the
header issue is just an indication that the entire file is screwed.  It has
to be looked at manually with a hex editor first to see what the issues are.
I would say that 99% of the cases where the table header is messed up, the
rest of the file is pretty much toast and filled with data from various
system DLLs, etc.

This is why it is so important to occasionally tell Windows to flush its
buffers to disk via the FlushBuffers method.

--
Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com