Rewrite a 12-year-old database application for a new platform

We have a database application which is used to store information about products which we sell. This was written about 12 years ago using Borland tools and I believe it uses a Borland Paradox database back end. The architecture is client server and each of a handful of operators has a locally installed executable file to access the database tables located on the network. Over time, as Windows has evolved, this has become more difficult to implement and maintain. We no longer have the original source code, only the database and executable. We now wish to migrate this to a new platform but the existing data must be retrieved and imported. There are currently just over 600 records and each record contains approximately 12 fields. An additional challenge is that when a record is created, a unique software key code is also created. The value of this 12 digit key code depends on certain software feature fields which are checked or uncheck while entering the record. The code is then supplied to end users and will allow features within the software product which we sell, to be un-locked. We no longer have information on the algorithm used to generate this key code, so an important part of this project is to deduce the algorithm purely from the data supplied and to recreate it in the new application. This may sound complex but actually we believe it will be relatively simple to crack. We can supply a copy of our end product software for testing purposes. We are open to suggestions on a suitable platform and database. The size of the database is unlikely to grow any faster in the future. Microsoft access may be suitable using the split database approach and we would be open to suggestions for any browser-based ideas which would ease deployment. ## Deliverables To evaluate this project and to produce a bid you will need to get the old application running. The first step towards this is to have the ball and database engine running and I suggest windows XP is probably the best option. To facilitate this I have included a copy of our main software application which is called Pathfinder. Check through the zip file is attached to the project and install the full version of Pathfinder revision 12. This will also install the Borland database engine. At the initial stage you do not need a key code to unlock Pathfinder -- once you have the key code and storage application running you should have full access to the entire history of key codes. Searched through the other parts of the zip file and you will find instructions to install the key code software in a networked environment. In this instance you can place both the database tables and the executable in a folder of the C drive. You must also use the Borland database manager to create a new alias: take care to do this correctly, it is case sensitive. This should take you to the stage where the old Borland application is running and you can scroll down and see all of the records. If you have any difficulty with the steps or would like me to provide more detailed instructions or screenshots please ask.