Converting a Database from a previous Version to and from Version 6.6

If you want to upgrade a database from Version 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 or 6.5 to Version 6.6, there are two options available to you:

  1. Convert the data using either the utility ADABCK or ADAORD. This option requires that you

    1. Create a new Version 6.6 database;

    2. Unload the old database using ADABCK DUMP or ADAORD EXPORT (old version);

    3. Load the new database using ADABCK RESTORE or ADAORD IMPORT (version 6.6).

  2. Convert the data using the utility ADACVT. This utility converts an existing database in place.

    If you want to upgrade a database from Version 3 or Version 5, you must first upgrade the database to Version 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 or 6.5, as described in the Release Notes of the version-specific documentation, and then proceed as described below.

Important:
It is highly recommended that you perform the following actions: prior to converting a database, use ADABCK to dump the database, then after a database has been converted, use the ADAVFY'S FIELD and INDEX functions to verify the consistency of the database.

Converting a Version 6.1, Version 6.2, Version 6.3, Version 6.4 or Version 6.5 Database to Version 6.6

The utilities ADACVT, ADABCK and ADAORD make the following modifications:

  • The structure level in the General Control Block (GCB) is increased;

  • The structure of the FDT is changed, when a Version 6.1 database is converted;

  • Databases are included in the ADABAS.INI file, when a DBxxx.INI file exists;

  • The AUTOSTART options in ADABAS.INI file are adapted.

Converting a Database from a Version prior to Version 6.1 to Version 6.6

If you want to convert a database from Version 3 or Version 5, you must first upgrade the database to Version 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 or 6.5, as described in the Release Notes of the version-specific documentation, and then proceed as described above.

Downgrading a Version 6.6 Database to a Previous Version

Use the utility ADACVT to convert a database to a previous version. ADACVT converts the database in place to the selected target version (Version 6.3 through Version 6.5). A downgrade is not possible if features introduced with Version 6.6 were used.

Alternative Method to convert from Version 6.6 to Version 6.5, 6.4 or 6.3

It is also possible to convert a Version 6.6 database back to Version 6.5, Version 6.4 or Version 6.3 using the utility ADABCK. This is done by restoring a backup made with ADABCK Version 6.6 with the utility ADABCK of the respective target version. Unless the database is restored from scratch, ADABCK's version and the version of target database must coincide. However, this method is not applicable if features introduced with Version 6.6 were used.

Collation Descriptors Created with ICU Version 5.4

Collation descriptors created with ICU Version 5.4 are not processed correctly with Adabas versions 6.3 to 6.4. Therefore, after the conversion to the target version with ADACVT/ADABCK, it is necessary to perform an ADAINV REINVERT of the collation descriptors with the ADAINV of the target version.

Without the REINVERT, you get unexpected errors or incorrect results when you try to access the collation descriptors.