Transferring data from flat file to relational DBs

[bharris]

I currently have a curriculum database that was designed as a flat file. For increased efficiency and functionality, I would like to transfer this to a relational solution. The basic structure of the database is this:

For every objective, there are many benchmarks.

For every benchmark, there are many indicators.

The current flat file is in the format:

Record 1: Objective 1, benchmark A, Indicator i

Record 2: Objective 1, benchmark A, indicator ii

Record 3: Objective 1, benchmark B, indicator i

Record 3: Objective 1, benchmark B, indicator ii

I have created 3 databases:

Objectives.fp5

Benchmarks.fp5

Indicators.fp5

I have created serial key fields that link multiple indicators to the appropriate benchmark and multiple benchmarks to the appropriate objective.

My question:

How can I transfer the data from the existing flat file into the new relational databases (tables), creating the appropriate links betweeen the data?

[BobWeaver]

In brief:

You can do this by importing the same flat file data into all three new files. Then delete duplicate objectives records from the objective file, and delete duplicate objective/benchmarks records from the benchmark file. Create relationships based on the objective field between the objective and benchmark files, and on the benchmark field between the benchmark and indicators file.

[ April 01, 2002, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: BobWeaver ]