text editor vs notepad

linux_sj · 03-24-2010, 09:27 AM

re: lock file on an access database.

i can see an .ldb file fine with windows notepad but

cannot see the .ldb file in ubuntu's text editor. Its just messy text of symbols and letter.

is there a way to view these files from ubuntu ?

nonamenobody · 03-24-2010, 09:55 AM

According to Microsoft Knowledgebase

Quote:

Q: Can a user or programmer gain access to the information in the .LDB
file?

A: No. The information in the .LDB file is only used internally by
Microsoft Access and is not designed to be used by users or programmers.

If all you are seeing is a mess of symbols and numbers, it is most likely because that is what the file actually contains. I am surprised that it looks any different in MS-Notepad, but I suppose it could have some sort of filter. It would be nice to see a screenshot of both.

Are you sure you are using Notepad and not Notepad++?

The following may be of some use http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186304

Searches for ldb and linux, seem to mostly just bring up pages related to LDAP-DB

rizhun · 03-24-2010, 09:57 AM

What is an LDB file?

EDIT: never-mind, nonamenobody's got it.

linux_sj · 03-24-2010, 09:58 AM

and ldb file is a ms access database lock file

i have the regular notepad through xp

rizhun · 03-24-2010, 10:10 AM

And does it make sense when you look at it through 'regular notepad'?

linux_sj · 03-24-2010, 10:11 AM

^ yes, i can read it fine in regular xp notepad

rizhun · 03-24-2010, 10:14 AM

Can you 'cat' from the command line?
Does it look better from there?

Code:

cat /path/to/file.ldb

Can you copy/paste the output here?

linux_sj · 03-24-2010, 10:27 AM

^ i get no such file or directory when using the cat command

HasC · 03-24-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rizhun

Can you 'cat' from the command line?
Does it look better from there?

Code:

cat /path/to/file.ldb

Can you copy/paste the output here?

Better

Code:

cat -v /path/to/file.ldb

so you don't get your terminal messed up, if the file is binary

linux_sj · 03-24-2010, 10:39 AM

^ cat does work.. You rock ! thanks for the help..

rizhun · 03-24-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linux_sj

^ i get no such file or directory when using the cat command

You need to change /path/to/file.ldb to the actual full path to your file.

And HasC is right, use 'cat -v'.

rizhun · 03-24-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linux_sj

^ cat does work.. You rock ! thanks for the help..

Hehehe, no probs

schneidz · 03-24-2010, 10:46 AM

since ms-notepad and ms-access are both ms products its reasonable to assume that they perform some special formatting when reading .ldb's in notepad.

does strings file.ldb give you anything useful ?
perhaps hexedit will help you scrub some info from it.

since none of us seem to use windows much, can you provide a sample of the text you see in notepad versus what you see in gedit ?

schneidz · 03-24-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linux_sj

^ cat does work.. You rock ! thanks for the help..

i still dont get how cat would print ascii text and gedit would display binary data ?
are you sure you were looking at the .ldb file and not .mdb ?