Fellow computer wizards, I'm in need of some help.
I have files which are created in a proprietary format, read only by a specific software application. Now, through this application I have the option to export the data contained within the files in a .csv format (which I can then go on to process in excel etc.).
These files are akeen to database files (i.e. loads of different columns with numerical data or a select number of text strings such as ON, OFF etc.) so I know that they essentially contain pretty much text data. The software reads the data and creates charts and graphical representations.
Everything is fine so far, I got the software and I can export my data in .csv to manipulate through excel. My problem though is that this software does not offer batch processing and I need to analyse about 50 files per day for periods of about 3-6 months. This means that I have to manually open all the files and manually click through to export in .csv.
Looking at the files with a hex editor it's all a bunch of rubbish, clearly obfuskated somehow (or compressed perhaps?) by the software that creates them. Since I have the output and I can see (through the software) what they contain, is there a way to "read" the original files myself, without the need of the software, and dump their innards into a .csv file? If so, please direct me to where I can find more info on this.
Disclaimer: this has nothing to do with any sort of illegal or questionable activity. I'm just trying to make my work a bit easier.
I have files which are created in a proprietary format, read only by a specific software application. Now, through this application I have the option to export the data contained within the files in a .csv format (which I can then go on to process in excel etc.).
These files are akeen to database files (i.e. loads of different columns with numerical data or a select number of text strings such as ON, OFF etc.) so I know that they essentially contain pretty much text data. The software reads the data and creates charts and graphical representations.
Everything is fine so far, I got the software and I can export my data in .csv to manipulate through excel. My problem though is that this software does not offer batch processing and I need to analyse about 50 files per day for periods of about 3-6 months. This means that I have to manually open all the files and manually click through to export in .csv.
Looking at the files with a hex editor it's all a bunch of rubbish, clearly obfuskated somehow (or compressed perhaps?) by the software that creates them. Since I have the output and I can see (through the software) what they contain, is there a way to "read" the original files myself, without the need of the software, and dump their innards into a .csv file? If so, please direct me to where I can find more info on this.
Disclaimer: this has nothing to do with any sort of illegal or questionable activity. I'm just trying to make my work a bit easier.