Btrieve / Pervasive PSQL

Btrieve (now Pervasive PSQL, Actian Zen) is a key-value database system with optional relational SQL layer. It uses B-tree indexing and is widely deployed in vertical market applications.

What You Can Upload

• .btr Btrieve data files
• .ddf data dictionary files
• Associated index files
• ZIP archive with complete file sets

What You Get Out

DataMeans extracts your data into multiple modern formats:

Output	Description
csv/{TableName}.csv	One CSV file per table with all row data
xlsx/{TableName}.xlsx	Excel workbook per table
xls/{TableName}.xls	Legacy Excel format per table
json/{TableName}.json	JSON array of records per table
json/{TableName}.jsonl	Newline-delimited JSON (streaming-friendly)
postgres.sql	PostgreSQL CREATE TABLE + INSERT statements
schema/schema-graph.json	Relationship graph for visualization
schema/er-model.json	ER model for diagram tools
report.json	Structured extraction report
report.md	Human-readable extraction summary

How to Export / Obtain Files

1. Locate your application's Btrieve data directory
2. Copy all .btr data files
3. Include .ddf dictionary files (essential for field mapping)
4. Create a ZIP with all files
5. Upload the ZIP to DataMeans

Supported Features

• Key-value record extraction
• B-tree index analysis
• Data dictionary parsing for field definitions
• Record structure mapping
• Variable-length record handling

Known Limitations

• Data dictionary (DDF) files required for proper field mapping
• Some proprietary application-specific structures may need review
• Version-specific format differences exist

Overview

Btrieve (now Actian Zen) is a transactional database engine using Indexed Sequential Access Method (ISAM) for high-performance data storage and retrieval. Originally developed for embedded applications, it provides record-level access with multi-user concurrency, transactional integrity, and flexible indexing. The engine uses proprietary file formats optimized for speed and reliability in business applications.

History and Background

• 1982: SoftCraft develops Btrieve as a record manager.
• 1987: Novell acquires SoftCraft, integrates Btrieve with NetWare.
• 1994: Novell spins off Btrieve to BTI (Btrieve Technologies Inc.).
• 1996: BTI is renamed Pervasive Software.
• 1998: Pervasive.SQL 7 combines Btrieve 7.0 with Scalable SQL 4.
• 2005: Pervasive PSQL v9 expands maximum file sizes with the 9.0 and 9.5 formats.
• 2007: Pervasive PSQL Summit v10 introduces 64-bit engine support.
• 2010: Pervasive PSQL v11 adds full 64-bit and IPv6 support.
• 2013: Actian acquires Pervasive Software.
• 2019: Zen v14 completes the rebranding from Pervasive PSQL to Actian Zen.
• 2024: Actian Zen v16 introduces the 16.0 file format with long key support.

File Format Specifications

Btrieve uses proprietary ISAM-based file formats with efficient indexing and storage.

File Extensions:

• .btr: Conventional extension for Btrieve data files (binary ISAM format)
• .mkd: Conventional extension for MicroKernel Database Engine data files
• .ddf: Data dictionary files describing table schema for the relational engine
• No separate index files - indexes embedded in the data file

File Structure:

• Fixed-length or variable-length records
• B-tree indexes for fast key-based access
• Page-based storage with page sizes from 512 to 16,384 bytes
• Optional record compression and page compression (9.5 format onward)
• Transaction log segments for recovery (.log files)

Key Components:

• Data pages: Store actual record data
• Index pages: B-tree nodes for key navigation
• File control record: Metadata including format version and page size
• Page allocation tables: Map logical pages to physical pages (6.0 format onward)
• Variable-tail allocation tables: Locate overflow portions of variable-length records (6.15 onward)

Data Types and Structures

Btrieve supports the following documented key types:

Type Code	Type	Size	Description
0	String	Variable	Character data ordered left to right, blank-padded
1	Integer	1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes	Signed binary integer
2	Float	4 or 8 bytes	IEEE single or double precision
3	Date	4 bytes	Day, month, and year (0001 to 9999)
4	Time	4 bytes	Hundredths, seconds, minutes, hours
5	Decimal	Variable	Packed decimal, two digits per byte
6	Money	Variable	Decimal representation with two implied decimal places
7	Logical	1 or 2 bytes	Boolean collated as a string
8	Numeric	Variable	Zoned decimal stored as ASCII digits
9	BFloat	4 or 8 bytes	Microsoft Basic floating point (legacy)
10	LString	Variable	Length-prefixed (Pascal-style) string
11	ZString	Variable	Null-terminated (C-style) byte string
12	Note	Variable	Legacy text type, superseded
13	LVar	Variable	Legacy variable-length type, superseded
14	Unsigned Binary	Variable	Unsigned integer compared byte by byte
15	Autoincrement	2, 4, or 8 bytes	Automatically assigned ascending integer
25	WString	Variable	UCS-2 Unicode string, not null-terminated
26	WZString	Variable	Double-null-terminated Unicode string

Database Structure:

• Records: Fixed-length or variable-length data units
• Keys: Indexed fields for fast access (up to 119 keys per file)
• Segments: Multi-field composite keys (up to 420 segments per file in the 9.5 format with 8 KB or larger pages)
• Duplicates: Keys may be unique or allow duplicate values
• Referential integrity: Enforced by the relational engine using data dictionary definitions

Version Differences

Version	Year	Key Features	File Format
Btrieve 5.x	1988	NetWare-native engine; transaction logging in 5.1	5.x, pre-image paging
Btrieve 6.0	1992	Shadow paging	6.0, page allocation tables
Btrieve 6.15	1994	MicroKernel Database Engine	6.x, variable-tail allocation tables
Pervasive.SQL 7	1998	Btrieve 7.0 bundled with Scalable SQL 4	7.x
Pervasive PSQL v9	2005	Larger databases, improved Linux support	9.0 (128 GB); 9.5 (256 GB)
Pervasive PSQL v10	2007	First 64-bit engine support	No format change
Pervasive PSQL v11	2010	Full 64-bit and IPv6 support	No format change
PSQL v13	2017	8-byte autoincrement, Android and iOS support	13.0 (terabyte file sizes)
Actian Zen v14	2019	Zen rebranding, AES-256 encryption, JSON filtering	No format change
Actian Zen v15	2021	SQL windowing functions	No format change
Actian Zen v16	2024	Long keys, Kafka integration	16.0

Compatibility Notes:

• Later engines open files created in earlier formats; 5.x and older files are read-only until rebuilt
• Btrieve 6.x and earlier engines cannot open files in the 7.0 or later formats
• Automatic in-place format upgrade applies only from 8.x to 9.0
• The Rebuild utility converts files between format versions
• Page compression requires the 9.5 file format or later

Technical References

• Wikipedia: Btrieve
• Wikipedia: Actian Zen
• Actian Zen Data Types
• Actian Zen Converting Data Files
• BTR File Format

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To learn how to use this format with DataMeans, see the User Guide.