title: SQL Connection string for Retail Pro Application Database
body: <p>I am trying to make a program using c# in .net for some custom data report.</p>
  
  <p>I need to do this based on a Retail Pro 8 POS Application and look forward for suggestions / help in understanding how to get the database connection.</p>
  
  <p>A hint given to me was that the application uses oracle database which may not be correct.</p>
  
  <p>I had not worked earlier with oracle database and I'm only familiar with MySQL and MSSQL and what makes me to doubt that the application runs on oracle database is i could easily take the dump from the client machine and run it on my machine without installing any oracle files.</p>
  
  <p>So guess it may be using some kind of portable database I am unable to figure-out the database files..</p>
  
  <p>some of the probable file extensions are 
  *.DIA, *.DAT, *.IX</p>
  
  <p>As per me Retail Pro is built on Delhi.</p>
  
  <p>Any suggestions on how to access database from within my .net program would be really helpful</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>Update :
  The version i am trying to work is Retail Pro 8 and this version uses B-Tree File data though now the newer version works on Oracle Database.</p>
  
  <p>I was able to get Retail Pro API which has documentation on plugin creation using Delphi 5.</p>
  
  <p>Now i have some clues but still don't prefer to venture out into a new prog lang just for pulling out some data from the data files.</p>
  
  <p>Would appreciate if some one shows some more insight how to open these files using c#.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks !</p>