>>I have recently inherited a database that was designed several years ago (at least 8 yrs) by someone who thought they knew about relational databases. My job is to normalize the database. The problem is that the database has over 8 years of data! I have the new database designed, but I am having trouble fitting the old database records into the new structure!
>>
>>The original database had 3 main tables and a few look-up tables. The new structure will separate the 3 existing tables into 8 tables and each table will have several look-up tables.
>>
>>Can anybody give me some advice as to how to go about this?
>
>Probably, you should start new PRG file and populate it with procedures moving data from old tables to new ones. These procedures will be essentially SCAN/INSERT codes. You may have separate procedure for each new table, and then run them consequently starting with lookups and then master tables. You will find this approach valuable when time will come for real conversion from old system to new one (usually it should be done quickly without interrupting client's business).

I didn't even think that the solution of writing a program wasn't 100% clear. I guess without that realization, my response wasn't a lot of help. I just assumed we were talking about help writing the program. But re-reading the original post, I see that may not have been the understanding.

Take care.