Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

Hello world;

I have two questions with respect to MSAccess database files
(*.mdb and assorted helper files):

1) Is there documentation (presumably imperfect, achieved by
reverse engineering/hacking) that gives the true binary mode
structure of MSAccess files?

2) I assume (I have not yet tested) that Access overwrites
deleted records.

- If this is NOT true, are there tools that will permit me to
read deleted records within tables, even if all the
relational links have been broken?

- In general, are there tools that will permit me to know the
true binary offset of records within tables of the files
which comprise an MSAccess database?

These questions relate to forensic accounting.

Thanks for any assistance;

Cordially;

Friar Broccoli
Robert Keith Elias, Quebec, Canada Email: EliasRK (of) gmail * com
Best programmer's & all purpose text editor: http://www.semware.com


--------- I consider ALL arguments in support of my views --------

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

"Friar Broccoli" wrote
[color=blue]
> 1) Is there documentation (presumably
> imperfect, achieved by reverse engineering/
> hacking) that gives the true binary mode
> structure of MSAccess files?[/color]

There's no comprehensive document that I know about. I have seen odds and
ends about the subject. But, there is a reason that Microsoft does not
publish that information -- there have been changes to the system tables
(and that implies changes to the code and structure) in every release...
sometimes even to the extent of adding or deleting system tables.

There clearly are people who have analyzed and understand the structure; one
is Peter Miller, of PK Solutions, whose business includes data recovery from
corrupted databases, which is dependent on his understanding of the
structure. I am quite certain he would not be interested in making his
research on this subject available.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

The closest you'll come to a published layout of the structure is here:
http://mdbtools.sourceforge.net/install/c29.htm

--

HTH
Stephen Lebans
http://www.lebans.com
Access Code, Tips and Tricks
Please respond only to the newsgroups so everyone can benefit.
"Friar Broccoli" <EliasRK@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1130245784.386350.182370@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello world;
>
> I have two questions with respect to MSAccess database files
> (*.mdb and assorted helper files):
>
> 1) Is there documentation (presumably imperfect, achieved by
> reverse engineering/hacking) that gives the true binary mode
> structure of MSAccess files?
>
> 2) I assume (I have not yet tested) that Access overwrites
> deleted records.
>
> - If this is NOT true, are there tools that will permit me to
> read deleted records within tables, even if all the
> relational links have been broken?
>
> - In general, are there tools that will permit me to know the
> true binary offset of records within tables of the files
> which comprise an MSAccess database?
>
> These questions relate to forensic accounting.
>
> Thanks for any assistance;
>
> Cordially;
>
> Friar Broccoli
> Robert Keith Elias, Quebec, Canada Email: EliasRK (of) gmail * com
> Best programmer's & all purpose text editor: http://www.semware.com
>
>
> --------- I consider ALL arguments in support of my views --------
>[/color]

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

Stephen Lebans wrote:[color=blue]
> The closest you'll come to a published layout of the structure is here:
> http://mdbtools.sourceforge.net/install/c29.htm[/color]

God bless you! (If you're that sort of person)
A file named "HACKING" contains a complete description of the data
structures.
Who could ask for more?
You (and the fine folks who wrote it) saved me AT LEAST six months of
work.

For your info, I couldn't get thru to your page at:
[color=blue]
> http://www.lebans.com[/color]

Cordially;

Friar Broccoli
Robert Keith Elias, Quebec, Canada Email: EliasRK (of) gmail * com
Best programmer's & all purpose text editor: http://www.semware.com

--------- I consider ALL arguments in support of my views ---------

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

My ISP is located in Florida. My site access has been intermittent since the
Hurricane.

--

HTH
Stephen Lebans
http://www.lebans.com
Access Code, Tips and Tricks
Please respond only to the newsgroups so everyone can benefit.
"Friar Broccoli" <EliasRK@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1130282714.913020.86320@g47g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Stephen Lebans wrote:[color=green]
>> The closest you'll come to a published layout of the structure is here:
>> http://mdbtools.sourceforge.net/install/c29.htm[/color]
>
> God bless you! (If you're that sort of person)
> A file named "HACKING" contains a complete description of the data
> structures.
> Who could ask for more?
> You (and the fine folks who wrote it) saved me AT LEAST six months of
> work.
>
> For your info, I couldn't get thru to your page at:
>[color=green]
>> http://www.lebans.com[/color]
>
> Cordially;
>
> Friar Broccoli
> Robert Keith Elias, Quebec, Canada Email: EliasRK (of) gmail * com
> Best programmer's & all purpose text editor: http://www.semware.com
>
> --------- I consider ALL arguments in support of my views ---------
>[/color]

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

"Larry Linson" <bouncer@localhost.not> wrote in
news:uXt7f.3515$HW5.1274@trnddc04:
[color=blue]
> There clearly are people who have analyzed and understand the
> structure; one is Peter Miller, of PK Solutions, whose business
> includes data recovery from corrupted databases, which is
> dependent on his understanding of the structure. I am quite
> certain he would not be interested in making his research on this
> subject available.[/color]

But he might be hirable for forensic accounting projects.

--
David W. Fenton http://www.bway.net/~dfenton
dfenton at bway dot net http://www.bway.net/~dfassoc

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

"David W. Fenton" <dXXXfenton@bway.net.invalid> wrote
[color=blue]
> But he (Peter Miller) might be hirable for
> forensic accounting projects.[/color]

Yes, I suspect he might be.

Larry

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

Larry Linson wrote:[color=blue]
> "David W. Fenton" <dXXXfenton@bway.net.invalid> wrote
>[color=green]
> > But he (Peter Miller) might be hirable for
> > forensic accounting projects.[/color]
>
> Yes, I suspect he might be.[/color]

If I found him a client, do you think he'd pay a
finder's fee commission?

Cordially;

Friar Broccoli
Robert Keith Elias, Quebec, Canada Email: EliasRK (of) gmail * com
Best programmer's & all purpose text editor: http://www.semware.com


--------- I consider ALL arguments in support of my views --------

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

"Friar Broccoli" <EliasRK@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1130329965.602791.108870@g44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com:
[color=blue]
> Larry Linson wrote:[color=green]
>> "David W. Fenton" <dXXXfenton@bway.net.invalid> wrote
>>[color=darkred]
>> > But he (Peter Miller) might be hirable for
>> > forensic accounting projects.[/color]
>>
>> Yes, I suspect he might be.[/color]
>
> If I found him a client, do you think he'd pay a
> finder's fee commission?[/color]

No, he wouldn't.

I send him work all the time, and would never expect a finder's fee
from him. His fees are way too reasonable for there to be any room
for a cut for me (not that I'd want one anyway -- I benefit from the
good feeling the clients get from having their problems solved so
quickly, efficiently and successfully by Peter).

--
David W. Fenton http://www.bway.net/~dfenton
dfenton at bway dot net http://www.bway.net/~dfassoc

re: Finding the true binary structure and contents of MS-Access files

David W. Fenton wrote:[color=blue]
> "Friar Broccoli" <EliasRK@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1130329965.602791.108870@g44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com:
>[color=green]
> > Larry Linson wrote:[color=darkred]
> >> "David W. Fenton" <dXXXfenton@bway.net.invalid> wrote
> >>
> >> > But he (Peter Miller) might be hirable for
> >> > forensic accounting projects.
> >>
> >> Yes, I suspect he might be.[/color]
> >
> > If I found him a client, do you think he'd pay a
> > finder's fee commission?[/color]
>
> No, he wouldn't.
>
> I send him work all the time, and would never expect a finder's fee
> from him. His fees are way too reasonable for there to be any room
> for a cut for me (not that I'd want one anyway -- I benefit from the
> good feeling the clients get from having their problems solved so
> quickly, efficiently and successfully by Peter).[/color]

Please accept my apologies. Sometimes I demonstrate a particularly
sick sense of humour. I checked your posting history, so I know for
certain that the implication of my question was false.

Cordially;

Friar Broccoli
Robert Keith Elias, Quebec, Canada Email: EliasRK (of) gmail * com
Best programmer's & all purpose text editor: http://www.semware.com

--------- I consider ALL arguments in support of my views ---------