Question : .dmp File

I am working on a vendor file clean-up and I received a .dmp file which I need to open and import into either Access or Excel.  I am used to getting .csv files which I have no problems importing into either Access, Excel, or text editors; however this .dmp file doesn't open with any of the applications I am used to using.


I was told I can 'create an "oracle test database" and then link my Access database to this "oracle test database" via ODBC.'  However I am not proficient in Oracle nor do I know how to create an "oracle test database" nor the right application to do this with.  

Can someone help or provide me with step by step instructions on what or how to open this .dmp file?

Thanks!

Answer : .dmp File

Assuming the file is an Oracle .dmp (export) file, you cannot open it with Access or Excel. It is an Oracle format.

You can either ask the originator to send you a CSV file, or install Oracle and import the file into an empty instance.

I recommend downloading Oracle from Oracle's website, running the installer and choosing the defaults to create the sample database.

Then use "imp" to import the file.

The problem here is we have no information whether the .dmp file is for a single database schema or a full export (whole database). How you import it depends on that. Ask the person who sent you what version of Oracle and also how he did the export, so you know how to import it.

Example:
  To import from a full export file an old schema named fred, into a new schema user named barney...

With imp:
  set ORACLE_SID=ORA1
  imp system/admin file=export.dmp fromuser=fred touser=barney