Convert Paradox Database to a Web App | Migration
To migrate a Borland or Corel Paradox database application to the web, you extract the data from the Paradox .DB tables into a modern server database and rebuild the ObjectPAL forms and business logic as a browser-based web application. Paradox is discontinued and the BDE is deprecated, so the goal is not to keep it running a little longer but to move your data onto a supported platform and re-create the application cleanly. We audit what the old system does, rescue the data, and rebuild it as a secure, multi-user web app, delivered remotely with English support.
Why a Paradox application is now a liability
Paradox was a capable database for its era, but it has been out of active development for a long time, and every year it becomes harder and riskier to keep alive:
- Discontinued and unsupported: there are no modern updates, no official support and no safe path to current operating systems.
- Fragile .DB tables: Paradox tables corrupt and become difficult to open, and matching index (.PX/.MB) files make recovery fiddly.
- BDE is deprecated: the Borland Database Engine is a dead layer that does not sit well with modern 64-bit Windows and networks.
- ObjectPAL skills are gone: finding anyone who can maintain ObjectPAL or a Paradox for DOS/Windows app is now very hard and expensive.
- No modern access or security: it offers no browser access, no phone or tablet use, and no proper role-based permissions or audit trail.
For a plain-language comparison of why moving to the browser removes these risks, see our note on web vs installed software.
Our migration approach: rescue the data, rebuild the logic
Your data is the asset. The Paradox engine and the ObjectPAL screens are the risk. We treat them separately:
- Rescue the data: we read the .DB tables, repair what we can and move everything into a modern server database with keys and relationships intact.
- Rebuild business logic: ObjectPAL methods, validations and calculations are re-created as clean web code, not machine-translated.
- Preserve the workflow: the rebuilt screens mirror how your team already works, so adoption is quick.
This sits within our broader legacy software rescue practice, and where a client wants new capability beyond a like-for-like rebuild we add it through custom software development.
What you get
- Web and mobile access: the application runs in any browser, on PC, tablet or phone, in the office or remotely.
- 50+ concurrent users: a server database supports many simultaneous users without the table corruption Paradox suffered.
- Role-based access: real accounts, permissions and an audit trail replace open file access.
- Automatic backups: scheduled, restorable backups instead of copying fragile .DB files.
- A supported future: a current, maintainable stack that you can extend for years.
Paradox was often used for stock, parts and records systems, so many clients pair the migration with a proper ERP solution to join finance, inventory and operations.
How the project runs
- Audit: we inventory every Paradox table, form and ObjectPAL routine and document the real workflow.
- Rebuild: we construct the web application screen by screen and check each against the original behaviour.
- Data migration: we extract and clean the .DB data, load it into the server database and reconcile totals.
- Training and handover: we train your team, run a parallel period, then cut over and support you remotely in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover data from corrupted Paradox tables?
In most cases, yes. We read the .DB tables directly and repair common corruption during extraction. Even where a table is damaged, we can usually rescue the bulk of the records and flag anything that needs your review.
Do you still need the BDE to read our data?
Only during extraction, if at all. Once your data is in the new server database, the BDE is gone for good and your application no longer depends on any deprecated Borland components.
Nobody here knows ObjectPAL anymore. Is that a problem?
No. We reverse-engineer the behaviour of the ObjectPAL forms and methods by examining the application and working with your team, then rebuild that logic in a modern, documented web stack that is easy to maintain.
How do we work with you if you are remote?
The project is delivered remotely with English-language support from start to finish. We do not claim a local office or certifications we do not hold; we work through video calls, screen sharing and a shared project tracker.
