newsbin.com

Is there a utility that can be used to convert the Downloads.db3 file to an .nzb file that could then load into Newsbin?

I have a rather large (214,688 KB) Downloads.db3 file that was being used to download some files when I noticed that Newsbin 6.41 B-4 (64bit) had stopped processing downloads and that the Downloading Files window was empty. There is no way that all of the files were downloaded. I verified that the Downloads.db3 file still exists, and in doing so learned of it's file size. I'd not added any files for download during that, or the previous 2 sessions of Newsbin.

Fortunately, I've learned to make a backup of that file before I start Newsbin. I do that because Newsbin marks files as being downloaded when they are added to the download list, and not after they've actually been downloaded, making it impossible to determine what files have actually been downloaded when the downloads.db3 file is lost, or becomes damaged. Unfortunately, replacing the existing copy with the backup copy also results in the Downloading Files windows being empty...

I don't know what happened.

I've:

1. Run Scandisk, and defragmented the drive on which the Newsbin Data folder is located.
2. Run Scandisk, and defragmented the system drive where Newsbin installed.
3. Used the sqlite3 executable included with Newsbin to run VACUUM both the current and backup copies of the Downloads.db3 file. Bot completed successfully without the reporting of any errors.
3. Uninstalled Newsbin and, except for the contents of the Newsbin Data folder, wiped all remaining Newsbin files and folder located in C:\Program Files\; and C:\User Data\<username>\AppData\Local\Newsbin.
4. Reinstalled Newsbin using the default settings, added my registration data, exited, and then "launched" Newsbin using the Newsbin.nbi file in the Newsbin Data folder, with first the backup copy of the Downloads.db3 file, and then again with the current Downloads.db3 file, to ensure that Newsbin was using the intended Newsbin Data folder.

No joy.

Because there are/were so many files remaining to be downloaded, and there isn't a realistic means by which to determine what files marked as downloaded in a newsgroup's, or group of newsgroup's post window, have actually been downloaded, as opposed to have been merely marked for download, I'd like to recover and use the data in the Downloads.db3 file.

Downloads.db3 never shrinks. Even when it's empty, it retains it's largest size.What you're seeing might be remains from the old DB3 format.

Typically if a DB3 becomes corrupt, your only recourse is to delete and start over.

I deleted the Downloads.db3 file used with 6.41 B3 before installing B4. Using VACUUM reduced it's size be about 70% of the backup file made just before I started the then current session.

Drat.

I don't suppose you would consider returning to the old method whereby files added to the download list aren't marked as downloaded until they are actually downloaded? That would make the loos of a Downloads.db3 file easier to recover from.

Thank you again for all you and Dexter do with regard to the development and support of Newsbin. When I sometimes get discouraged with Newsbin, all I have to do to break out of the funk is remember what usenet was like before Newsbin.