Migrating data from Firebird to PostgreSQL

This guide walks you through migrating data from Firebird to PostgreSQL in a few simple steps using ESF Database Migration Toolkit. Simplify complex migration tasks and save valuable time with our streamlined approach.

Firebird vs. PostgreSQL:

FireBird is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that offers robust features, high performance, and scalability. It provides cross-platform support, running on Windows, Linux, macOS, and various Unix platforms. With its SQL compliance, ACID transactions, and multi-generational architecture, Firebird is well-suited for both small-scale applications and enterprise-level deployments. Additionally, its lightweight footprint and minimal administration requirements make it a popular choice for embedded database solutions.
PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source relational database management system known for its reliability, robust feature set, and extensibility. It offers support for a wide range of data types, indexing techniques, and advanced features such as full-text search, JSON support, and geospatial data processing. With a strong emphasis on standards compliance and ACID compliance, PostgreSQL is widely used across various industries for handling complex data management tasks, from small-scale projects to large-scale enterprise applications. Its active community, frequent updates, and ecosystem of extensions contribute to its popularity and ongoing development.

Prerequisite:

Software Required:

DMToolkit_x64.zip (63.5 MiB)	64-bit Windows application for ESF Database Migration Toolkit 12.2.09 (2025-07-17). (md5: af00d640b9e71618ed20932c52f4688d)
DMToolkit_win32.zip (58.8 MiB)	32-bit Windows application for ESF Database Migration Toolkit 12.2.09 (2025-07-17). (md5: 1b7566ee53ff21b6dc8444741b9da73a)

System Supported:
- Windows 7 or higher.
- Firebird 1.5 or higher.
- PostgreSQL 7.x or higher.

Step by Step Wizard:

Configure Firebird/InterBase Connection
- In the Choose a Data Source dialog:
  - Select Firebird/InterBase from available options
- Provide authentication credentials:
  - Username: SYSDBA (default)
  - Password: masterkey (default)
- Select the database character set from dropdown
- Specify database location:
  - Click the [...] button (Browse)
  - Select your Firebird (.fdb) or InterBase (.gdb) file
- For network connections:
  - Enter server address in format: [server_name][/port][/path_to_file]
  - Examples:
    - localhost/3050:/var/db/test.fdb
    - dbserver.example.com:/data/prod.gdb
Fig. 1: Configuring Firebird/InterBase data source
Configure PostgreSQL Destination
- In the "Choose a Destination" dialog:
  - Select "PostgreSQL"
- Enter server connection details:
  - Server name: localhost (default)
  - Port: 5432 (default)
- Provide authentication credentials:
  - Username: postgres (default)
  - Associated password
- Configure character encoding:
  - Select database character set (default: UTF8)
  - Required for non-ASCII characters (e.g., German, French, Japanese)
- Database selection/creation:
  - Select existing database or enter new database name
  - Click the Refresh button to list available databases
  - New databases are automatically created during migration
- Schema configuration:
  - Enter or select target schema name (default: public)
  - Click the Refresh Schema button to list available schemas
Fig. 2: PostgreSQL destination configuration
In "Select Source Table(s) & View(s)" Dialog
- Select migration objects: Choose tables or views to include in the migration.
  
  Fig. 3: Select tables and views
- Modify table structure: Click the ellipsis (...) button to access table options and schema adjustments.
  
  Fig. 4: Do transform
- Configure field mapping: In the Field Mapping options:
  - Customize destination fields (name, data type, default value, comments)
  - Select data transfer method:
    - Overwrite Table (replace existing data)
    - Empty Data (truncate before insert)
    - Append Data (add to existing data)
    - Skip Table (exclude from transfer)
  - Apply data filters before transfer
Execution Dialog
- Start migration: Click "Submit" to initiate automated data transfer from Firebird to PostgreSQL.
  
  Fig. 5: Execute migration
- Monitor progress: Click "Browse Log" for real-time migration tracking, including issue resolution details.
- Save configuration: Click "Save as job" to store settings for:
  - Quick reloads of migration jobs
  - Command-line execution (use: dmtc.exe --help for parameter options)
Finished!

After migration completes, the toolkit generates a comprehensive report for verifying migration accuracy. You can monitor progress as the automated process runs efficiently. For any questions or feedback, contact us – our team is ready to assist.