Index
2014-12-18 17:48Jeff Johnson : [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-18 18:21Dan Covill : RE: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-18 18:34Jeff Johnson : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-18 18:41Virgil Bierschwale : RE: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-18 22:00Ted Roche : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-19 06:19Jeff Johnson : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-19 06:44Stephen Russell : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-19 07:02Jeff Johnson : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-19 08:22Jeff Johnson : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
2014-12-19 09:03Kevin Cully : Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site
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[NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Jeff Johnson

Posted: 2014-12-18 17:48:55   Link

I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored on a

web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case

information and documents for a funeral home. The company said they

would provide an export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is

the funeral home's data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of

it. They will not just give us a backup of the tables.

Does anyone know what options we have?

Should we contact an attorney?

--

Jeff

Jeff Johnson

jeff@san-dc.com

SanDC, Inc.

(623) 582-0323

SMS (602) 717-5476

Fax 623-869-0675

www.san-dc.com

www.cremationtracker.com

www.agentrelationshipmanager.com

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©2014 Jeff Johnson
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RE: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Dan Covill

Posted: 2014-12-18 18:21:26   Link

Hi, Jeff

Some thoughts on your situation:

1. Does client have any other backup of the data?  How often/how old?

2. Is the system accessing the data in VFP?   If not, what?

3. If you have a VFP program that can access the SQL, you can write a data dump program for a hell of a lot less than $15k!

4. If you don't already have a VFP program that can access the SQL, you can still write one for less than $15k.

5. Seems to me it's your customer that should contact the attorney to see what his legal rights are.  Not you.

6. Legal action always favors the party with the most money.

7. No matter what you do, you need to find another hosting company.  There are lots and lots of them.

You need to know exactly what the agreement between your customer and the hosting company is.  How much, how often, and for exactly what services.  And who negotiated it?  Do you really have a dog in this fight or are you just trying to help?  

I think the hosting company is trying to screw your client, but there may not be a whole log of benefit for you in preventing that 

(e.g., if the hosting company is run by your client's son-in-law!).  I pretty much favor writing a data dump that runs on the client's system, because then it doesn't matter who the hosting company is; you have control.

Dan

----------------------------------------

> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 16:48:55 -0700

> From: jeff@san-dc.com

> To: profoxtech@leafe.com

> Subject: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

>

> I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored on a

> web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case

> information and documents for a funeral home. The company said they

> would provide an export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is

> the funeral home's data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of

> it. They will not just give us a backup of the tables.

>

> Does anyone know what options we have?

>

> Should we contact an attorney?

>

> --

> Jeff

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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Jeff Johnson

Posted: 2014-12-18 18:34:30   Link

On 12/18/2014 5:21 PM, Dan Covill wrote:

> Hi, Jeff

>

> Some thoughts on your situation:

> 1. Does client have any other backup of the data? How often/how old?

> 2. Is the system accessing the data in VFP? If not, what?

> 3. If you have a VFP program that can access the SQL, you can write a data dump program for a hell of a lot less than $15k!

> 4. If you don't already have a VFP program that can access the SQL, you can still write one for less than $15k.

> 5. Seems to me it's your customer that should contact the attorney to see what his legal rights are. Not you.

> 6. Legal action always favors the party with the most money.

> 7. No matter what you do, you need to find another hosting company. There are lots and lots of them.

>

> You need to know exactly what the agreement between your customer and the hosting company is. How much, how often, and for exactly what services. And who negotiated it? Do you really have a dog in this fight or are you just trying to help?

>

> I think the hosting company is trying to screw your client, but there may not be a whole log of benefit for you in preventing that

> (e.g., if the hosting company is run by your client's son-in-law!). I pretty much favor writing a data dump that runs on the client's system, because then it doesn't matter who the hosting company is; you have control.

>

> Dan

>

>

> ----------------------------------------

>> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 16:48:55 -0700

>> From: jeff@san-dc.com

>> To: profoxtech@leafe.com

>> Subject: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

>>

>> I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored on a

>> web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case

>> information and documents for a funeral home. The company said they

>> would provide an export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is

>> the funeral home's data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of

>> it. They will not just give us a backup of the tables.

>>

>> Does anyone know what options we have?

>>

>> Should we contact an attorney?

>>

>> --

>> Jeff

Dan: This is a web application written in (I'm guessing) .NET. When

accessing pages it does not display any URL's. There is no way to

access the data through a browser. The data is in SQL Server but the

application hides their methods.

Thanks,

> --

> Jeff

>

> Jeff Johnson

> jeff@san-dc.com

> SanDC, Inc.

> (623) 582-0323

> SMS (602) 717-5476

> Fax 623-869-0675

>

> www.san-dc.com

> www.cremationtracker.com

> www.agentrelationshipmanager.com

>

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RE: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Virgil Bierschwale

Posted: 2014-12-18 18:41:32   Link

I'm just catching this.

I run all my sites on a web server like this.

IF

They can log into their management system, you can download the data

yourself

If they don't know how, contact me offline with their login and password and

I'll get their data if it is available.

-----Original Message-----

From: ProFox [mailto:profox-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Johnson

Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 6:35 PM

To: profox@leafe.com

Subject: Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

On 12/18/2014 5:21 PM, Dan Covill wrote:

> Hi, Jeff

>

> Some thoughts on your situation:

> 1. Does client have any other backup of the data? How often/how old?

> 2. Is the system accessing the data in VFP? If not, what?

> 3. If you have a VFP program that can access the SQL, you can write a data

dump program for a hell of a lot less than $15k!

> 4. If you don't already have a VFP program that can access the SQL, you

can still write one for less than $15k.

> 5. Seems to me it's your customer that should contact the attorney to see

what his legal rights are. Not you.

> 6. Legal action always favors the party with the most money.

> 7. No matter what you do, you need to find another hosting company. There

are lots and lots of them.

>

> You need to know exactly what the agreement between your customer and the

hosting company is. How much, how often, and for exactly what services.

And who negotiated it? Do you really have a dog in this fight or are you

just trying to help?

>

> I think the hosting company is trying to screw your client, but there

> may not be a whole log of benefit for you in preventing that (e.g., if the

hosting company is run by your client's son-in-law!). I pretty much favor

writing a data dump that runs on the client's system, because then it

doesn't matter who the hosting company is; you have control.

>

> Dan

>

>

> ----------------------------------------

>> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 16:48:55 -0700

>> From: jeff@san-dc.com

>> To: profoxtech@leafe.com

>> Subject: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

>>

>> I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored

>> on a web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case

>> information and documents for a funeral home. The company said they

>> would provide an export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is

>> the funeral home's data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of

>> it. They will not just give us a backup of the tables.

>>

>> Does anyone know what options we have?

>>

>> Should we contact an attorney?

>>

>> --

>> Jeff

Dan: This is a web application written in (I'm guessing) .NET. When

accessing pages it does not display any URL's. There is no way to access

the data through a browser. The data is in SQL Server but the application

hides their methods.

Thanks,

> --

> Jeff

>

> Jeff Johnson

> jeff@san-dc.com

> SanDC, Inc.

> (623) 582-0323

> SMS (602) 717-5476

> Fax 623-869-0675

>

> www.san-dc.com

> www.cremationtracker.com

> www.agentrelationshipmanager.com

>

[excessive quoting removed by server]

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©2014 Virgil Bierschwale
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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Ted Roche

Posted: 2014-12-18 22:00:15   Link

On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 7:34 PM, Jeff Johnson <jeff@san-dc.com> wrote:

>

>

>>> Dan: This is a web application written in (I'm guessing) .NET.

What makes you think that? Lots of bad apps can be written in Perl or even

Python.

Inspecting the actual page source can give you some good clues.

> When accessing pages it does not display any URL's.

There's a lot of ways to do that, and to undo it, too. If it appears on a

page, it can be copied. Once again, viewing the source can tell you a lot.

However, sometimes it's cheaper to pay someone to type it back in than to

automate it. Paying someone to screen-shot every page and type it into a

new system (via Mechanical Turk, for example) can be very inexpensive. An

alternative to consider, if all else fails.

There is no way to access the data through a browser. The data is in SQL

Server but the application hides their methods.

Your client may be over a barrel. It's worth reviewing his contract with

this site, and getting a lawyer to review. You don't want to go blasting

over their site with a bot if that gives them the right to cancel your

access.

Ted Roche & Associates, LLC

http://www.tedroche.com

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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Jeff Johnson

Posted: 2014-12-19 06:19:34   Link

On 12/18/2014 9:00 PM, Ted Roche wrote:

> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 7:34 PM, Jeff Johnson <jeff@san-dc.com> wrote:

>>

>>>> Dan: This is a web application written in (I'm guessing) .NET.

>

> What makes you think that? Lots of bad apps can be written in Perl or even

> Python.

>

> Inspecting the actual page source can give you some good clues.

>

>> When accessing pages it does not display any URL's.

>

> There's a lot of ways to do that, and to undo it, too. If it appears on a

> page, it can be copied. Once again, viewing the source can tell you a lot.

>

> However, sometimes it's cheaper to pay someone to type it back in than to

> automate it. Paying someone to screen-shot every page and type it into a

> new system (via Mechanical Turk, for example) can be very inexpensive. An

> alternative to consider, if all else fails.

>

> There is no way to access the data through a browser. The data is in SQL

> Server but the application hides their methods.

>

> Your client may be over a barrel. It's worth reviewing his contract with

> this site, and getting a lawyer to review. You don't want to go blasting

> over their site with a bot if that gives them the right to cancel your

> access.

>

> Ted Roche & Associates, LLC

> http://www.tedroche.com

>

Thanks Ted. The code is written in C# and displayed on ASP pages. URL's

in the address bar are hidden and don't change when going from page to page.

I suggested they contact their lawyer. They can get by with just the

documents. Documents are saved on their server in folders. Getting them

would involve a simple copy. We'll see how much they want to charge us

for that.

Thanks,

--

Jeff

Jeff Johnson

jeff@san-dc.com

SanDC, Inc.

(623) 582-0323

SMS (602) 717-5476

Fax 623-869-0675

www.san-dc.com

www.cremationtracker.com

www.agentrelationshipmanager.com

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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Stephen Russell

Posted: 2014-12-19 06:44:30   Link

On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 5:48 PM, Jeff Johnson <jeff@san-dc.com> wrote:

>

> I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored on a

> web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case information

> and documents for a funeral home. The company said they would provide an

> export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is the funeral home's

> data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of it. They will not just

> give us a backup of the tables.

>

> ---------------------- <http://www.cremationtracker.com>

Are they running a custom app written for them on the net?

Are you planning on rewriting the app in VFP, or are you doing specialized

other reporting perhaps?

--

Stephen Russell

Sr. Analyst

Ring Container Technology

Oakland TN

901.246-0159 cell

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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Jeff Johnson

Posted: 2014-12-19 07:02:56   Link

On 12/19/2014 5:44 AM, Stephen Russell wrote:

> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 5:48 PM, Jeff Johnson <jeff@san-dc.com> wrote:

>> I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored on a

>> web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case information

>> and documents for a funeral home. The company said they would provide an

>> export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is the funeral home's

>> data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of it. They will not just

>> give us a backup of the tables.

>>

>> ---------------------- <http://www.cremationtracker.com>

>

>

> Are they running a custom app written for them on the net?

>

> Are you planning on rewriting the app in VFP, or are you doing specialized

> other reporting perhaps?

>

>

They are using a "professional" application built by a major company. I

have already written and installed the VFP application and it is

important to load historical information. Without this data they will

be out of compliance with the laws of Arizona.

--

Jeff

Jeff Johnson

jeff@san-dc.com

SanDC, Inc.

(623) 582-0323

SMS (602) 717-5476

Fax 623-869-0675

www.san-dc.com

www.cremationtracker.com

www.agentrelationshipmanager.com

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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Jeff Johnson

Posted: 2014-12-19 08:22:09   Link

Look what we found:

*7. Obligations upon Termination*. Upon expiration or other termination,

all rights granted hereunder shall forthwith terminate, and: (a) XXXX

shall immediately cease to provide Hosting Services to Customer and

Customer shall cease to have any right to use the Software in any

manner; (b) Customer shall make all payments due XXXX as of the date of

termination or expiration in accordance with the payment provisions set

forth in the Agreement and applicable Schedules; (c) XXXX shall provide

an electronic extract copy of the Customer’s Data and upon receipt from

Customer of all outstanding amounts then owing XXXX, shall forward such

Data to Customer electronically or on machine-readable media; and (d)

XXXX may delete all of Customer’s Data in XXXX’ possession and control

and not retain any copies, and, upon written request and receipt of

payment from Customer of all outstanding amounts then owing XXXX, shall

provide certification to Customer that all such Data has been destroyed

and that no copies have been retained by XXXX.

XXXX was bought out by YYYY and YYYY is trying to charge $15,000. There

is no new contract with YYYY.

On 12/18/2014 4:48 PM, Jeff Johnson wrote:

> I mentioned before that a customer of mine has critical data stored on

> a web site and currently subscribes to that web site. It is case

> information and documents for a funeral home. The company said they

> would provide an export of the SQL Server tables for $15,000! This is

> the funeral home's data and they have to pay $15,000 to get a copy of

> it. They will not just give us a backup of the tables.

>

> Does anyone know what options we have?

>

> Should we contact an attorney?

>

--

Jeff

Jeff Johnson

jeff@san-dc.com

SanDC, Inc.

(623) 582-0323

SMS (602) 717-5476

Fax 623-869-0675

www.san-dc.com

www.cremationtracker.com

www.agentrelationshipmanager.com

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Re: [NF] Retrieving Data from a Web Site

Author: Kevin Cully

Posted: 2014-12-19 09:03:10   Link

Boy, that'd be a Maloox Moment(tm) hoping that they honor this agreement

when you've terminated their service.

Even though this is a SPA (Single Page Application), I might script

something that simulates walking through each record of your data and

does a dump of the page. You can then later parse through the data and

manipulate it into INSERT statements into some sort of data source such

as VFP, PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.

It might be nice to have this ahead of time so that you have a system

ready to go to keep business running.

Good luck. I hate being held hostage by a proprietary system. Or a

system where you can't get your data at least.

On 12/19/2014 09:22 AM, Jeff Johnson wrote:

> Look what we found:

>

> *7. Obligations upon Termination*. Upon expiration or other

> termination, all rights granted hereunder shall forthwith terminate,

> and: (a) XXXX shall immediately cease to provide Hosting Services to

> Customer and Customer shall cease to have any right to use the

> Software in any manner; (b) Customer shall make all payments due XXXX

> as of the date of termination or expiration in accordance with the

> payment provisions set forth in the Agreement and applicable

> Schedules; (c) XXXX shall provide an electronic extract copy of the

> Customer’s Data and upon receipt from Customer of all outstanding

> amounts then owing XXXX, shall forward such Data to Customer

> electronically or on machine-readable media; and (d) XXXX may delete

> all of Customer’s Data in XXXX’ possession and control and not retain

> any copies, and, upon written request and receipt of payment from

> Customer of all outstanding amounts then owing XXXX, shall provide

> certification to Customer that all such Data has been destroyed and

> that no copies have been retained by XXXX.

>

> XXXX was bought out by YYYY and YYYY is trying to charge $15,000.

> There is no new contract with YYYY.

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©2014 Kevin Cully