BDE and Windows 11

Having some 32-bit Paradox or dBASE Windows applications, you may need to port them to a newer Windows 11 computer.

Here is how to prepare the necessary BDE database engine for use with 64-bit Windows 10 and 11:

Install the 32-bit BDE database engine in the usual way using a BDE installer.
Decide where to keep your BDE configuration file (IDAPI.cfg or IDAPI32.cfg),
which may be anywhere except in the
C:\ root directory or in the programs folders (C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86)).
You may for example choose and create:
C:\BDE\BDEshared
Check that Windows Registry points to this folder for the BDE configuration settings:
Run the Windows Registry Editor ([Windows]+R), then type and run Regedit.exe.
Search and open the Registry key:
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Borland\Database Engine"
and open the value CONFIGFILE01

where you type the address and name for the BDE configuration file, as for example:
C:\BDE\Config\IDAPI32.cfg
You may also check the Registry's DLL-path value properly pointing to the correct database engine address.
Next, check the DLL-path of the Borland Database Engine (BDE) pointing to for example:

(may also be e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Borland\Borland Shared\BDE, etc.).
Then close/save the Registry Key and exit Regedit.exe.
Search the BDEadmin.exe executable, which you most likely will find in the folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Borland\Common Files\BDE
or present as an icon in the Windows Control Panel.
Right click on the executable , and select Properties,
where you on the Compatibility tab will check the option [Run this program as an administrator]
If the BDEAdmin has trouble accessing the IDAPI32.cfg configuration file, you may need to reinstall the BDE accessing the Advanced Options during the install process, where you will change the installer's default config location to some location off the restricted C:\Program Files directory as for example:
Now, you may run the BDEadmin.exe:
Select the [Configuration] tab, and
select the Configuration\Drivers\Native\Paradox
In the [Definition] pane you'll select [NET DIR], where you write the
desired location of the Paradox NetFile, as for example C:\BDE\BDEshared
Close the BDEadmin.exe, where you may be asked to save the configuration as for example:
C:\BDE\BDEshared\IDAPI32.cfg
And you are ready to go: Launch your Paradox / dBASE application, and enjoy.