I think you best use the dump command (I know mysql has one, not sure about firebird) It's dumps your DB in SQL statments.

This might also help

As for your Mail clients.

2 ways:

1st: Mail them to yourself and recieve them with pegagus and archive them in a seperate folder.

2nd: Conversion program Conversion
I'll try te see if there is no open source variant or freeware but now I have to go to school.

Not in the mood for cheese?
That excuse has more holes than a slice this fine Gorgombert!