How to open a document with a dbf extension. How to open dbf

DBF format files store tabular data, databases, various reports, etc. At the head of the structure is the header, and below it is the rest of the file content. A distinctive feature of a file with this format is the ability to work with most known systems database management.

Opening process

You can open DBF format files in several programs. In addition to opening the file in these programs, you can also edit it there.

Program 1: DBF Commander

This paid program, which allows you to open DBF files and perform primitive manipulations with them if necessary. It has a trial period, during which the program's capabilities are not limited in any way. The program also has Russian language and a user-friendly interface.

Instructions for opening files in DBF Commander:

Program 2: DBF Viewer Plus

It's a little more simple program, which has a similar interface to the previous software. However, it is completely free and does not require installation. The functionality is almost similar to the previous software.

The step-by-step instructions for this program are as follows:

Program 3: DBF Viewer 2000

This is a program with a very simple interface, translated into Russian. It has wide functionality for working with DBF files. Here you can process files larger than 2GB. However, the software is paid, however, it has a trial period during which you can use all the functions without restrictions.

Instructions for opening files in this program are as follows:

Program 4: CDBF

This solution provides very broad functionality for working with databases and their derivative files. In addition to editing database files, you can create various reports and supporting documents. The interface can be translated into Russian, and the functionality can be expanded using third-party plugins from the network. CDBF is a paid program, but it has both a demo period and a stripped-down free version, the functionality of which will be sufficient for opening DBF files.

Instructions:

Program 5: MS Excel

Excel is one of the programs in the Office suite from Microsoft. In some Windows versions this package along with the program may already be pre-installed, while in others you will have to buy the entire Office package, or use the demo version. This program is designed for creating and editing tables of varying complexity. It supports many formats and also has a convenient and functional interface in Russian.

Instructions for opening a DBF file are as follows:

Using one of the programs presented in the instructions, you can open and edit the DBF file. From the entire list, only DBF Viewer Plus can be distinguished, which is distributed completely free of charge.

DBF is a database file, the ability to work with which was previously integrated into the Microsoft Office environment. Access and Excel applications worked with the format, later Access was removed from the package and became a separate program, and in Excel, since 2007, DataBaseFile support has been significantly limited.

If it is not possible to open a DBF file directly in Excel, you must first convert it.

However, DBF, although considered by many to be an outdated format, is still widely used in specialized programs in business, design, and engineering. Wherever it is necessary to work with large amounts of information, their structuring and processing, and executing queries. For example, the 1C Enterprise software package is entirely based on database management. And given that a lot of office documentation and data is processed in Excel, the issue of integrated work with these formats is relevant and in demand.

Excel problems when working with DBF

Excel 2003 had the ability to open and edit DBF, as well as save XLS documents in this format:

Select "File" from the menu bar.
Next, click “Save As”.
Select “*.dbf” from the drop-down list.

IMPORTANT. Since 2007, you can open and view the database format in Excel, but you cannot make changes or save .xls documents in it. Standard program tools no longer provide this option.

However, there are special add-ons for the application that add such a function to it. Programmers post their developments online on various forums, and you can find different options. The most popular add-on, called XslToDBF, can be downloaded from the developer’s website http://basile-m.narod.ru/xlstodbf/download.html. The download is free, but if you wish, you can support the project by transferring any amount to your wallet or card.

Installation and use:

Download the archive from the above site.
Extract XlsToDBF.xla from it and save it on your computer.
In Excel, go to the menu with the Microsoft icon on the left, “Options”.
Under Excel Options, select Add-Ins.
In the Manage/Excel Add-ins row, click Go.
Click Browse and locate the saved XlsToDBF.xla.
The entry “XLS -> DBF” should appear in the list of add-ons with the check box checked. Check if it is not there.
Now you can save .xls to .dbf format. From the same site you can download detailed instructions for use. The main thing is to prepare tabular data correctly.
Once the table is ready, select any filled cell and press Alt and F
In the macro window that opens, type XlsToDBF in the field, case is not important.
Click Run.
If you have prepared and formatted the data correctly, the database file will also be saved in the folder where the source XLS is located.

If you don't want to change anything in Office, don't trust add-ins, and third party applications, then we can propose a more labor-intensive way to convert XLS file in DBF:

Purchase and install the program Microsoft Access.
In Excel, prepare and save the document.
Click the "Open" button in MS Access and select the file.
Now you need to configure the import correctly.
Select the sheet to start with. If there are several of them, you still have to do one at a time.
If the table has a header row, check the appropriate box.
Next, you can change the table name.
Now click on "External Data".
Click the “Export”, “Advanced” button.
Select dBase File.
Provide a name and save location.

This method does not always work successfully; errors often occur in data processing and subsequent saving. And it is very long and inconvenient.

Conversion

In order not to suffer with office programs yourself, many applications have been created that allow you to transfer data from one format to another. First of all, almost everything powerful programs for working with DBMS, they assume the ability to export to XLS and load from it. Secondly, there are small utilities that specialize in conversion. Here are some of them:

In all of these programs, the conversion comes down to opening source file, and then execute the “Convert” or “Export” command.

There are also free online conversion services. On such sites you are asked to send (download) the source file, click “Convert”, after which a link to the converted document will appear. To what extent you can trust such services, the decision is individual, at your own peril and risk.

Thus, you can open the DBF in Excel, but if its version is 2007 or newer, then you won’t be able to do anything more with it, just look. There are special add-ons or programs for editing and saving in XLS, as well as for converting in the opposite direction. If you have experience converting and working with DBF in different applications, share your tips in the comments.

You"re here because you have a file that has a file extension ending in .dbf. Files with the file extension .dbf can only be launched by certain applications. It"s possible that .dbf files are data files rather than documents or media , which means they"re not meant to be viewed at all.

what is a .dbf file?

DBASE developed the DBF format, which is generally used for database files implemented by the dBASE database management system software for storing, retrieving and referencing data saved in the DBF format. These DBF files are appended with the .dbf extension, and the content of these DBF files may consist of structured text data with details for the values of the data stored in each field set or array data type. An xBase database management application is a program implemented with support for these DBF files. The popularity of the DBF format started its implementation into other database management applications. For instance, the Microsoft Access 2010 software can be installed by users of Microsoft Windows-based systems to create, open and view the content of a DBF file. Linux users can create, open and modify the content of a DBF file with OpenOffice.org versions developed for Unix-based systems. The Planamesa NeoOffice software can on the other hand be installed and used by Mac users to create, open and edit the content of these DBF files.

how to open a .dbf file?

Launch a .dbf file, or any other file on your PC, by double-clicking it. If your file associations are set up correctly, the application that"s meant to open your .dbf file will open it. It"s possible you may need to download or purchase the correct application. It"s also possible that you have the correct application on your PC, but .dbf files aren"t yet associated with it. In this case, when you try to open a .dbf file, you can tell Windows which application is the correct one for that file. From then on, opening a .dbf file will open the correct application.

applications that open a .dbf file

dBase

In 1980, dBase was published by Ashton-Tate for CP/M, the original developer of the software. It was the first database management system (DBMS) for microcomputer which included the query system which is database engine and the programming language which is forms engine. Some users said that dBase was an excellent interactive ad-hoc manipulation tool because one can easily manipulate, analyze, format and perform calculations while SQL have declarative operations which retrieves data sets from a relational database (RDBMS). dBase" first file format is .dbf . It is recommended by the Microsoft to save dBase file in Microsoft Works so that it can read by Microsoft Excel while its second file type is .dbt. For files with single indexes, dBase uses .ndx , and .mdx for files holding 1 to 48 indexes. The latest version of the legendary relational DBMS is dBase 2.8. while dbDOS 1.5 can quickly and easily work with dBASE III, IV, and V for Windows 32/64 bit operating system. also builds high powered data-driven applications that use the xBase language and runs on lastest operating system of Microsoft when used with dbDOS.

Pervasive PSQL, dataBased Intelligence dBASE, Rosenvick AspireGold

Pervasive PSQL is an application developed by Pervasive Software wherein it is called a database management system that’s ACID-compliant. It is software mainly used to embed applications wherein different types of applications whether they are packaged software applications use this software. In cases where there is a file-based architecture that enables data partitioning, Pervasive PSQL is optimized for the deployment of software as a service. With this software, the applications have the ability to store data in the form of tables or store them in a non-schema fashion. Operating systems like Windows, Linux and MAC can run the Pervasive PSQL software and this comes with different editions like the 32-bit and 64-bit editions. This software also comes with additional features such as support for IPv4 and ipV6, page and record compression, agents for data backup, data replication, data auditing, row-level locking, data and over-the-wire encryption, compatibility with cluster environments as well as it supports English and Japanese languages.

FoxPro

FoxPro, a procedural programming language and database management system created by Fox Software, has been widely used even before it was turned over to Visual FoxPro. It still enjoys a strong support from its community of programmers and users up to this day. FoxPro versions 2.0, 2.5 and 2.6 are compatible with Mac, DOS and Windows 3.1 to XP. Version 2.6 is compatible also with Linux and Free BSD, SCO Unix and Windows 2000. FoxPro 2 used Rushmore, an optimizing engine that used indices to look for matching expressions, to accelerate data updating and data retrieval. FoxPro 2 was built originally on Watcom C++ that has its own extensor making it the most up-to-date technology at that time. It could access expanded and extended memory making it able to utilize almost all available RAM. If HIMEM.SYS is not loaded, FoxPro enabled a mechanism of using interrupts when extended memory driver is absent. File formats associated with FoxPro: ACT, APP, DBC, DBF, DBF, DBG, DBT, DCT, DCX, ERR, FKY, FLL, FMT, FPT, FRT, FRX, FXP, LBT, LBX, LST, MEM, MNX, MPR, MPX, NDX, PJX, PJT, QPR, QPX, VUE, WIN, TBK, SPR, SCT and SCX.

Planamesa NeoOffice

NeoOffice was developed by PLanamesa Software wherein it is known as an office suite for MAC OS X. It is equivalent to OPenOffice.org as well as Microsoft Office, but it is exclusively created for MAC OS X as this was conceptualized when there was still no OpenOffice suite available for MAC computers. NeoOffice also includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, database program, graphics, and a formula program. This office suite also supports a variety of file formats for every application within the suite. For instance, the word processor also supports files created using MS Word, StarWriter, etc. as well as their spreadsheet also supports files created using MS Excel, StarCalc, etc. Neooffice has a lot of features that make users create whatever types of projects using this application easier and more enjoyable such as the NeoOffice Mobile for securely sharing NeoOffice files with other users in their computers by simply publishing a NeoOffice document to the server for NeoOffice Mobile. This allows users from different computers and mobile devices to browse and view these files securely.

DataBased Intelligence dBase

dataBased Intelligence dBase

dataBased Intelligent dBased is a software that manages databases for minicomputers. It is a query system and a forms engine as well as a programming language. The format of dBase files is .dbf . This software was originally designed for Control/Program Monitor and was later ported to the Apple II and IBM PC which is under the Disk Operating System. After several years, many companies made their own products which were Foxpro and Clipper. And these new programs were much better that dBase. dBase used to make and application for window such as Web applications. An IDE with and Navigator as well as a Command Window would be the feature of dBase, with a preprocessor and an interpreter machine which is virtual. dBase intelligence is also responsible for various graphical user interfaces such as Form Designer, Report Designer, Menu Designer ,SQl Query designer , a Project that manages upon deploying simplified dBase application, Container, and these objects under dBase can be subclasses by simply adding new properties at the runtime.

a word of warning

Be careful not to rename the extension on .dbf files, or any other files. This will not change the file type. Only special conversion software can change a file from one file type to another.

what is a file extension?

A file extension is the set of three or four characters at the end of a filename; in this case, .dbf. File extensions tell you what type of file it is, and tell Windows what programs can open it. Windows often associates a default program to each file extension, so that when you double-click the file, the program launches automatically. When that program is no longer on your PC, you can sometimes get an error when you try to open the associated file.

FIX .dbf FILE ASSOCIATION ERRORS

Find and fix file extension errors, registry problems and restore optimum PC performance quickly, easily and safely.

Try Registry Reviver® Free.

Start Download

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Options opening dbf using excel
There are several of them. Note that the dbf format comes in several modifications: dBase II; dBase III; dBase IV; foxpro and several others.
What else can affect the accurate opening of dbf files? This types of documents. And here excel takes a leading place among other programs, and for its ability to open any type of document in dbf format.
The opening part is unique to this format, but saving requires additional explanation.
One way to open a dbf file This is to use the window through which we open the file, in the file menu. This is a fairly simple method, and even without special knowledge you can safely use it.
Step one - open excel, go to “file”, then “open” in the drop-down menu.

further "open" in the drop-down menu.

Thus, we see a familiar window for opening the desired file. We find the file we are interested in, and at the bottom right we put the dBase files, also known as dbf, if the file is still poorly visible, we put “all files”. In this mode, you will definitely find the file you need in the folder where it should be.
Having selected the file, click "open".

As a result, we will get our dbf file on sheet1 already opened in the excel file.

You can open the file by double-clicking on the file itself.
However, this is possible if you make certain settings in Excel. And do this with the left mouse button double click for the file that we want to open in dbf format.

As a result of this action, we will receive a message in which the program will tell us that the result is negative when opening in this way, and will offer its own options for opening the file.

This is either searching for a solution to the problem on the Internet, or selecting the desired program from the proposed list. We activate the program by clicking on “ok” using the proposed list of programs. It is possible that the dbf file may have already been opened by another program. And we need to run the file in Excel, then we use the right mouse button, hovering the cursor over the dbf file, and in the menu we look for “open with”, find this tab, click on it and get the proposed range of programs. We look for Excel and click on the program shortcut.

And if we don’t see the excel program, then click properties, find the “general” shortcut and in the application settings click on “change”, select excel accordingly.

And so we looked at several options for how to open a dbf file in excel.
It should be noted that when working with any of the described methods, you see a file opening window. If Excel is in the list of programs, then click on it. Otherwise, we are looking for “review”,

We activate it and do the manipulations already described above. However, a situation may arise when we activate the “open with” window and see the Explorer window.
In this case, you should go to the folder where the Microsoft program Office and search for excel in it. It's usually easy to find. Changes can only be due to versions of Excel itself. Path C: Program Files Microsoft office office# and for different versions we supply the number of your installed office instead of the # icon. We got into our directory, we see an excel file there. exe.

We point the mouse at this file and activate it. We will be taken to the already familiar selection list, and here Excel will certainly be visible.

As a result, we will get an open dbf format in Excel.

To further open files in the dbf format, simply click on it with the mouse and check the box in the list of suggestions “always use this program to open these files.”
Click “ok” and the next time, by double-clicking on the file with the mouse, you will automatically get the dbf excel file opened.
As you can see, everything is quite simple and is clearly shown in the pictures.

DBF is standard format data storage. It allows you to transfer and save the necessary information to spreadsheets and DBMS. The required components of this file are a header and a data area. Any user sooner or later has to deal with this format. As a result, the question arises about how to open DBF. What software will help solve this problem?

How to open DBF in Windows

There is no need to panic if you cannot immediately find a program to open a database file. The solution to the problem is usually nearby. If MS Office is installed on your computer, you can use Excel or Access. First you need to launch the application, then select the “Open” menu item or press the key combination CTRL + O. In the "File Type" field, select "All". Next you can select required document and open it. If this solution is not suitable for some reason, and the user still does not know how to open DBF, alternative options can be considered.

Programs that allow you to work with DBF

DBFShow (free application, allows you to open and edit files);
DBF Viewer Plus ( free use, many functions);
MS SQL Server (expensive DBMS);
DBF Commander (distributed freely, viewing and editing);
MS Access (paid program from the MS Office package);
CDBF (paid program, advanced features);
MS Excel (part of the Microsoft office suite).

The above list of applications for opening database files is far from complete. However, the user will certainly find the desired program in it. He can open a DBF file with it in a few seconds. Free apps can be easily found and downloaded online. Using paid software requires that the user first pays for using the software.

If problems arise

What can you do if the database flatly refuses to open in Excel and Access is not installed? How to open DBF in this case? Don't rush to look for other software. If MS Office is installed on your computer in a minimal configuration, then Excel may not have a special add-in for working with our format. Therefore, you need to first search the network and download the required library to your computer.

The library files are archived, and there are also detailed installation instructions. A user who is still puzzled by the question of how to open DBF needs to do a few things: simple actions by copying the files to the folders specified in the instructions. After this, you should go to the “Add-Ins” section in Excel and check the box next to the “Add-in for working with DBP” item.