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Program for working with dbf files. Opening DBF files in Microsoft Excel

Programs for working with DBF-files.

↓ New in the "Working with DBF" category:

Free of charge
DBF Editor 1.75.1 is a powerful enough viewer and editor for DBF files, which will provide the ability to perform a large number of database operations. The DBF Editor application provides the ability to view and edit dbf files in dBase III-IV formats, Visual FoxPro, FoxPro and Clipper.

Free of charge
Scan DBF 1.6 is an application to repair or restore corrupted DBF files. Scan DBF helps you recover corrupted files in the event of a computer or power failure, when the end or the DBF header itself is damaged.

Free of charge
Reportizer 3.7.1.629 is a tool for generating and printing database reports. The Reportizer application helps you easily create, print and modify reports, as well as manage your collection of reports.

Free of charge
DBREdit 1.25 is a table editor for databases DBF data... DBREdit works with flat tables without using drivers or access systems.

Free of charge
DBF2ORA 1.0 is an application for importing data tables from DBF to Oracle, as well as the ability to save the settings of the import. DBF2ORA also has the ability to process the files before starting the import.

Free of charge
DBF Work 3.0.0.1 is a program for viewing, editing and exporting DBF format files. DBF Work program has the ability to export data in 14 formats (pdf, excel, word, html and others).

Free of charge
DBF View 2.79 is free, compact and convenient program on working with DBF files. DBF View works without installation, as well as without additional libraries or drivers.

Free of charge
DBF DeskTop 1.0.0.0 (build 2600) is a multifunctional editor for DBF files (databases). The DBF DeskTop program provides the ability to create new DBF tables, pack them, change the structure (order of fields) and create indexes with expressions.

Free of charge
DBF data import for ORACLE 1.4 is professional tool on import or preparation for import of DBF files from the category of xBase programming languages ​​(Visual FoxPro, Clipper, FlagShip, FoxPro, FoxBase, dBaseIII +, dBaseV and dBaseIV) into the ORACLE database.

Free of charge
Check and repair DBF 1.4.0.2 is a handy diagnostic and repair application damaged files DBF from the xBase programming language family (FoxBase, FlagShip, FoxPro, dBaseV, dBaseIII +, Clipper, dBaseIV, Visual FoxPro). Check and repair DBF application has the ability to carry out detailed analysis and diagnostics of the file structure.

DBF Viewer 2000 ®- application for viewing and editing DBF of all types - Clipper, dBase, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro, Visual dBase.

The program performs various actions: queries, deleting duplicates or exporting to different formats - faster than you expect!

The DBF editor dynamically creates visual forms based on the structure of DBF files for editing and queries. The program also allows you to view and edit memo fields in the following formats: dBase III, dBase IV, FoxPro, VFP and dBase Level 7.

The program fully supports the use of the command line for the following actions: import, export, delete duplicate records or replace data in DBF files. works independently of various DBMS - all you need to view and edit a DBF file is to install the application!

Why DBF Viewer 2000
unique?

Simple and intuitive interface

The interface of the application is quite simple and convenient, it allows you to save a lot of time during your daily work.

Convenient modification of the structure of DBF files in DBF Viewer 2000

You can add, delete, rename, change the order of fields and optimize the structure of DBF files.

Importing data from various formats using DBF Viewer 2000

DBF Viewer 2000 allows you to import data from the following formats: TXT, CSV, Excel (XLS, XLSX), DBF and Paradox. Data import can be performed with preview or from the command line.

DBF Viewer 2000 offers advanced export options

The application allows you to export DBF files to Excel (XLS, XLSX), CSV, TXT, SQL, SDF, XML, HTML, PRG, and MS SQL, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL scripts.

DBF Viewer 2000 helps you remove duplicates

Removing duplicate entries is as easy as 1-2-3.

Works on all platforms

DBF Viewer 2000 runs on all Windows versions 95 to XP, Vista, 7/8/10 and Server Editions (32/64-bit)

Free universal DBF editor that allows you to open existing and create new databases. It has a very small size, can be run from a flash drive, and at the same time has many advanced tools for working with DBF files, among which there is even support for SQL queries!

Screenshot gallery

Usually on the site we cover programs that will be of interest to a wide range of readers, but today the case is not entirely ordinary :). I once worked as a kind of "computer specialist" in several government offices and there I often had to deal with various programs based on FoxPro ...

The main problem with all these applications was that a simple user could easily screw up the database so that it could not be opened later. regular means, so we had to be perverted in order to bring her back to life (which was not always possible, given the “abilities” of the “wild musicians” :)).

And now, a few years later, as I no longer work there, they sent us a request by mail to add a new one. free program for editing DBF databases, which has an uncomplicated name - Sdbf... Let's talk about her :)

Comparison with paid analogue

Sdbf, despite its portability (can work from a flash drive!) And small size, is a fairly advanced database editor that allows you to create, edit and export any DBF format databases, from the xBaseIII specification to the modern xVisualFoxPro! Let's compare the functionality of Sdbf, with the capabilities of one of the most advanced editors of this kind, DBF Commander Professional:

From the above plate, we see that the programs differ slightly in functionality, but Sdbf, firstly, is portable (which is usually important, since every computer technician prefers to carry a set required programs on a USB flash drive), and secondly, it is completely free!

Starting Sdbf for the first time

To run the program, just unpack it from the downloaded archive to any location and open the resulting EXE file. An empty window of the following type will appear in front of us:

Drag & Drop, alas, is not supported, so to get started we need to call the "File" menu and select one of the two available actions there: "Create" a new database or "Open" an existing one. Let's open the existing base:

Before us will open the contents of the selected database in the form of a table. The "zero" line displays the field names, and starting with the first line displays the content itself. Below the content is the toolbar and status bar at the bottom.

The latter displays a lot of useful service information, including the number of records in the database, encoding, creation date and automatically determined format. Sdbf does not support only early versions xBase (I and II) and allows you to open and create the following types of DBF files:

  • xBase III - VII;
  • xClipper;
  • xFoxPro;
  • xVisualFoxPro.

Data search and filtering tools

The Sdbf program allows you to directly edit any cell of an open database, however, the required cells still need to be found ... If the database is small and simple, then this can be done quite quickly and manually. However, if there are several dozen or even hundreds of records, then it can be quite difficult to search.

But this is not such a problem, since Sdbf has several tools at once that allow you to filter out unnecessary data and display only what you need!

These tools are found on the bottom toolbar. Here comes 8 navigation buttons that allow you to navigate through the database (arrows), add / delete records, as well as confirm or cancel changes. The functions we need begin with the ninth button - "Search":

When the button is activated, a small window with a search form appears in front of us. We need to specify the text to be found and select from the drop-down list the field that will be searched for. Now press the "Find Next" button and the program will automatically select the line following the current selection, which contains the desired text. Pressing the button again will highlight the line below the current one, which contains the same required data, etc.

Sometimes databases contain non-standard cell formatting: extra spaces, tabs and other characters that are not visually displayed, but affect the search result. If you are faced with such a case, then for the normal operation of the function, you will only need to uncheck the "Based on format" checkbox in the lower central part of the search window and the search lines will begin to be displayed.

The search function is useful when we need to quickly find single occurrences of specific data. But there are times when it would be more convenient to display several lines at once that contain only certain information. In this case, the second function (the button of which goes right after the search button) will help us - "Filter":

To use filtering, we first need to correctly compose a request and enter it in a specially designated field (immediately after the button in the central part of the toolbar). The principle of composing a request is simple, but not entirely obvious. We need to first enter the name of the field by which we need to filter the database table, and then equate the filter value to the specific text by which we need to find all the rows.

We take the value in single quotes, after which we press the "Filter" button itself (it becomes clamped) and we get a table containing data only with the values ​​we defined in the specified fields (in the example, we filtered all lines with the value "USA" in the "Country" field (the case of the name does not matter)). You can return the table to its original view simply by pressing the "Filter" button again (it becomes released again).

The filtering field can contain the simplest conditions "and" (to refine the query by several fields) and "or" (to alternatively select data from different fields). Unfortunately, Sdbf does not support exclusive queries (such as "not"), but we can work around this limitation in another way, which will be discussed below.

By the way, in order not to enter the filtering request manually, you can use the following trick: select any record in the field by which you will filter and press the Alt + F key combination (not F4 :))). The request will be automatically generated, and the value will contain the "*" sign, which is a search mask and matches any number of any characters.

Alas, this is the only type of masks that can be used in Sdbf and, even worse, one query can contain only one mask :(. Therefore, if you need to filter the same field by several parameters, you will have to use the "and" operator (quick formation of a query by pressing "CTRL + ALT + F") or "or" ("SHIFT + ALT + F").

Executing SQL queries against database tables

Searching and filtering is undoubtedly good, but not always convenient. When the number of records is large, we can easily lose sight of the data we need when parsing tables. However, for this case, Sdbf has a great feature - support for SQL queries!

With these queries in Sdbf, we can:

  1. Dynamically format our table, creating a selection only for certain required fields (SELECT and SELECT TOP statements);
  2. Copy data from one database to another (INSERT FROM and INSERT INTO);
  3. Modify and delete the contents of certain lines (UPDATE and DELETE, respectively);
  4. Group parallel queries (UNION);
  5. Form pivot tables (PIVOT).

To start working with queries, we need to click the "SQL Query" button at the right end of the toolbar. However, the result of such an action will be somewhat discouraging: the contents of the newly edited database data will be lost, and another empty window with two fields will appear on top of the working window (at the top - the data output field, and at the bottom - the input field).

Do not be afraid :). You just need to immediately enter the required SQL query in the bottom field with the name of the required database. If you do not remember this name, you can activate the Sdbf sidebar (by clicking on the gray vertical bar on the right), which displays all the databases that you opened earlier in the form of a list:

Also, to speed up the work, it is advisable to remember the hot keys, which can be viewed by calling the help by pressing the F1 key. There are only three of them, but they can significantly speed up the process of creating the right queries.

So, the combination "CTRL + Space" - will display a pop-up window with a list of available database names (so as not to look at the sidebar), "CTRL + F" - will display a list of functions for the current operator, and "CTRL + Enter" will start the query execution process ... In addition, if you right-click on the input field (call context menu), then we will get a list of operators supported by Sdbf.

Let's go back to our previous screenshot and take a look at simplest request which is compiled there. It is based on the "SELECT" statement, which means it returns a selection to us. The selection parameter is "*", which means the output of any data, however, we could indicate there, separated by commas, the names of any fields of the database table.

The fetch we looked at above is the simplest, but Sdbf allows for more complex queries. In the next screenshot, we will see a selection, a dynamically generated table consisting of fields that contain the names of customers, the city in which they live and the country. Moreover, customers are filtered by country of residence (U.S.A) and the results are displayed in alphabetical order:

If we parse this query, we will see the already mentioned method of selection by the fields specified by commas after the SELECT statement. Further, the same indication of the name of the database, but now the request does not end there.

The next step is to list the functions of the main operator that will need to be executed as a result of processing the request. There are two of them here.

The first - "where" is similar to the filter we discussed earlier, and performs a similar action - it allows you to select only those records that match the condition.

The second function, "order by", is responsible for sorting the results obtained by one of the fields (in this case, by the field with the customer's name - "NAME") in alphabetical ("asc" parameter) or inverted ("desc") order.

Naturally, the above example is also quite primitive, but it displays general essence creating and processing SQL queries. If you want to learn more about them, I advise you to read the manuals here: http://dimonchik.com/insert.html or https://www.sql.ru/articles/articles.aspx?g=SQL&s=0.

By the way, the advantage of Sdbf is the ability to export the table obtained as a result of the query as a new database or as HTML, RTF, or CSV file! To do this, just call the context menu of the table display field and select the appropriate item.

Additional functions from the menu bar

We figured out the main features of Sdbf, but it doesn't end there. A number of useful and even unique functions are hidden in the menu bar, the same one that we used to open the database :) So, many useful features (which sometimes allow you to do without SQL queries) can be found in the "Table" menu:

Among other "useful things" such as changing the encoding and merging databases at the very bottom, we can find the item "Change structure". This item calls an additional window in which we can completely change all fields of an open table, add new ones, or delete unnecessary sections (the same window opens when creating a database from scratch).

Specifically, we can change the order of fields, their names, types, sizes (the number of characters in a cell) and precision (bit depth is usually set automatically and depends on the type of the field).

The only thing to remember when editing (and especially creating) databases is that each type of database has its own sets of field types, and they often (if you do not take into account the basic N, C, D) are different. For example, xClipper does not support image fields (P, B), and xBase up to the seventh version does not support auto-incrementing fields (+). That is, you should always remember about compatibility :).

While we're on the menu bar, don't forget to look at the Field menu:

There are only two functions here, but they can be very useful! Especially the first one is "Replace". It allows you to quickly automatic mode replace values ​​in the entire column of the specified field, or specific words and symbols throughout the database!

The function "Calculate" is an analogue of Excel's auto-calculation formulas and allows us to perform such mathematical and statistical operations as finding the auto-sum of a field, calculating the arithmetic mean, as well as the maximum and minimum values. Naturally, to perform calculations, the field types must be numeric (N, F, I, O, B).

The last feature, which is not so obvious, but can be useful, is the built-in HEX editor:

It allows you to edit the data of any cell. To do this, just select the content that needs to be changed and select the last item in the context menu - "Open in hex". That's it - you can edit and save or print the result right away!

Advantages and disadvantages of the program

  • portability and small size;
  • support for almost all types of DBF files;
  • the ability to create databases from scratch;
  • support for SQL queries;
  • built-in system for searching, filtering and editing data.
  • does not allow specifying more than one mask in a filter;
  • there is no undo function.

conclusions

The Sdbf program, at its modest size and system requirements allows you to do with DBF databases, if not all, then very, very much ... And the implementation of support for SQL queries generally allows you to bring the work of editing the database to new level! With their help, you can easily compensate for many shortcomings in the work through the graphical interface.

The biggest disappointment, in my opinion, was the absence of the most trivial function "Undo the last action" in the world of "CTRL + Z" the data will no longer be possible :(

For this, we can state that the program is functionally more than successful, but before working with it, always follow the ancient admin rule - CREATE BACKUP! And you will be happy :)

P.S. You are allowed to freely copy and quote this article, provided that you indicate an open active link to the source and preservation of the authorship of Ruslan Tertyshny.

The DBF extension falls into two main categories:

  • DBF format (full. dataBased Intelligence) is commonly used as a database file in most software applications. This extension is effectively used as a standard method for storing and transferring data in the form of database management systems (DBMS), spreadsheets, etc.

For quite a long time (since 1980), this information presentation format (known as Dbase) was one of the most popular for microcomputer DBMS and related software and hardware equipment, including Apple, UNIX and IBM PC.

The structure of a standard DBF file is based on a spreadsheet containing a number of fixed-length data fields, a header, and actual records. The very first field is a set of structured data with record deletion information (asterisk). It is noteworthy that after deleting a particular record, it can be restored or already deleted irrevocably.

  • DBF extension, which is an Oracle database table view file. As an object-relational DBMS, this format is universal for its use and can be used equally effectively on both Windows and Unix operating systems. The data in such a DBF file is stored as “table spaces” created by the integrated Oracle CREATE / ALTER TABLESPACE commands.

This format has many different designs and modifications, sometimes even incompatible with each other. For example, DBF, developed by ESRI, is far from a typical DBMS representation and is a set of spatial data in a geographic information system.
Thus, there is no single standard (technology) for representing the DBF format. This creates certain difficulties for the user in terms of opening and editing the file. Sometimes the DBF extension comes with a file that does not work autonomously, is auxiliary and opens only in conjunction with DBF.

Programs to open DBF files

Depending on the version and area of ​​your practical application The DBF extension can be generated and edited by the following software applications:

  • Windows OS uses dBase, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visual FoxPro, Microsoft Works, Corel Quattro Pro, Apache OpenOffice, HiBase Group DBF Viewer, Astersoft DBF Manager, DBF Viewer Plus, DBFShow, DBF Navigator, WinDBFView, Sage ACT, CGF Shop Data Management Center,, OpenOffice.org Calc, ArcGIS, Arago, AbacusLaw, CA-dBFast, Wordtech, Alpha Five, NovaBACKUP, The Network Diary, FLARE, ACDSee;
  • Mac OS can use Planamesa NeoOffice, Apache OpenOffice, OpenOffice.org Calc;
  • on Linux: Apache OpenOffice, multisoft FlagShip.

If an error occurs when opening a DBF extension, the reasons may be one of the following:

  • the file is damaged or infected;
  • the file is not associated with the OS registry (an incorrect application was selected for playback or a specific plug-in was not installed);
  • insufficient device or OS resources;
  • damaged or outdated drivers.

Converting DBF to Other Formats

In each specific case structure and scope practical use DBF extensions are unique. To convert the format, it is customary to use exactly that software, with the help of which the generation was carried out.

However, the most popular way to translate a file is considered to be the conversion of DBF to. MDB - Spreadsheet Presentation Format Microsoft Access... With a powerful enough integrated converter, Access can translate data with virtually no loss or damage.

Converting DBF extensions to other formats is practically not practiced.

Why exactly DBF and what are its advantages?

DBF extension is one of the most popular and demanded formats for storing and transmitting data in the form of database management systems (DBMS), spreadsheets, etc.

This file can have a wide variety of different designs and modifications, sometimes even incompatible with each other.

For high-quality processing and format editing is strongly recommended to use then software application, with which the file was generated.

One of the most popular formats for storing structured data is DBF. This format is versatile, that is, it is supported by many DBMS systems and other programs. It is used not only as an element for storing data, but also as a means for exchanging data between applications. Therefore, the issue of opening files with this extension in an Excel spreadsheet becomes quite relevant.

You should be aware that there are several modifications in the DBF format itself:

  • dBase II;
  • dBase III;
  • dBase IV;
  • FoxPro et al.

The type of document also affects the correctness of its opening by programs. But it should be noted that Excel supports correct work with almost all types of DBF files.

It should be said that in most cases Excel copes with opening this format quite successfully, that is, it opens this document in the same way as this program would open, for example, its "native" xls format. But save files in DBF format by standard means Excel stopped after Excel 2007. However, this is a topic for a separate lesson.

Method 1: launch through the file open window

One of the simplest and most intuitive options for opening documents with the DBF extension in Excel is to launch them through the file open window.


Method 2: open by double clicking on the file

Also, a popular way to open documents is to launch it by double-clicking the left mouse button on the corresponding file. But the fact is that by default, if you do not specifically prescribe in system settings, the Excel program is not associated with the DBF extension. Therefore, without additional manipulations, the file cannot be opened in this way. Let's see how you can do this.

  1. So, we double-click the left mouse button on the DBF file that we want to open.

  2. If on this computer in the system settings, the DBF format is not associated with any program, then a window will open, which will inform you that it was not possible to open the file. It will offer options for action:
    • Search for matches on the Internet;
    • Selecting a program from the list of installed programs.

    Since it is understood that table processor Microsoft Excel we already have it installed, then we rearrange the switch to the second position and click on the key "OK" at the bottom of the window.

    If this extension is already associated with another program, but we want to run it in Excel, then we do a little differently. Click on the name of the document with the right mouse button. The context menu is launched. Choose a position in it "To open with"... Another list opens. If it contains a name Microsoft Excel, then click on it, if you do not find such a name, then go to item "Select a program ...".

    There is another option. Click on the name of the document with the right mouse button. In the list that opens after the last action, select the position "Properties".

    In the launched window "Properties" move to the tab "General" if the launch occurred in some other tab. Near parameter "Application" push the button "Change…".

  3. When you select any of these three options, the file open window is launched. Again, if there is a name in the list of recommended programs at the top of the window Microsoft Excel, then click on it, and in the opposite case, click on the button "Overview…" at the bottom of the window.

  4. In the case of the last action, a window opens in the directory where programs are located on the computer. "To open with…" in the form of a conductor. In it, you need to go to the folder that contains the file for launching the Excel program. The exact address of the path to this folder depends on the version of Excel that you have installed, or rather on the version of the package Microsoft Office... The general path pattern would look like this:

    C: \ Program Files \ Microsoft Office \ Office #

    Instead of the symbol «#» you need to substitute the version number of your office product. So for Excel 2010 this will be the number "fourteen", and the exact path to the folder will accordingly look like this:

    C: \ Program Files \ Microsoft Office \ Office14

    For Excel 2007, the number will be "12", for Excel 2013 - "fifteen", for Excel 2016 - "sixteen".

    So, we move to the above directory and look for a file with the name "EXCEL.EXE"... If the display of extensions is not running on your system, then its name will look just like "EXCEL"... Select this name and click on the button "Open".

  5. After that, we are automatically transferred back to the program selection window. This time the name Microsoft Office will be displayed here for sure. If the user wishes that this application always by default opened DBF documents by double clicking on them, then you need to make sure that next to the parameter "Use the selected program for all files of this type" there is a check mark. If you plan to open only a single DBF document in Excel, and then you are going to open this type of files in another program, then, on the contrary, this checkbox should be unchecked. After all the specified settings are made, click on the button "OK".

  6. After that, the DBF document will be launched in Excel program, and if the user ticked the appropriate place in the program selection window, now the files of this extension will open in Excel automatically after double-clicking on them with the left mouse button.

As you can see, opening DBF files in Excel is quite simple. But, unfortunately, many novice users are confused and do not know how to do this. For example, they have no idea of ​​setting the appropriate format in the window for opening a document through the Excel interface. Even more difficult for some users is opening DBF documents double click left mouse button, as for this you need to change some system settings through the program selection window.