Open dbf file. DBF File Extension - What is it? If problems arise

Senior Technology Writer

Someone sent you a e-mail DBF file and you don't know how to open it? Maybe you found a DBF file on your computer and were wondering what it was? Windows may tell you that you cannot open it, or in the worst case, you may encounter a corresponding error message associated with the DBF file.

Before you can open a DBF file, you need to find out what kind of file the extension is. dbf file.

Tip: Incorrect DBF file association errors can be a symptom of other underlying issues within your Windows operating system. These invalid entries can also produce associated symptoms such as slow Windows startups, computer freezes, and other PC performance issues. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you scan your Windows registry for invalid file associations and other issues related to a fragmented registry.

Answer:

DBF files are Database Files, which are primarily associated with CDBF Database (WhiteTown Software).

DBF files are also associated with iAnywhere Database File (Sybase Inc.), The Network Diary Database (CF Systems Ltd), ACT! Main Database File (Best Software CRM Division), Alpha Five Table Data File (Alpha Software Inc.), NovaBACKUP Backup Database (NovaStor Corporation), Oracle 8.x Tablespace File, Abacus Law Data (Abacus Data Systems Inc.), Psion Series 3 Database (Psion PLC), ArcView Shapefile Attribute Table File (ESRI), Database, JetForm FormFlow Data File and FileViewPro.

Additional types of files may also use the DBF file extension. If you are aware of any other file formats that use the DBF file extension, please contact us so we can update our information accordingly.

How to open your DBF file:

The fastest and easy way Opening your DBF file means double-clicking on it. IN in this case Windows system she will choose the necessary program to open your DBF file.

In case your DBF file does not open, it is very likely that you do not have the required application program installed on your PC to view or edit files with DBF extensions.

If your PC opens the DBF file, but it's the wrong application, you'll need to change your file association settings. Windows registry. In other words, Windows associates DBF file extensions with the wrong program.

Install optional products - FileViewPro (Solvusoft) | | | |

DBF File Analysis Tool™

Not sure what type the DBF file is? Do you want to get precise information about a file, its creator and how it can be opened?

Now you can instantly get all the necessary information about the DBF file!

Revolutionary DBF File Analysis Tool™ scans, analyzes and reports detailed information about the DBF file. Our patent-pending algorithm quickly analyzes the file and provides detailed information within seconds in a clear, easy-to-read format.†

In just a few seconds, you'll know exactly what type of DBF file you have, the application associated with the file, the name of the user who created the file, the file's security status, and other useful information.

To start your free file analysis, simply drag and drop your DBF file inside dotted line below or click "Browse My Computer" and select a file. The DBF file analysis report will be shown below, right in the browser window.

Drag the DBF file here to start analysis

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Please also check my file for viruses

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A .DBF file is a file that stores various data; this format is actively used by database management systems, spreadsheet management systems and others similar systems. It should be noted that in the field of spreadsheets and databases this format is a standard, which leads to its frequent use in this role.

This format was first used in the LibreOffice program, in which it was used as standard file for database management. Since LibreOffice is a family of very widespread spreadsheet and database management systems, and this extension has proven itself in its role, many other programs that had to use databases and spreadsheets in their work began to actively use it for these purposes .

If we consider the structure of files with the .DBF extension, we can distinguish the following elements:

  • Title. Here is information that relates to the structure of the database.
  • Database area. This part of the file contains records of a certain length, which are formed into a table.

Typically, files with the .DBF extension come together with .DBT and .FPT files, which are not independent formats and can only be opened using the corresponding .DBF file.

History of the DBF format.

Since this format has a rather rich history, which dates back to the 1980s, during all this time the format has been significantly improved and modified, so despite the fact that it has remained the basic standard for many programs, it cannot be said 100 percent that Many modern programs that use databases and spreadsheets will be able to open this format, but in most cases a file in this format will be opened by many programs.

How to open DBF file

Users who constantly work with databases and documents that have DBF permission do not need to be told how and what program opens this file. But, if you received such a file and you don’t know what it is, you can’t open it and extract data from it, then this article will be useful.

Many programs can work with documents that are databases. The simplest ones are OpenOffice and LibreOffice and we will write about them.

These are packages office applications for working on a wide variety of projects, including databases.

  • After downloading and installing OpenOffice package launch the program by clicking on the program shortcut on the desktop. In the window that opens, select the “Open” button.
  • Next, select a file on your computer that has .dbf permission for your database table and click “Open.”

  • Then you should select the encoding of the document to correctly display the information contained in the file (incorrect choice of encoding can lead to errors and display of information in the document with incomprehensible characters).

  • That's it, the document is open in the OpenOffice environment and you can continue to work with it.

Similarly, a database with .dbf permission is opened in LibreOffice.

How to open DBF file in Excel

In a programme Microsoft Excel Starting from version 2007, you cannot simply open a dbf file. Versions 2003 and older still support this file there was, but then it was removed. To convert a database into a table and to be able to work on it, you need to use special programs, which convert a file from one format to another, in particular, DBF Converter and others like them.

Developers software They are not asleep and are actively creating resources with which you can open a DBF file online, edit it and save it on your computer without installing additional software. This program for working with DBF files - DBFShow - is still in development.

There are a large number of programs that can work with .DBF format files, some of the most famous are programs such as: OpenOffice and LibreOffice, you can download them above using the links provided.

If you find a file with the DBF extension somewhere and don’t know how to open it, and operating system can not find installed programs, capable of working with such files, then you have come to the right address. Indeed, in our article we will deal with the problem of opening such files - we will find out why the DBF format is used in general, what programs are best to use for working with files of this format, and what should be taken into account.

What is DBF format

Most often, accountants will have to open dbf files - 1C 7 stores data in them

Dbf files are used to store and transmit information. They are used in management systems by databases, etc. Today, the dbf extension is used by various applications, although it was originally only provided by the dBase program. At first dBase was the most popular program for working with databases, with the appearance Microsoft Access she has somewhat lost her position. Despite this, many new programs use the dbf extension.

What programs can open a DBF file?

Questions often arise about which program to choose to open a dbf file. So... A DBF file is a database file that can be used in Visual FoxPRO, FoxPro, 1C 7.7. Most convenient applications to edit such files are the following:

  1. DBFShow. This is a demon paid program. It is characterized by wide functionality, which is why it is popular among users. The developers are constantly improving the program, new features appear in it.
  2. DBFViewer 2000 is an excellent, well-developed application, one of its main advantages is its wide capabilities for both exporting and importing data. However, it is positioned as shareware.
  3. DBF Navigator - the program pleases with its speed and is distributed free of charge, but, unfortunately, the developer company has already stopped releasing updates.

If you install the right application If this is not possible, then use Excel or its equivalent - Open Office Calc.

There is no way to open and save dbf files, so you must first connect the special add-on “dbf_operations.xla” and use it in the future.

In addition to those described, there are other editors that work with dbf documents. Only the most common methods have been listed here, which in most cases help resolve the question of how to open the dbf file.

One of the most popular formats for storing structured data is DBF. This format is universal, 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 it between applications. Therefore, the issue of opening files with this extension in the Excel spreadsheet becomes quite relevant.

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

  • dBase II;
  • dBase III;
  • dBase IV;
  • FoxPro and others

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 of 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 standard means Excel stopped after Excel versions 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

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

  1. So, double-click with 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 that will inform you that the file could not be opened. It will offer options for action:
    • Search for matches on the Internet;
    • Selecting a program from the list of installed programs.

    Since it is assumed that the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet processor is already installed, we move the switch to the second position and click on the button "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 things a little differently. Right-click on the document name. The context menu launches. Select a position in it "To open with". Another list opens. If it contains a name "Microsoft Excel", then click on it, if you don’t find such a name, then go to the item “Select program...”.

    There is another option. Right-click on the document name. In the list that opens after last action, select a position "Properties".

    In the opened window "Properties" move to the tab "Are common", if the launch occurred in some other tab. About the parameter "Application" click on the button "Change…".

  3. When you select any of these three options, the file open window opens. Again, if the list of recommended programs at the top of the window contains the name "Microsoft Excel", then click on it, and otherwise click on the button "Review…" at the bottom of the window.

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

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office#

    Instead of a symbol «#» you need to enter the version number of your office product. So for Excel 2010 this will be the number "14", and the exact path to the folder will look like this:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14

    For Excel 2007 the number will be "12", for Excel 2013 – "15", for Excel 2016 – "16".

    So, move to the above directory and look for a file called "EXCEL.EXE". If you do not have extensions displayed on your system, then its name will simply look like "EXCEL". Select this name and click on the button "Open".

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

  6. After this the DBF document will be launched into Excel program, and if the user checks the appropriate place in the program selection window, then now 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 get confused and don’t know how to do this. For example, they do not think to set the appropriate format in the window for opening a document through the Excel interface. Even more difficult for some users is opening DBF documents by double-clicking the left mouse button, since this requires changing some system settings through the program selection window.

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. Distinctive feature a file with this format is able 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 is a paid program that allows you to open DBF files and carry out 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 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 at the same time it has both a demo period and a truncated free version, the functionality of which will be sufficient to open 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.