dbf file to export out to a csv file

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amgeeknz

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#303626 23-Feb-2023 19:29

hello, we have a very old database actually works in a old dos terminal, we are looking to see if we can export the data out but haven't had much doing so.

Has anyone had any experience or ideas on how we would go about doing this, we tried importing into excel but the data gets all messed up. Thoughts

mentalinc

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#3041083 23-Feb-2023 20:26

What's the application (might have done something funny with the data model etc)?

What apps have you tried to use already (I assume you didn't try to use built in Excel import)

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amgeeknz

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#3041086 23-Feb-2023 20:34

the excel import didnt import data was all over the place.

Ive used a couple of dbf viewers, application was designed a number of years ago. Developer is no longer around

allan

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#3041110 23-Feb-2023 21:38

Did you just try a direct "Open dBase files" from within Excel?

What about trying an Excel Data Import via the /Data menu/Get Data/ option, which essentially creates an ODBC style connection using Microsoft query behind the scenes. It's ages since I've done this, but I've got an old dBase file lying around somewhere I could try it on if you want more specific instructions. I remember it being a little complicated...

amgeeknz

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#3041111 23-Feb-2023 21:40

that would be awesome if you could, to be honest ive never done this before so just helping someone out :)

mentalinc

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#3041114 23-Feb-2023 22:08

In that case, I assume you're working with a backup of the file not the original?

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allan

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#3041123 23-Feb-2023 22:36

Okay here goes. Apologies in advance if it's not clear. From within Excel go to the Data menu and select the following:

"Get Data"
"From Other Sources"
"From Microsoft Query"
Select "New Data Source" & "OK"
Provide a name (1)
Select "Microsoft Access dBase driver" (2)
click "Connect" (3)
Untick "Use Current Directory"
Click "Select Directory" button & browse to the folder where your dbf files live (I've only tried this with local files, not via a network connection)
Click "OK a couple of times to return to the "Create New Data Source screen"
Click "OK" again to return to the "Choose Data Source" screen, where you should see the name you provided above
Highlight this name and click "OK"
You will then see the list of table names and fields that you can choose to move to your query (entire table(s) or just selected fields by clicking the right arrow
When done, click "Next" where you can choose to filter the data
"Next" again to choose the sort order
"Next" again to get to the "Finish Query" screen, where you can choose to save the query
"Finish" to the "Import Data screen"
"OK" to pull the data into Excel as a table
And obviously a "Save As" if you want it in CSV format

Hope that makes sense and it works for you.

Edited to add - and yes, as @mentalinc has said, use a copy of the dbf files, not the originals

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ANglEAUT

altered-ego
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#3041134 23-Feb-2023 23:10

MS Access has "better" support for viewing database files. If you have a valid license, try that.

I personally like Database Browser from DB Software Laboratory over at PortableApps.com

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allan

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#3041139 23-Feb-2023 23:28

ANglEAUT:

I personally like Database Browser from DB Software Laboratory over at PortableApps.com

Nice piece of software. Still needs an ODBC connection defined for dBase files though

frankv

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#3043210 28-Feb-2023 13:03

Try DBeaver... it can read .DBF files (amongst a multitude of others). Create a new connection to the folder containing your files, then open the files as tables.

Worst case, I have Java source code for a DBF reader, derived from DbfEngine... if you search for this on GitHub, you'll get a couple of hits in Java & C++