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dbf editor

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 6:02 pm
by Luke
Does anybody know of a good dbf file editor. Excel can edit these files, but when I save them, I lose about 3/4 of their data. I really need to be able to edit dbf files easily... ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 9:10 pm
by RobertGonzalez
Aren't dbf's Foxpro data files? I think Access can open them, I would just suggest you use access on copies and not the actual data files. Also, I think there are a few commercial (inexpensive) dbf editor's out there. I had to look for one a few weeks ago but scrappped the project when the original software developer finally came around and said they would edit their program.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 9:54 am
by Luke
I tried to open it in access... when I did, it changed the file's extension and asked me for an index file.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 11:11 am
by RobertGonzalez
So it isn't just me :) . I was looking around for a dbf editor. There are tons of them out there. Some were selling for as low as $19.

Another possibility.... download the trial of SQLYog and see if you can use the Data Transformation tool to move data from the DBF to a MySQL database locally. I totally don't know if this will work, but it might. I have used it to DTS data from Access to MySQL then from MySQL to SQL Server. (I know Enterprise Manager can DTS from Access to SQL Server, but I was playing with my new software :lol: ).

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 11:19 am
by Luke
Isn't dbf a pretty standard format?? Excel sucks.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 11:37 am
by RobertGonzalez
Yeah, but it is still proprietary. That means that the makers of Foxpro may not want you using something other than their software to get into their files.

What the database app in OpenOffice? Have you tried that one yet? I haven't, but the thought just came to mind

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 12:04 pm
by Luke
dbf files are proprietary? I was under the impression dbf was sort of just a generic database file (DataBase File). MIVA Merchant uses them with their MIVAsql and I've seen them used in a program called Atrex as well.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 2:07 pm
by RobertGonzalez
I could be wrong, but I thought they were. Actually, after looking around, I think you are right.

While looking, I ran across an app that has a trial version. It is called DBFManager from Astersoft. Might be worth taking a look at if you only need the functionality for a short while. Of course, this particular software is only $39 so it might be worth it to buy a license if you are going to be doing work like this a lot.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 5:46 pm
by Luke
thanks... that worked, but it only let me export 25 records with the trial version... I will probably buy it, but I need to know a little more about these files first... I can't find very much good info on google...

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 5:50 pm
by RobertGonzalez
It seemed, when I was searching, that this format is used by Foxpro, dBase, Clipper and Visual Foxpro. Outside of that, I can't seem to find much either.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:52 pm
by Luke
Also, when I open a dbf file with that editor it prompts for a .dbt file, and there just happens to be another file with the same name, but that extension in the same directory, but when I export out of the program, it creates another .dbt file... and then it corrupts my database... I am about to give up on the ability to edit these files.

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 9:38 pm
by RobertGonzalez
That sucks bro. How much does Foxpro cost?

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 9:49 pm
by themurph
dbftools (freeware)
http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_8_88_2027.html


There's also a nifty Perl module called Xbase for manipulating DBF files, if you're into that kind of thing:
http://www.fi.muni.cz/~adelton/perl/man3/XBase.html

Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 11:06 am
by Luke
the dbftools won't install on xp...

Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 11:28 am
by themurph
Grabbing at straws here.. but did you try running it in different compatibility modes?