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DBF Converter - Transform Legacy Database Files

Convert DBF database files to modern formats. Open legacy dBASE files anywhere.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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What is DBF?

DBF (dBASE Database File) is a legacy database format originally created for dBASE, one of the first database management systems for personal computers. Introduced in 1980, DBF became a standard for desktop databases throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

DBF files store data in a structured table format with defined fields, data types, and records. The format was adopted by many applications including FoxPro, Clipper, and even GIS software like ESRI Shapefiles (which use DBF for attribute data).

While DBF is a legacy format, millions of files still exist in business archives, old systems, and specialized applications that continue to use this format.

Why Convert DBF Files?

Converting DBF files is essential for modern data access:

  • Legacy system migration - Extract data from old systems using dBASE, FoxPro, or Clipper
  • Modern analysis - Convert to Excel for filtering, sorting, charts, and pivot tables
  • Data portability - CSV format works with any modern database or application
  • GIS data extraction - Access attribute data from Shapefile DBF components
  • Archive recovery - Retrieve data from decades-old database files
  • System integration - Import legacy data into modern databases and applications

Convert DBF to Other Formats

Migrate your legacy database data to modern formats:

DBF to XLSX

Convert to modern Excel format for full spreadsheet functionality. Perfect for analyzing legacy data with Excel's filtering, sorting, charts, and pivot tables.

DBF to XLS

Transform to legacy Excel format if you need compatibility with older Excel versions while still gaining spreadsheet capabilities.

DBF to CSV

Export database records as comma-separated values. CSV is the most universal format for importing data into any modern database, application, or programming environment.

DBF to TXT

Convert to plain text format for simple data extraction or text processing applications.

DBF to XML

Transform structured database data to XML format for web services, APIs, or applications requiring XML input.

DBF to PDF

Create printable PDF documents from database tables. Useful for archiving or sharing data in a read-only format.

Convert Other Formats to DBF

Create DBF files for legacy system compatibility:

CSV to DBF

Convert comma-separated data to DBF format for use in legacy systems or applications that require dBASE format input.

XLSX to DBF

Transform Excel spreadsheets to DBF format. Essential when importing data into old systems or applications that only accept DBF files.

XLS to DBF

Convert legacy Excel files to dBASE format for use in older database applications.

TXT to DBF

Import text data into DBF format with proper field definitions and data types.

XML to DBF

Transform structured XML data into dBASE format for legacy system integration.

DBF Technical Specifications

  • Full name: dBASE Database File
  • Developer: Ashton-Tate (original), various
  • First released: 1980
  • File extension: .dbf
  • MIME type: application/dbf or application/dbase
  • Structure: Binary with header and records
  • Versions: dBASE III, IV, V, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro
  • Field types: Character, Number, Date, Logical, Memo
  • Character encoding: ASCII (typically), varies by version

DBF Compatibility

Software That Opens DBF Files

  • Microsoft Excel (import function)
  • LibreOffice Calc
  • DBF viewers (DBF Viewer Plus, others)
  • GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS)
  • Legacy database software (dBASE, FoxPro)
  • Many programming languages with DBF libraries

Common DBF Sources

  • Legacy business applications
  • FoxPro and Clipper databases
  • ESRI Shapefiles (attribute data)
  • Old accounting and inventory systems
  • Archive data from 1980s-2000s systems

How to Convert DBF Files

  1. Upload your DBF file - Drag and drop your database file or click to browse. We support all common DBF versions.
  2. Choose your output format - Select XLSX for Excel work, CSV for data portability, or other formats for specific needs.
  3. Download your converted file - Conversion preserves all records and fields. Download your data immediately.

Pro Tip

DBF files often have associated memo files (.dbt, .fpt) containing large text fields. If your text fields appear empty or contain references, look for these companion files and ensure they're in the same directory.

Common Mistake

Expecting perfect character encoding. Legacy DBF files used various encodings (DOS, Windows, OEM). If text looks wrong after conversion, try different encoding options or use a DBF viewer to identify the correct encoding first.

Best For

DBF conversion is essential for recovering data from legacy dBASE, FoxPro, and Clipper applications, or extracting attribute data from GIS Shapefiles.

Not Recommended

Don't use DBF for new projects. It's a legacy format with limitations on field sizes and data types. Use CSV for simple data, XLSX for spreadsheets, or modern databases for applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

DBF (dBASE Database File) is a legacy database format created in 1980 for storing structured data. It was widely used in dBASE, FoxPro, and Clipper applications. DBF files contain tables with records and fields, similar to a spreadsheet.

You can open DBF files in Excel (File > Open, select All Files), LibreOffice Calc, or specialized DBF viewers. For full access to the data, convert to Excel or CSV format first.

Yes, upload your DBF file to ChangeMyFile and select XLSX or XLS as the output format. The conversion creates an Excel spreadsheet with all your database records and fields.

DBF files were created by dBASE, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro, Clipper, and similar database applications. ESRI Shapefiles also use DBF format for attribute data. Many legacy business applications used DBF storage.

DBF files may use different character encodings. If you see garbled text, the encoding may not match. Our converter attempts to detect the correct encoding automatically. Try converting to CSV with UTF-8 encoding.

Yes, converting DBF to CSV is straightforward. Upload your DBF file and select CSV output. This creates a universal format that works with any modern application or database.

Shapefiles include a .dbf file containing attribute data. Upload just the .dbf file to convert to Excel or CSV. The geographic data is in separate .shp and .shx files.

Yes, ChangeMyFile supports batch conversion. Upload multiple DBF files and convert them all to your chosen format simultaneously.

DBF is a legacy format, but still exists in old systems, archives, and specialized applications like GIS (Shapefiles use DBF). For new projects, use modern databases or Excel/CSV formats instead.

DBF is a binary database format with defined field types and lengths. CSV is plain text with comma-separated values. CSV is more portable but loses field type information. DBF is a database; CSV is just data.

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