dBASE Database IV

Partly documented

database

dBase is a database management systems for microcomputers.The dBase system includes the core database engine, a query system, a forms engine, and a programming language that ties all of these components together. dBase's underlying file format, the .dbf file, is widely used in applications needing a simple format to store structured data.

Identify it

Extensions	`.dbf`
MIME types	`application/dbase`
PRONOM	`x-fmt/10`
Wikidata	`Q44933672`

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Open it

LibreOffice CalcOpen sourcereads and writes · Mozilla Public License, version 2.0
OrbadaOpen sourcewrites · GNU General Public License
LibreOfficeOpen sourcereads · MPL-2.0
Labels Unlimitedwrites
Lotus Approach Release 9reads and writes
Microsoft Excel 2000writes
Microsoft Works 3.0writes
Microsoft Works 8.0writes
DataGripwrites
Navicatreads and writes
ProStatreads and writes
Q80689reads and writes · proprietary license
Quattro Pro 11reads and writes
Stratifyreads and writes
WPS Spreadsheet 2013reads and writes
dBasereads
Microsoft Access 2000reads
Microsoft Access 2007reads
PC/FOCUSreads
ACT! By Sage 2007reads
Applause IIreads
ArcGIS Proreads
FileMerlinreads
GMSreads
Lotus Word Pro Release 9reads
Mathematicareads · proprietary license
MedCalcreads · proprietary license
Microsoft Excelreads · end-user license agreement
Microsoft Office Excel 2007reads
My Invoices & Estimates Deluxereads
MyMailList Deluxereads
NCSSreads
QuickViewreads
Recovery Toolboxreads
SigmaPlot 4.0reads
SPSSreads · proprietary license
Statareads
StoryOreads

Convert it

To	With	Fidelity	Command and losses
Microsoft Excel for Windows 2007 onwards	LibreOffice	Partial	`soffice --headless --convert-to xlsx in.dbf` Layout may shift; macros and some features are not kept.
OpenDocument Spreadsheet file format family	LibreOffice	Partial	`soffice --headless --convert-to ods in.dbf` Layout may shift; macros and some features are not kept.
PDF	LibreOffice	Partial	`soffice --headless --convert-to pdf in.dbf` Fixed layout: the document is no longer editable.
Comma Separated Values	LibreOffice	Lossy	`soffice --headless --convert-to csv in.dbf` First sheet only, values only: formulas, formatting and other sheets are lost.

Documentation

kaitai grammar: https://github.com/kaitai-io/kaitai_struct_formats/blob/master/database/dbf.ksy

Sources

From Kaitai Struct format gallery, PRONOM, Wikidata. Updated 2026-10-24.

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