dBASE Database V

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`
PRONOM	`x-fmt/272`
Wikidata	`Q51954590`

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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
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
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 Excel 2000reads
Microsoft Office Excel 2007reads
Microsoft Works 3.0reads
Microsoft Works 8.0reads
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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