Recently I needed to restore a DBF file that would not open after a system failure and spent some time on searching for a solution online. The result of my efforts is presented here as a short review of the apps for not only restoring DBF files, but also viewing, modifying and exporting them to new formats. I'm sure this review will be helpful for any database administrator who works with DBF databases on a regular basis.

View and Modify DBF Files

To build a DBF file, people use many different apps, such as Clipper, dBase, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro, and these are just a few tools to name. For someone who works with various kinds of DBF databases this can be a headache as it'll be necessary to buy all these DBMS tools to open various DBF databases. If you find yourself constantly working with different DBF files, take a look at a tool called DBF Viewer. It lets you open and view DBF databases of all types and modify their content easily, as if you were using native DBMS tools. For this the program generates visual dialogs according to the structure of a DBF database, making editing easy and convenient. Additionally you can view and modify memo fields in dBase III, dBase IV, FoxPro, VFP and dBase Level 7 formats. The application fully supports command line automation of common operations, such as data import, export, removal of duplicate records, or replacement of data. DBF Viewer functions completely independently and does not require any other drivers or database engines.

Recover Corrupt DBF Files

Many people using DBF files experience the pain and sufferings that come from a corrupt database. This unpleasant thing happens more often than you may imagine. Too often data gets damaged because of a system error or a virus, and then all information becomes inaccessible. For a company a corrupt database can be a problem if it contains important information, such as a client database or financial data. If it happens, the company has to hire a data recovery professional, or re-enter all data by hand, which can take much time and efforts. Fortunately there's DBF Repair Tool which enables you to restore data automatically. To recover information, the program accesses a DBF file directly and uses a proprietary recovery engine that recovers a database on its own without the need for database drivers or third-party components. After all fixes are made, the DBF file opens as if nothing had happened before! The program works with all versions of Windows, such as 95, 98, NT, 2000, 2003, XP or Windows 7.

Export DBF to Other Formats

Quite often users need to export a DBF file to a new format because they want to modify it in another program or want to send it to someone who does not have a dedicated program to open a DBF database. If you are looking for a versatile and speedy DBF converter, check out DBF Converter. The tool lets you export DBF files to a number of popular data formats, such as XML, CSV, TXT, HTML, RTF, PRG, SQL. Exporting is easy thanks to an intuitive wizard-driven interface that lets you complete a process in minutes. For exporting specific data sets or columns, the program provides the built-in filtering features. All process is handled automatically, so there is no need for you scratch you head over the necessary settings and no need for any special software to be installed. With DBF Converter, you are going to find an easy and inexpensive solution to exporting DBF to new formats.