Question

Dbase III database error

Asked by: richardmoses

Good Morning Everyone,

I have a client who is experiencing an issue with a Dbase III program. One of the dbf files is not working correctly. It stops the program with the error "Not a Dbase database".

I am able to pull the dbf file and look at it in a viewer. Any thoughts on how to make this database work with Dbase again? I am not a Dbase expert at all, so all help is appreciated.

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Asked On
2009-10-27 at 08:47:55ID24847637
Topics

dBase

,

Databases Miscellaneous

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: pcelbaPosted on 2009-10-27 at 09:01:50ID: 25673994

dBase III file structure is restricted in many ways. New DBF viewers can read DBF files beyond the limits defined for dBase III (e.g. number of columns can exceed 255, size of text data greater than 254 characters, slightly invalid DBF structure is allowed etc.).

You may download some DBF repair or DBF fix utility (Google provides many links) and test your DBF for structure and data consistency or you may post the DBF file here to let us look and tell more about it. (DBF must be renamed to TXT and zipped before posting.)

 

by: pcelbaPosted on 2009-10-27 at 09:07:40ID: 25674083

 

by: rajj1966Posted on 2009-11-07 at 21:02:15ID: 25769454

If the dbf is opened any time in newer version of fox, it will not work in DBASE-III.
Now you can open the file in any new foxpro version and export to DBASE-III with command
USE yourtable
COPY TO sometable TYPE FOX2X

 

by: pcelbaPosted on 2009-11-08 at 03:23:56ID: 25770146

I don't agree the first sentence. If you open dBase III file in VFP then it does not change the file type (means the first byte of the file) during data updates and you still can use it in dBase III again and again. The only exception is dB III incompatible structure change of such file in VFP.

If you dont agree then you should provide some example of VFP data manipulation command which can confirm your theory.

 

by: pcelbaPosted on 2009-12-01 at 05:14:18ID: 25942400

I would say nothing problematic is here.

richardmoses please post the DBF file or tell if offerred DBF repair utilities were working for you.

Thanks
P.C.

 

by: richardmosesPosted on 2009-12-01 at 07:15:32ID: 31646515

I was able to utilize a free dbf tool to get the database back to a working state.

 

by: RincewindwizzPosted on 2009-12-01 at 13:38:13ID: 25946948

I agree with pcelba.
If no respone in a further 7 days, close as suggested.
R

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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