DBF import multiple TXT (pipe delimited text) files into a single table

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Want to import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files into a single DBF table?

Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop TXT to DBF converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert TXT to DBF, Easy and Fast.

  • Can run in GUI mode, Step by Step, just a few mouse clicks.
  • Can run in Command line, for Scheduled Tasks and Streams.
  • Convert locally and privately, avoid uploading large or private TXT files to online services.
  • Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.

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Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files into a single DBF table

Login to DBF -> Choose TXT files -> Set DBF table -> Import TXT files to DBF table

Choose DBF and logon.

import multiple PIPE files to 1 DBF table - Choose DBF and logon

Click “Wizard – N Files To 1 Table” at task dialog.

import multiple PIPE files to 1 DBF table - task window

Select the “TXT” file type.

load multiple PIPE files to 1 DBF table - select file type

then show the wizard.

1. Select a folder that constains TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files.

Support large ( > 4GB ) TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files.

insert multiple PIPE files to one DBF table - select a folder

2. Config first TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) file importing options.

import multiple PIPE files to one DBF table - config first file

3. Select a DBF table and config fields.

Merge PIPE files into a DBF table - select table

4. Preview data will be in DBF table.

put PIPE files into a single DBF table - preview

5. Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to the DBF table.

Merge PIPE files into a DBF table - import data

View imported data in DBF table

load PIPE files into a DBF table - view data

Import multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to DBF in command line

Save “multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to DBF” session, then you can:

Set scheduled tasks for importing multiple TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) files to DBF

You can schedule and automate this converting task by:

  1. Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file for “TXT to DBF” conversion.
  2. Set scheduled task for “TXT to DBF” conversion.

FAQ


More about Withdata FileToDB – TXT (“|” pipe delimited text) to DBF converter

See also:

Pipe-delimited text → DBF reference

Type mapping

Value kindin Pipe-delimited textin DBF
Int1234Numeric(10,0)
Bigint9007199254740993Numeric(19,0)
Decimal1234.56Numeric(p,s)
Float1.234e+10Float
Textquoted only when it contains a pipe or a quoteCharacter(n)
Long textmust be quoted; line breaks inside force multi-line recordsMemo
Date2026-09-18Date
Datetime2026-09-18 14:30:00(none)
Binarynot representable - base64 or hex string(none)
BooleanTRUE / FALSE, or 1 / 0 depending on the writerLogical
JSONthe whole JSON value quoted, with internal quotes doubled(none)

Dialect differences

Pipe-delimited text is a file format and DBF is a database server, so the target has to be told the types the file never carried - the rows below are where the two sides diverge.

Propertyin Pipe-delimited textin DBF
port—(file-based)
identifiersDouble quotes; a literal quote is doubled ("" )—
row limit—(driver dependent)
datesConventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00Date (D)
long text—Memo (M)
binaryNot supported—
separatorPipe "|"—
encodingNo declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM—
typingNone - every field is text—
shapeFlat table, optional header rowTables of rows and columns
ceilingNo formal limit; row count bounded by memory—

No counterpart

  • Pipe-delimited text values of kind Date and time have nowhere to go in DBF.
  • Pipe-delimited text values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in DBF.
  • Pipe-delimited text values of kind JSON have nowhere to go in DBF.

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