Want to import data from TSV file to DBF?
Using Withdata software FileToDB, a TSV to DBF converter, you can import data from TSV file to DBF (dBase, FoxBase, FoxPro) in 4 simple steps.
- Can run in GUI mode, Step by Step, just a few mouse clicks.
- Can run in Command line, for Scheduled Tasks and Streams.
- Import locally, Avoid uploading big TSV file(s) to online services.
- Support large TSV files (big than 4GB).
- Support Windows, Linux, macOS.
Import data from TSV file to DBF (dBase, FoxBase, FoxPro) in 4 steps
Choose TSV file -> Set DBF table -> Preview data and config “Convert Rows” -> Import TSV to DBF
Choose DBF and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TSV” file type.
then show the wizard.
Step #1. Choose a TSV file.
Step #2. Choose a DBF table and config fields.
Step #3. Preview data and config “Convert Rows”.
Step #4. Import TSV to DBF.
Import TSV to DBF in command line
Save “TSV to DBF” session, then you can:
- Import TSV to DBF in Windows command line.
- Import TSV to DBF in Linux command line.
- Import TSV to DBF in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for importing TSV to DBF
You can schedule and automate this converting task by:
1) Save session and create .bat (Windows) or .sh (Linux/macOS) file.
More about FileToDB – the TSV to DBF (dBase, FoxBase, FoxPro) importer
30-day free trial 
TSV → DBF reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in TSV | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 | Numeric(10,0) |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 | Numeric(19,0) |
| Decimal | 1234.56 | Numeric(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234e+10 | Float |
| Text | unquoted; a tab in the value splits the column | Character(n) |
| Long text | unquoted; newlines break the row | Memo |
| Date | 2026-09-18 | Date |
| Datetime | 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | (none) |
| Binary | not representable | (none) |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE | Logical |
| JSON | the whole JSON value as-is (its own quotes stay) | (none) |
Dialect differences
TSV 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.
| Property | in TSV | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | (file-based) |
| identifiers | Rarely used, which is exactly why tabs in data break it | — |
| row limit | — | (driver dependent) |
| dates | Conventional text: 2026-09-18 or 2026-09-18 14:30:00 | Date (D) |
| long text | — | Memo (M) |
| binary | Not supported - must be encoded | — |
| separator | Tab | — |
| encoding | No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM | — |
| typing | None - every field is text | — |
| shape | Flat table, optional header row | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | No formal limit | — |
No counterpart
- TSV values of kind Date and time have nowhere to go in DBF.
- TSV values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in DBF.
- TSV values of kind JSON have nowhere to go in DBF.
Convert your data online, free
Free in-browser converters for CSV, Excel, JSON, XML and SQL: Withdata Online Data Conversion. Large files, batch conversion or scheduling? See the offline desktop apps, or browse all data conversion tools.
New to the format? Read what a TSV file is (and how it differs from CSV).
