Want to import data from TXT file to DBF?
Using Withdata software FileToDB, a TXT to DBF converter, you can import data from TXT 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 TXT file(s) to online services.
- Support large TXT files (big than 4GB).
- Support Windows, Linux, macOS.
Import data from TXT file to DBF (dBase, FoxBase, FoxPro) in 4 steps
Choose TXT file -> Set DBF table -> Preview data and config “Convert Rows” -> Import TXT to DBF
Choose DBF and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “TXT” file type.
then show the wizard.
Step #1. Choose a TXT file.
Step #2. Choose a DBF table and config fields.
Step #3. Preview data and config “Convert Rows”.
Step #4. Import TXT to DBF.
Import TXT to DBF in command line
Save “TXT to DBF” session, then you can:
- Import TXT to DBF in Windows command line.
- Import TXT to DBF in Linux command line.
- Import TXT to DBF in macOS command line.
Set scheduled tasks for importing TXT 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 TXT to DBF (dBase, FoxBase, FoxPro) importer
30-day free trial 
TXT → DBF reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in TXT | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234, or right-aligned in a fixed-width column | Numeric(10,0) |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 | Numeric(19,0) |
| Decimal | 1234.56 | Numeric(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234e+10 | Float |
| Text | written as-is; padding depends on the chosen layout | Character(n) |
| Long text | written as-is | Memo |
| Date | whatever the writer chose | Date |
| Datetime | whatever the writer chose | (none) |
| Binary | not representable | (none) |
| Boolean | Y / N, or 1 / 0, or TRUE / FALSE | Logical |
| JSON | written as-is | (none) |
Dialect differences
TXT 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 TXT | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | (file-based) |
| identifiers | None by convention | — |
| row limit | — | (driver dependent) |
| dates | Whatever the writer produced; no convention is guaranteed | Date (D) |
| long text | — | Memo (M) |
| binary | Not supported | — |
| separator | Whatever was chosen - often fixed column widths | — |
| encoding | No declaration - UTF-8 works only with a BOM | — |
| typing | None - every field is text | — |
| shape | Free form; a parser has to be told the layout | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | No formal limit | — |
No counterpart
- TXT values of kind Date and time have nowhere to go in DBF.
- TXT values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in DBF.
- TXT values of kind JSON have nowhere to go in DBF.
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