Want to import data from Excel file to DBF?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop Excel to DBF converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert Excel 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.
- Import Excel to DBF locally and privately, avoid uploading Excel file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Import data from Excel to DBF in 4 steps
Choose Excel file -> Set DBF table -> Preview DBF table -> Import Excel to DBF
Choose DBF and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” for “Excel to DBF”.
Select the “Excel” file type.
then show the wizard.
Step #1. Open an Excel file.
Step #2. Select a DBF table and config fields.
Step #3. Preview DBF table.
Step #4. Import Excel to DBF.
More about Excel to DBF converter
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EXCEL → DBF reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in EXCEL | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| Int | 1234 (a real numeric cell) | Numeric(10,0) |
| Bigint | 9007199254740993 (exact only while the cell stays text) | Numeric(19,0) |
| Decimal | 1234.56 (numeric cell, format controls the displayed decimals) | Numeric(p,s) |
| Float | 1.234E+10 (numeric cell) | Float |
| Text | text cell; leading zeros survive only if the column is text | Character(n) |
| Long text | text cell; wraps inside the cell rather than the row | Memo |
| Date | a serial number plus a date cell format | Date |
| Datetime | a serial number plus a date-time cell format | (none) |
| Binary | not representable as data | (none) |
| Boolean | TRUE / FALSE (a real boolean cell) | Logical |
| JSON | a text cell; the quotes are part of the value | (none) |
Dialect differences
EXCEL 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 EXCEL | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | (file-based) |
| identifiers | Not applicable; a cell holds exactly one value | — |
| row limit | — | (driver dependent) |
| dates | Stored as a serial number; only the cell format makes it lo... | Date (D) |
| long text | — | Memo (M) |
| binary | Only as text or an embedded object, not as a data column | — |
| separator | Cells, not delimiters | — |
| encoding | UTF-8 internally, declared in the package | — |
| typing | Real cell types: text, number, date, boolean, error | — |
| shape | Multiple sheets, each a flat grid | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | 1,048,576 rows x 16,384 columns per sheet; 255 sheets per w... | — |
No counterpart
- EXCEL values of kind Date and time have nowhere to go in DBF.
- EXCEL values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in DBF.
- EXCEL values of kind JSON have nowhere to go in DBF.
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