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 file to DBF
Login to DBF -> Choose Excel file -> Set 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.
1. Open an Excel file.

Here is the file’s content.

2. Select a DBF table and config fields.

3. Preview data will be in DBF table.

4. Import Excel data to DBF.

View imported data in DBF table

More about Excel to DBF converter
See Video: Import data from Excel file into DBF table in a few clicks”
See also:
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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