Want to import data from XML file to dBase?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop to dBase converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert to dBase, 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 XML to dBase locally and privately, avoid uploading XML file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Import data from XML file to dBase in 4 steps
Choose XML file -> Set dBase table -> Preview -> Import
Choose dBase and logon.
Click “Wizard – 1 File To 1 Table” at task dialog.
Select the “XML” file type.
then show the wizard.
Step #1. Open an XML file.
Step #2. Select a table and config fields.
Step #3. Preview data.
Step #4. Import.
More about XML to dBase converter
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XML → dBase reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in XML | in dBase |
|---|---|---|
| Int | <int>1234</int> | Numeric(10,0) |
| Bigint | <bigint>9007199254740993</bigint> | Numeric(19,0) |
| Decimal | <decimal>1234.56</decimal> | Numeric(p,s) |
| Float | <float>1.234e10</float> | Float |
| Text | <char>text</char> | Character(n) |
| Long text | <text>multi-line text</text> (entities for & <) | Memo |
| Date | <date>2026-09-18</date> (xs:date with an XSD) | Date |
| Datetime | <datetime>2026-09-18T14:30:00Z</datetime> (xs:dateTime) | (none) |
| Binary | <blob>base64...</blob> (xs:base64Binary) | (none) |
| Boolean | <bool>true</bool> | Logical |
| JSON | escaped inside an element, or its own sub-tree | (none) |
Dialect differences
XML is a file format and dBase 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 XML | in dBase |
|---|---|---|
| port | — | (file-based) |
| identifiers | Attribute values in quotes; entities (& < >) for ... | — |
| row limit | — | (driver dependent) |
| dates | Text (xs:date / xs:dateTime when an XSD is in play) | Date (D) |
| long text | — | Memo (M) |
| binary | base64Binary / hexBinary inside text | — |
| separator | Tags, not delimiters | — |
| encoding | Declared in the XML declaration | — |
| typing | None in the markup itself | — |
| shape | Arbitrary tree | Tables of rows and columns |
| ceiling | Whole document is usually parsed into memory | — |
No counterpart
- XML values of kind Date and time have nowhere to go in dBase.
- XML values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in dBase.
- XML values of kind JSON have nowhere to go in dBase.
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