Want to import data from XML file to DBF?
Try Withdata FileToDB, a desktop to DBF converter for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, Convert 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 XML to DBF locally and privately, avoid uploading XML file(s) to online services.
- Support Windows, Linux, and macOS.
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Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
Import data from XML file to DBF in 4 steps
Choose XML file -> Set DBF table -> Preview -> Import
Choose DBF 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 DBF converter
Download Withdata FileToDB
Windows 64 bit
Windows 32 bit
Linux .deb (For Debian, Ubuntu) 64 bit
Linux .rpm (For Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE) 64 bit
MacOS 64 bit
XML → DBF reference
Type mapping
| Value kind | in XML | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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 XML | in DBF |
|---|---|---|
| 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 DBF.
- XML values of kind Binary have nowhere to go in DBF.
- XML values of kind JSON have nowhere to go in DBF.
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