DBASE file format description

Many people share .dbase files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn’t evident for everyone which program a .dbase file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .dbase files.

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.dbf - Aston-Tate dBASE Database

The DBF data files are related to DBase. The DBF file is an Aston-Tate dBASE Database. DBF is a database file format for dBASE database management system.

Application:

DBase

Category:

Data files

Mime-type:

application/octet-stream

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

dbase

Aston-Tate dBASE Database related extensions:

.app: dBase Application Generator Object
.bar: dBase Application Generator Menu Bar Object
.bch: dBASE Batch Process Object
.cac: dBase IV Executable
.cat: dBase IV Catalog Backup
.cdx: dBASE Compound Index

Naturally, other applications may also use the .dbase file extension. Even harmful programs can create .dbase files. Be especially cautious with .dbase files coming from an unknown source!

Can't open a .dbase file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Windows can't open this file:

example.dbase

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select one from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.

To avoid this error, you need to set the file association correctly.

Open Control Panel > Control Panel Home > Default Programs > Set Associations.
Select a file type in the list and click Change Program.

The .dbase file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

base, dbas

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.base: BioArray Software Environment Data
.dbas: AQUA Database

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8/10, Windows 11, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

If you find the information on this page useful, please feel free to link to this page.

https://datatypes.net/open-dbase-files

If you have useful information about the .dbase file format, then write to us!