Access 2013 - Dbase (.dbf) Table Import option

Anonymous
2013-02-03T16:16:55+00:00

I need to be able to import read/write Dbase dbf tables - yes they are still around so why has the standard option that was in Access 2010 gone?

I have seen mention of ISAM, which is gobbledegook to me. So please a simple answer - what do I need to install or change and how do I do it?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For home | Windows

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ScottGem 68,840 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2016-09-08T09:08:22+00:00

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-05T16:49:33+00:00

    Me, too. Microsoft might answer this for $240.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-08T22:24:37+00:00

    The only use I have for Access is to access DBF files.  If 2013 can not do that I won't be upgrading.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-08T22:49:05+00:00

    I just opened Access 2013 (part of Office 2013 365 Home Premium) and was more that surprised and disappointed to begin to apply a program I've used for several years only to find the absence of any dbf options.  I've lost track of how many times MS has gotten me committed to a program or capability only to pull it.  So, my only option was to purchase "dbf Converter" and convert my dbf file to XML.  And to express my unhappiness on this blog.

    Not sure how well that is going to work but will soon find out.  I wonder how many customers MS will lose or make unhappy with this decision.  Sure doesn't make any sense from a customer/user standpoint.  I also recently found out about the $240 charge for technical support.  "Makes you wonder about your life decisions" to quote a recent ice tea commercial.  :) 

    J. Austin

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-02-09T21:43:00+00:00

    You could give the FoxPro ODBC drivers a try. Those drivers often will import dbase files.

    Another approach is to contact the vendor of the software in question and ask for what is called an ODBC driver.

    So, if you need to import an Oracle database, then you can contact Oracle for what is called an ODBC driver. And if you need to import MySQL databases, then you go to MySQL and they will provide you an ODBC driver that Access can use.

    So I would consider approaching the vendor of the software in question and ask them to provide what is called an ODBC driver (open database connectivity).

    For other vendors to read Access files, a free ODBC driver is available, and has been so for about 20 years.

    So one road would be to talk to the vendor of the software that is creating the data in question and see if they can provide a driver. If they are good company, then they should provide support for their product and their file formats. As noted, the Access ODBC drivers are available and are free and thus any vendor in the marketplace can read with great ease Access files, and do so without need to purchase any drivers as they are provide free of change – even those who don't have Access can download and use the free Access drivers.

    Those other vendors should follow suit and do the same thing, and simply support their product and file formats they use.

    Albert D. Kallal (Access MVP)

    Edmonton, Alberta Canada

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