Any Mac software for opening DBF files?

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Level 1

4 points

Any Mac software for opening DBF files?

I have a mac that is not running Windows.

I would like to at least view the contents of a dbf file. I have tried without success to find (google) such a program.

Is there anything out there that will help me?

Thanks.

-- Jillaine

macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Mar 3, 2010 9:09 AM

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Answer 1

Klaus1

Level 9

52,873 points

Mar 3, 2010 9:22 AM in response to jillainedc

I found this:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/si/ds/macs.asp

If you have Excel that may work.

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Answer 2

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Mar 3, 2010 9:24 AM in response to jillainedc

I believe NeoOffice can open dbf files.

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Answer 3

jillainedc Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 7, 2010 8:05 PM in response to V.K.

Thanks; I'd already found the link you provided.
I tried using Numbers to open the DBF files; no luck.
I am not running Parallels, Windows or any windows programs.
I need a pure mac program that will open DBF files.
Looks like I may have to purchase Filemaker IF I can confirm ahead of time that it will open DBF files. Thanks.

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Answer 4

Mar 7, 2010 11:40 PM in response to jillainedc

Try V.K.'s suggestion first - NeoOffice is free and though its database section is extremely clunky you might be able to get it to work with your file.

Apple's now unsupported office program AppleWorks can import DBF files: Apple no longer sell it but you might be able to find a copy; ask for advice in the AppleWorks Forum - you might even be able to find someone who will convert it for you if you ask nicely. (You would still have to open it yourself, so you would need to ask them to export it as text).

FileMaker Pro can import XML and ODBC files but I can't see any evidence that it will import DBF files - you would need to contact their Support on this.

You only other option would be to try to find someone with Windows and a suitable program who can open the file and convert it to text, either tab or comma delimited, and then open that in (for example) Bento which is art least cheap, or NeoOffice.

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