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arlobliss
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Q: importing .dbf files to Mac

Hello,

I have a large amount of .dbf data created in dBASE running on a Windows PC. This PC has crashed. I have all the data backed up, and I'm hoping to start running everything on Mac. Does anyone know how I can get this data onto my Mac?

And then, is the AppleWorks software good for managing a large database, or should I look into some other options? Any recommendations?

I truly appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you in advance--

Arlo

iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

Posted on Feb 8, 2006 2:47 PM

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arlobliss

Q: importing .dbf files to Mac

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  • by KOENIG Yvan,

    KOENIG Yvan Feb 8, 2006 4:29 PM in response to arlobliss
    Level 8 (41,790 points)
    Feb 8, 2006 4:29 PM in response to arlobliss
    Hello

    The Dataviz's MaclincPlus Deluxe specs claims that it is able to decipher:

    DOS and Windows Database Formats
    • ClarisWorks 1.0, 3.x, 4.0
    • Comma Separated Values (Write only)
    • dBase (DBF) II, III, IV

    But I never used it.

    Look at:

    <http://www.dataviz.com/products/maclinkplus/mlp_xlators.html>


    Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE jeudi 9 février 2006 1:28:59)

  • by JimHarrington,

    JimHarrington JimHarrington Feb 9, 2006 10:22 AM in response to arlobliss
    Level 2 (431 points)
    Feb 9, 2006 10:22 AM in response to arlobliss
    You might want to look at FileMaker. dBase uses relational files. I believe AW is a flat-file database program.

    Jim

  • by Peggy,

    Peggy Peggy Feb 9, 2006 1:35 PM in response to JimHarrington
    Level 8 (38,920 points)
    Applications
    Feb 9, 2006 1:35 PM in response to JimHarrington
    Jim,

    Just a clarification, dbf doesn't necessarily mean files created by dBase. I only see a possible problem if the originating database make use of relational functions that AppleWorks can't.

    When I moved from my Apple IIgs & AppleWorks GS to my first Mac (a used LC in 1992) & ClarisWorks 1, one of the file choices in the Save As... was dbf & it's what I used for moving the database files. All versions of ClarisWorks & AppleWorks 5 are able to open & save as .dbf. Using dbf even transferred the field names.
    Peggy

  • by JimHarrington,

    JimHarrington JimHarrington Feb 10, 2006 8:10 AM in response to Peggy
    Level 2 (431 points)
    Feb 10, 2006 8:10 AM in response to Peggy
    Jim,

    Just a clarification, dbf doesn't necessarily mean
    files created by dBase.


    The original post stated that the files were .dbf files "created using dBASE."

    I only see a possible problem
    if the originating database make use of relational
    functions that AppleWorks can't.


    Exactly. This was the point of my original message. If the database in question uses multiple, related files, it won't work in a flat-file program, such as AppleWorks.

    Jim

  • by arlobliss,

    arlobliss arlobliss Feb 10, 2006 1:09 PM in response to JimHarrington
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 10, 2006 1:09 PM in response to JimHarrington
    Thanks, everybody. I'm learning more about databases as this goes on. In fact, I was using dBASE as a relational database, and I'll need that capability on the mac. Anybody know of good relational database software for mac?

    Thanks,

    Arlo

    iBook G4   Mac OS X (10.3.9)  

  • by Peggy,

    Peggy Peggy Feb 10, 2006 6:18 PM in response to arlobliss
    Level 8 (38,920 points)
    Applications
    Feb 10, 2006 6:18 PM in response to arlobliss
    The most popular relational database on the Mac is FileMaker. You can download a trial from their website. It does look a lot like the AppleWorks database, but the look is as far as the similarities go. Other databases I've seen mentioned are 4D & one in Open Office.
    Peggy

  • by Barbara Passman3,

    Barbara Passman3 Barbara Passman3 Feb 10, 2006 9:22 PM in response to Peggy
    Level 2 (180 points)
    Feb 10, 2006 9:22 PM in response to Peggy
    FileMaker probably will be most similar to your experience with dbase.
    FMPro is very robust,has been ranked above Microsoft's Access, is fully relational. On one level it is very easy to use- at its simplest it resembles Appleworks-but don't let its very basic ease fool you. In recent years the application has matured and while it looks "pretty" it is not a toy, rather a very serious data manager with excellent export-import capbility with Microsoft Excel.

    4-D is also a very powerful datamanager. It works well with SQL and such.I am so used to FMPro that I have not gained comfort with 4-D although it has its loyal users.

    Flat panel 15 iMac   Mac OS X (10.4.4)