open ArcView dbf file

[john.e.palmer]

The ESRI program ArcView creates several files, one of which is a
*.dbf file. Win Excel has no problem reading this file. Excel 2004
for Mac won't. Any ideas on how to open it? Thanks.

 

[the3rdParty]

John

I managed to get xl 2004 (mac) to open a dbf file associated with an
ESRI shapefile. Luanch xl, in the file/open dialogue select 'all
documents' under the 'Enable' drop down menu. Navigate to your dbf
file and it should open ok.

It is a bit strange that xl doesnt appear to want to open a dbf file
without being forced in this way.

Good luck

James

 

[CyberTaz]

That extension is a dBASE II/-IV file type. Since that application was never
produced for Mac the file type is not registered in Mac OS & therefore isn't
a recognized/supported file type.

As another poster responded, Mac Excel _may_ be able to open the file if you
set the Enable: option to All Documents. However, even PC Excel can't open
*all* .dbf files - there are a number of variables that come into play.

Interestingly enough, when you save the file the Save As dialog's Format:
list *does* provide a choice of dBASE formats from which to choose - among
others that aren't specifically listed in the Open dialog's Enable: list

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[john.e.palmer]

That extension is a dBASE II/-IV file type. Since that application was never
produced for Mac the file type is not registered in Mac OS & therefore isn't
a recognized/supported file type.

As another poster responded, Mac Excel _may_ be able to open the file if you
set the Enable: option to All Documents. However, even PC Excel can't open
*all* .dbf files - there are a number of variables that come into play.

Interestingly enough, when you save the file the Save As dialog's Format:
list *does* provide a choice of dBASE formats from which to choose - among
others that aren't specifically listed in the Open dialog's Enable: list

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

Thank you. "All Documents" setting did the trick. Interestingly
enough, in Finder, right-click/open with Excel didn't work.

 

[CyberTaz]

Glad it worked out!

The reason Finder didn't work is that it just launches the app which is
expecting to find a directly compatible file at the other end, and in this
case it didn't. Using the internal Open command with the file type set as it
was invokes filters that aren't otherwise active.

 

[john.e.palmer]

Glad it worked out!

The reason Finder didn't work is that it just launches the app which is
expecting to find a directly compatible file at the other end, and in this
case it didn't. Using the internal Open command with the file type set as it
was invokes filters that aren't otherwise active.

New problem:
excel '04 will open dbf
file length > 66,000 lines,

excel '08 won't open dbf, therefore I can't use '08.

any ideas on how to make '08 work on a ArcView dbf file?
thanks.