How to Open and Convert a DBF File to Excel

Modern Excel often cannot open DBF files correctly: memo fields are lost, fields go missing and large files fail to load. The reliable way is to open the DBF file in DBF Viewer 2000® and export it to XLSX or XLS - with the fields, record range and sorting you need. The sections below walk you through the export dialog, then cover batch automation from the command line.

To export a DBF file to an Excel spreadsheet, follow these steps:

Step 1. Run DBF Viewer 2000 and open the DBF file you want to export to Excel.

Step 2. Select File | Save as/Export menu command

Step 3. Select file type: XLS or XLSX (Excel 2003-2025) and click "OK"

Step 4. "Export to Excel" dialog box opens.

Here, you can adjust the exporting parameters, namely:

• Select what fields from the original DBF will be transferred to the output Excel document
• Set filter to export only records that match specific criteria (like SALARY >= 5000 or FNAME contains "John")
• Export records in the reverse order
• Export a specified range of records
• Skip deleted records
• Generate a command line and save it as a .bat file or copy it to the clipboard.

When you are done, click the OK button to start exporting. DBF Viewer 2000 starts conversion and shortly you end up with your DBF file successfully converted to Excel. If you have selected the Open after export option, Microsoft Excel starts automatically when the conversion finishes, with the resulting XLSX file already opened. Need to convert a whole folder of DBF files to Excel at once? Use DBF to Excel Converter.

DBF to Excel Exporting via Command Line

Simple export to XLS format

Export to XLSX format

Export with Columns Selection

Export in Reverse Order

Export from record #1000

Export from record #1 to record #1000

Export as XML based

Export with sorting

Export with Filter command by Name

Export to Excel with Wide filter

Export without Header

Set Sheet Name as File name

Export with Log file generation

Set Range for fields

Export with current date and time

Export with custom date format

Export multiple files to XLSX format

Export with Custom Time format in output file

Do you need more options for Excel format ?

Please, contact us by E-mail: support@dbf2002.com or by On-line form.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ▼

See also: DBF to CSV, DBF to XML, Excel to DBF importing, DBF to SQL, command line options, Filtering records in dbf file