How to Import DBF File into Access 2010, 2016

In this article, I will be telling you how you can import DBF file into Access 2010, 2016. Access 2010, 2016 can attach to external tables and it can also import data from external tables into the main database. So, here I will show you how to first attach to a DBF table as an external table. Further, describe you how to import the data and make it part of the .accdb file if you want to do that as well. Let’s start.

What is a DBF file?

DBF files are the database files of database application. All the files of Dbase and Visual FoxPro are stored in .dbf file format. DBF files are the file format which was developed for micro-computers but now it is also used by different operating systems including Microsoft Windows 8 and Windows Server. MDB files are the MS Access database files which are stored in .mdb format. MS Access is a relational database model.

Steps to Import DBF File into Access 2010, 2016

• First of all, open the .dbf file using the standard File then click Open.
• After that, open DBF file directly using the Open Dialog box.

  Note: You need to make sure that you choose one of the dBASE formats so that the .dbf files show up in your list to choose from. Here, I have chosen dBASE III (*.dbf) in this example.

• If the file opens correctly then you will see it in your list of tables in Access 2010:
• The .DBF file is now linked to your Access 2010 database as an external file. This can be proved because of the -> dB icon to the left of the table name “api501”.
• If you are willing to fully import the DBF information, then right-click on the table name and select Convert to Local Table.
• After right-clicking on the external table, you will see a context menu of options:
• After you select Convert to Local Table, you will see the icon change:
• Now, you can notice that the icon has changed to the familiar table icon.

Here, in this case, .accdb file is already saved, as api501.accdb, in the same location as the table that I imported. That’s because I started with a blank database. But, if you have a pre-existing database, then it could have imported the table into that database.

Alternate Solution to Import DBF File into Access

Sometimes you need a professional or fast solution to convert DBF file to MDB file format. For these situations, you need to use a third-party solution, one such tool is provided by SysInfoTools. DBF file Recovery, which allows you to efficiently recover corrupted DBF file and also handles corrupted DBF files which are created in any of these database applications: dBase II, dBase IV, Visual FoxPro, Clipper, and MultiBase. In addition, users can also save the recovered files in DBF and MDB file formats. How to Fix Corrupt DBF File Using DBF File Recovery Software?

Key Features of the software:

• It repairs all the data structures and headers within the DBF file.
• It recovers data from corrupt tables, memo or binary data of DBF file.
• Easily repairs severely corrupted DBF file.
• Both technical and non-technical users can use this program.
• It provides you with the option to save the data in both the format: DBF and MDB.
• Compatible with all the Windows OS such as 8, 7, Vista, XP, NT, ME, 2008, 2003, 2000, 98, 95.
• The free trial version of this program is available to examine the software.

Bottom Lines

Above, I have described the best possible ways to import DBF file into Access 2010, 2016. The manual approach, as well as the automated solution, has been described in detail. Now, it’s your call to select the right method for you.