Excel 2003 - as a dbf editor

Some people asked my why they should switch to Excel 2007 for dbf file editing with the add-in instead of just 'sticking it out' with Excel 2003...

Some considerations:

- Excel 2003 can only handle 65535 records. Excel 2007 works with 1 million records in a worksheet.

- Excel 2003 is very bad at retaining variable types and variable precisions so your dbf file structure changes (lots of time bloats). The SaveDBF add-in will preserve the original field types and size will only change if your edit results in a longer field. I.e., you edit your data and enter 11 characters in a text field that was only 10 long.

- Excel 2003 does not warn the user about violations to field naming standards imposed by dBase. I.e., a field name is longer than 10 characters it will get truncated (which could create a duplicate field, a common issue with GIS). The addin warns the user about violations visually highlighting the problem fields and adds cell comments with suggestions to fix them.

- the add-in does a much better job at creating field types and sizes when the user actually starts from a native Excel file. Microsoft only looks at the first few records to decide on the field type.

AND...

- Eventually you will have to switch...:-)

I invested significant time and effort into developing this software.

PLEASE SUPPORT ME by donating on the right sidebar of this blog!

DOWNLOAD the new version from here OR here.

Please read the installation instructions in the PDF file!

Update: SaveDBF add-in

I have added a number of new features and fixed some minor bugs in the SaveDBF add-in:

- Some users experienced a "ghost link". Now it is removed.

- Added a Save As dialog box to give the user the ability to select their own file name and location (it still gives you a default name, and NO you CANNOT overwrite your source file).

- Better error handling, including the check of field sizes against the dBase limitations.

- Added suggestions when the User violates the dBase field naming standards.

- The add-in extends the original field size of the DBF only if the user edits an existing integer or character field and increases its length.

I will release likely the last version for the year in early October so come back and visit!

Thanks for all the suggestion!

I invested significant time and effort into developing this software.

PLEASE SUPPORT ME by donating on the right sidebar of this blog!

DOWNLOAD the new version from here OR here.

Please read the installation instructions in the PDF file!

UPDATE: Save DBF in Excel 2007

I have upgraded the Excel 2007 add-in to address a few requests:

1. Now you can add/insert new fields, create calculated fields in addition to adding new records or editing existing records in your native DBF file!

2. If you start with an Excel file the software now have enhanced capabilities to determine the field types (better than Microsoft's own in earlier Excel versions).

3. The add-in checks DBase field naming conventions and also identifies duplicate fields. All problem field names are visually identified with a cell comment!

4. If you start out with a brand new file and forget to save it, the add-in will ask before the conversion.

5. Large files are supported. I edited files over 500,000 records with no problem.

KNOWN ISSUES:

- Microsoft Excel 2007 has a bug related to file names used in worksheet functions...If you experience any issues (i.e. clicking SaveDBF does not seem to work), try renaming your file to a short and sweet name and try again. An example on the nature of the problem is described here. (in case you REALLY wanted to know...)
Update: Do not use spaces or dashes (-) in the file name or in the worksheet name you are trying to convert! Better replace them with underscores (_).

I invested significant time and effort into developing this software.

PLEASE SUPPORT ME by donating on the right sidebar of this blog!

DOWNLOAD the new version from here.

Please read the installation instructions in the PDF file!