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DBF (.dbf)

  • Import fully supports the DBF format Version 4 and later.

Background & Context

    • MIME types: application/dbf, application/dbase
    • dBASE DBF data files.
    • Legacy file format for storing and exchanging structured data.
    • ASCII format.
    • Native format of the dBASE database management application.
    • Stores numerical datasets in a portable format.
    • dBASE IV was introduced in 1988.

Import

  • Import["file.dbf"] imports a DBF file, returning all datasets arranged as a table, with each column representing a dataset.
  • DBF data is represented in the Wolfram Language by real or integer numbers, strings, Boolean values True and False and DateList specifications.
  • Import["file.dbf",elem] imports the specified element from a DBF file.
  • Import["file.dbf",{elem,suba,subb,…}] imports a subelement.
  • The import format can be specified with Import["file","DBF"] or Import["file",{"DBF",elem,…}].
  • See the following reference pages for full general information:
  • Importimport from a file
    CloudImportimport from a cloud object
    ImportStringimport from a string
    ImportByteArrayimport from a byte array

Import Elements

  • General Import elements:
  • "Elements" list of elements and options available in this file
    "Summary"summary of the file
    "Rules"list of rules for all available elements
  • Data representation elements:
  • "Data"datasets arranged as a table
    "EventSeries"table data as an EventSeries
    "LabeledData"datasets given as a list of rules
    "Tabular"table data as a Tabular object
    "TimeSeries"table data as a TimeSeries
  • Import uses the "Data" element by default.
  • Import["file.dbf"] reads all datasets and returns them as a table.
  • Import["file.dbf","LabeledData"] imports the entire file and returns an expression of the form {a1->col1,a2->col2,…}, where the ai are the table headings.
  • Meta-information elements:
  • "Labels"dataset names given as a list of strings
  • The DBF format can store labels of length 10 or shorter.

Options

  • Import option:
  • "EmptyField"""how empty cells are represented in the Wolfram Language
    "TimeColumn"Automaticcolumn to use for times in "EventSeries" and "TimeSeries" elements

Examples

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Basic Examples  (1)

Get the list of available Import formats:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf", "Elements"]

Import data from a DBF file:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf" ] // TableForm

Import the column labels as a list of strings:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf", "Labels"]

Read this file as a list of labeled datasets, giving a rule for each column:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf", "LabeledData"]

Scope  (3)

Import data as a Tabular object:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf" , "Tabular"]

Import data as an EventSeries object:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf" , "EventSeries"]

Import data as a TimeSeries object:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf" , "TimeSeries"]

Import Options  (1)

"TimeColumn"  (1)

By default, the time column is selected automatically for "TimeSeries" and "EventSeries" elements:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf", "TimeSeries"]

Use the "TimeColumn" option to specify the time column:

Wolfram Language code: Import[ "ExampleData/planets.dbf", "TimeSeries", "TimeColumn" -> "DIAM/KM"]