Format

dBASE Database

Summary

Name: dBASE Database
Version: III
Identifiers: PUID: x-fmt/9
Format type: Database
Description: dBase is a database management systems for microcomputers.The dBase system includes the core database engine, a query system, a forms engine, and a programming language that ties all of these components together. dBase's underlying file format, the .dbf file, is widely used in applications needing a simple format to store structured data.
Format encoding: Text
Note: http://www.dbase.com/help/Design_Tables/IDH_TABLEDES_FIELD_TYPES.htm;http://www.dbase.com/KnowledgeBase/int/db7_file_fmt.htm https://www.promotic.eu/en/pmdoc/Subsystems/Db/dBase/DbfFormat.htm
File extensions: dbf
Submitted by: Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Developed by: dBASE Inc.
Supported by: dBASE Inc.

Description: Version number, Date of last update MMDD, First upper or lowercase character of field name, field type (C, D, L, M, N). Dbase III (versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2) was released by Ashton-Tate during the period 1984-85. Dbase III+ (versions 1.0 and 1.1) was released during the period 1986-1987. Dbase IV (versions 1.0 and 1.1) was released during the period 1988-1990. All used the same dBase III file format for a dbf.
Provenance: Signature identified by Georgia Tech Research Institute (Candidate Internal Signatures for File Formats in PRONOM Registry; 05/06/2010). Additional enhancement of signature carried out by The National Archives Digital Preservation Dept.

Min Frag Length: Absolute from BOF
Offset: 0
Max offset: None
Byte Sequence: 03??[01:0C][01:1F]{28}([41:5A]|[61:7A]){10}(43|44|4C|4D|4E)
Endianness: Little-endian