DBF

File extension dbf is traditionally used for database file by many database applications. The original program, which used the DBF file extension for its database, was dBAse.

dBase was the first widely used database management system (DBMS) for microcomputers, published by Ashton-Tate for CP/M, and later on the Apple II, Apple Macintosh, UNIX, VMS, and IBM PC under DOS where it became one of the best-selling software titles for a number of years. dBase was slow to transition successfully to Microsoft Windows and gradually lost market share to competitors such as Paradox, Clipper, FoxPro, and Microsoft Access. Ashton-Tate was bought by Borland in 1991, which sold the rights to the product line in 1999 to the newly-formed dBase Inc. In 2004, dBase Inc. changed its name to dataBased Intelligence, Inc.

Starting in the mid 1980s many other companies produced their own dialects or variations on the product and language. These included FoxPro (now Visual FoxPro), Arago, Force, dbFast, dbXL, Quicksilver, Clipper, Xbase++, FlagShip, Recital, CodeBase, MultiBase and Harbour/xHarbour. Together these are informally referred to as xBase.

A major legacy of dBase is its dbf file format, which has been adopted in a number of other applications. For example, the shapefile format developed by ESRI for spatial data in a geographic information system uses .dbf files to store feature attribute data.

The dbf file extension is associated with the  AbacusLaw, a management software for Microsoft Windows operating system that allows lawyers to manage their documents, emails, notes, events, client communications, phone messages etc.

The .dbf file stores various data used for internal purposes of the AbacusLaw.

The dbf file extension is associated with the ACDSee, a digital photos editing and managing software for Microsoft Windows operating system.

The dbf file contains thumbnail cache used by the ACDSee file manager.

The dbf file extension is also related to Act!, a software for Windows used to allows users to manage their tasks, to-do lists, contacts and calendars.

The dbf file stores main database used by the Act!.

The dbf file extension is related to the Alpha Five, a rapid application development platform that enables developers to create robust, data-driven business applications.

The dbf file contains the table's data, one or more records, each containing one or more fields, and the definition of the table's structure.

System toolbars are stored in a_toolbars_customized.DBF and system menus are stored in a_menus_system.DBF.

The dbf file extension is associated with the Arago, a dBASE IV-compatible DBMS and compiler (Arago Quicksilver) originally developed by WordTech Systems. In 1992, the technology was acquired by Borland.

The dbf file stores database created by Arago.

The dbf file extension is also used for ArcView shapefile attribute format. This type of .dbf files use columnar attributes for each shape and are saved in dBase III format.

The ESRI Shapefile is a popular geospatial vector data format for geographic information systems software. It is developed and regulated by ESRI as a (mostly) open specification for data interoperability among ESRI and other software products.

A shapefile commonly refers to a collection of files with shp,shx, .dbf, and other extensions on a common prefix name (e.g., "lakes.*"). The actual shapefile relates specifically to files with the ".shp" extension, however this file alone is incomplete for distribution, as the other supporting files are required.

Shapefiles spatially describe geometries: points, polylines, and polygons. These, for example, could represent water wells, rivers, and lakes, respectively. Each item may also have attributes, that describe the items, such as the name or temperature.

The dbf file extension was also used in Clipper, a computer programming language used to create software programs that originally operated primarily under DOS.

Although it is a powerful general-purpose programming language, it was primarily used to create database/business programs. Clipper was originally created in 1985 as a compiler for dBASE III.

The dbf file extension is associated with the dBASE, a relational database management system and database programming language for various operating systems.

The dbf file stores main database created in the dBASE version III and IV.

The dbf file extension is related to the dBFast. The .dbf file stores database.

dBFast is an older multiuser version of the standalone dBase/Xbase-compatible development language and database.

The product also cooperates with dBase applications, sharing data over a LAN. In addition to graphics support on screen, dBFast exploits the output capabilities of Windows.

The dbf file extension is related to FLAMES, a family of COTS software products that support live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) simulation of commercial and military vehicles and systems, developed and sold by Ternion Corporation.

The dbf file contains FLAMES Recorder output data. These files can be used as input files for FLARE.

The dbf file extension is associated with the iAnywhere, mobile database products, such as Advantage Database Server (ADS), SQL Anywhere etc. developed by Sybase Inc.

The dbf file stores main database.

File extension dbf extension is also associated with JetForm FormFlow.

FormFlow was the name of a line of electronic forms products initially created and sold by Delrina in the early- to mid-1990s. The first product in this line was PerForm, which was designed to work under GEM in DOS. The FormFlow and FormFlow PRO products that succeeded PerForm were designed to work on Windows 3.1.

Delrina was bought by Symantec late in 1995, and the electronic forms division was sold to JetForm in 1996. JetForm, which later changed its name to Accelio, was in turn was bought by Adobe Systems, and the electronic forms products were officially end-of-lifed in 2004.

The dbf file extension is associated with the NovaBACKUP, a backup software for Microsoft Windows that allows users to protect their data against system, or hard drive failures.

The dbf file stores backup database.

The dbf file extension is associated with computer games, like Delta Force, Comanche, F-22 etc. based on Voxel Space engine developed by NovaLogic.

The .dbf file stores game dialog in binary format (may need to be decrypted).

The dbf file extension is associated with the Oracle Database, an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) for Microsoft Windows and various Unix-based operating systems. The .dbf file stores tablespace data.

Tablespace file is data storage, where are kept actual data for underlying database objects.

The dpf file extension is associated with the Palm Zire Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) series with Palm OS operating system, released in 2003 by Palm Inc. The .dbf file stores photo database.

The VGA camera were installed in the Zire 71 and Zire 72.

The dbf file extension is related to database format used by Psion Series 3 portable computers.

Database files (DBF files) are binary files containing typed, variable length records. Many SIBO applications (for example, the MC Diary and the Series 3 Database) store their data in DBF files. The data files created and manipulated by OPL are also examples of DBF files.

The dbf file extension is associated with The Network Diary an application for Microsoft Windows operating system that allows users to enhance the efficiency of their companies operations.

The dbf file stores main database compatible with SQL Express edition database format.

The dbf file extension is associated with the Visual FoxPro object oriented database programming language and relational database system for Windows.

The dbf file is database table that contains header and data records. Header part defines the structure of the table and data part contains the actual text of the fields.

The dbf file extension is associated with the Wordtech database management software compatible with popular dBase.

The dbf file stores database created in the Wordtech.

WordTech dBase products were acquired by Borland.

The dbf file extension is associated with the xBase, a generic term for all programming languages that derive from the original dBASE (Ashton-Tate) programming language and database formats. These are sometimes informally known as dBASE "clones".

While there was a non-commercial predecessor to the Ashton-Tate product (Vulcan written by Wayne Ratliff), most clones are based on Ashton-Tate's 1986 dBASE III+ release-scripts written in the dBASE III+ dialect are most likely to run on the clones.