Bring back the support for connecting to dBASE.
Access has always been about connecting to other data sources. Excel can still connect to dBASE files, but support for Access to connect was dropped. You can see from all the chatter, that there really is a lot of people that still use dBASE files for data transfer.
Jack Stockton
shared this idea
Done :-)
We have publicly announced that dBASE file support is back.
Check out our blog post https://blogs.office.com/2016/09/07/back-by-popular-demand-dbase-file-support-in-access/
Thank you for taking the time to submit and vote on User Voice requests!
Michal [MSFT]
106 comments
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Liz
commented
In addition to connecting to dbf files, I need to be able to export them. I odbc to a variety of data and love that Access provides an avenue to work with multiple data types, but once I'm done I need to be able to export as a dbf for some mapping instances, etc.
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Jeff Elder
commented
I lost count of how many times my co-workers asked me to write a custom database application to help them consolidate and streamline data from specialty applications that use DBF files. Microsoft needs to learn that there is a whole world of applications out there that us "little people" have to work with because we have no choice. When the boss says you gotta use this program, you can't just tell him "no, that program writes to outdated DBF files. I won't use it". It just don't work that way, Microsoft.
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Derek
commented
Microsoft...Please respond! Any info would be greatly appreciated!!
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Dolly
commented
@Frank
I don't doubt your statement in the least, but for this new forum 600+ is a lot and if the powers at be want community engagement, and want participation then they need to listen to what the user here vote on as a priority otherwise why the site in the first place? PR? That's what I'm truly starting to believe or they were hoping we'd validate what they were already focused on and not prepared for users providing true feedback requiring refocusing of work.
I have yet to see our feedback materialize and it is sad being that people have tried to provide valid feedback.
The fact that there is little to no update to the site from MS themselves speaks volumes to the importance they have placed on this experiment. Other app seem to listen, making me thing the Access team is understaffed/overworked/stretched by internal demands that don't align with the community requests.
One can always hope though.
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Mary L Cottingham
commented
If you look at the Answer site (link below), you can see that folks are still clamoring for it. To complete a task this weekend (bulid db from ~1000 dbfs received as part of a discovery motion), I came up with two options: (1) preprocess everything in Python or (2) hack my registry with the runtime version of Office 2010, neither of which was a particularly attractive option, particularly since I knew how easy it had been previously.
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Frank Rotolo
commented
@Dolly, Derek, and other commenters: I'm sorry to say that 643 votes is hardly a drop in the bucket. I've seen thousands of votes for requests on other MS products go on deaf ears, so don't be surprised.
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Justin Stratton
commented
I love building Microsoft Access based applications that can seamlessly connect to GIS DBF files. Please bring this feature back! I need to be able to LINK into a DBF as well as import a DBF.
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Dolly
commented
@Microsoft
Considering the closest 2nd suggestion only has 258 votes, it is pretty clear this is a priority to your users! If this site is to remotely be taken seriously and affirmative action response is required.
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Derek
commented
Here you have a global industry (GIS) kindly asking for the return of something they need, so they can continue to justify buying/upgrading a key component of their workflow software (MS Access). And NO RESPONSE? Microsoft...if you're are reading this...please, tell us what it would take to convince you? Would it help if we compiled a detailed report about how we are all using the dbf format? Would that count more than votes? I'm willing to put in the time & effort to coordinate such an undertaking. Frankly, I thought the 600 votes would do it, but...if it's just more votes you need...that can be done too. ANY response would be greatly appreciated. But...keep in mind...many enterprise- level upgrade decisions generally lag one version, so you're just starting to see the tip of this berg.
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Dolly
commented
Is this site being monitored by MS? 606 votes and no comment from MS, not pending, ...? What does it take? What is the point of this site exactly if in 4 month, nada?
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Matt
commented
I need to be able to export to DBF, it is ridiculous that this functionality was removed. I have a new PC with bundled office 2016 and it's all completely worthless without DBF support. PLEASE FIX ASAP!!!
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Anonymous
commented
I need this for GIS! My only option is Open Office now....ARGH!
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David
commented
This is a must for any GIS user. Please reinstate support for dBASE in Access. Thank you.
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Frank Rotolo
commented
WOW, 581 votes, and counting!.. I sincerely feel this request will go on deaf ears.
A better request would be to port Access Desktop, and the rest of Office, to Linux.. Now that's forward looking!
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Jim Butler
commented
Very important - reinstate support
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Jason
commented
This is a must for any GIS user. Please reinstate support for dBASE in Access. Thank you.
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Anonymous
commented
the Access support of dbf is essential in an integrated database system. Municipalities would have to retool without this functionality.
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Derek
commented
Access Team, please ANY kind of response would really be appreciated!
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Anonymous
commented
the Access support of dbf is essential in an integrated database system. Municipalities would have to retool without this functionality.
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Anonymous
commented
working with government files we need the ability to import .dbf...wtf???