FAQ
Q: What's DataNumen DBF Repair?
A: DataNumen DBF Repair (DDBFR) (formerly Advanced DBF Repair) is a powerful tool to repair and recover corrupt Microsoft DBF database files. It can scan the DBF files, then recover your data in them as much as possible, so to minimize the loss in file corruption.
Q: Where can I download the newest version of DDBFR?
A: You can download the newest version of DDBFR at https://www.datanumen.com/dbf-repair/ddbfr.exe
Q: How to determine whether DDBFR can repair my DBF file successfully, according to the results generated by the demo version?
A: Although the demo version doesn't generate a fixed file, it can repair your file and report all the recoverable records in the DBF file so that you can know whether DDBFR works on your file or not before ordering the full version.
To do this, please just repair your file normally in the "Repair" tab. If it can be repaired successfully, you will see a messagebox after the reparation, where you can click the "Show Reparation Report" button and see the detailed reports containing all the recoverable records in your DBF file. Then you can order the full version to get the actually fixed file.
Q: Which type of DBF files can DataNumen DBF Repair repair?
A: DataNumen DBF Repair supports to repair DBF database files created by dBASE III, dBASE IV, dBASE 5 for DOS, dBASE 5 for Windows, FoxBase, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro.
Q: DDBFR repairs the DBF file successfully, but why I still cannot open the fixed DBF file?
A: There are three possibilities for this situation:
•Your DBF file is created by one application, but you want to open the fixed file in another application, which is not completely compatible with the former and causes problems. The solution is to set the correct version in the combo box beside "Select DBF to be repaired" edit box according to the second application and then start repairing the file again. For example, your DBF file is created by Clipper but you want to open it in dBase III, then you need to set "Version" to "dBase III" and then repair the file again.
•Your fixed DBF file is larger than 2GB, the known size limit of the DBF files, so most DBF compatible applications cannot open your file. For example, when using Visual FoxPro to open such a file, you will get "Not a table" error. The solution is to enable "Split file when it is larger than ### MB" option in the "Options" tab and set an appropriate value, which should be less than 2GB, for example, 1800MB, as the maximum file size, and then repair your original DBF file again. When the output fixed file is larger than this limit, DDBFR will create a new split file to accommodate the remaining recovered data. And if the split file reaches the limit again, a second new split file will be created, and so on.
•In your fixed DBF file, there are more than 255 fields in the table. Currently most DBF compatible applications don't support a table with more than 255 fields. For example, when using Visual FoxPro to open such a file, you will get "Not a table" error. The solution is to enable "Split table when there are more than ### fields" option in the "Options" tab and set an appropriate value, for example, 255, as the maximum field count, and then repair your original DBF file again. Thus when DDBFR detects there are more than 255 fields in the table, it will create a new split table to accommodate the remaining fields. And if the remaining fields are still more than 255 fields, a second new split table will be created, and so on.
Q: Can DataNumen DBF Repair repair a DBF file with memo or binary data fields?
A: Yes, DataNumen DBF Repair supports to repair a DBF file with memo or binary data fields. As for such a file, the data of the memo or binary fields are stored in a file with the same name as the DBF file but a DBT(for dBASE and FoxBASE) or FPT(for FoxPro and Visual FoxPro) extension. For example, the data of the memo fields in 'MyDatabase.DBF' are stored in an external file called 'MyDatabase.DBT' if it is created by dBASE or FoxBASE, or 'MyDatabase.FPT' if created by FoxPro or Visual FoxPro.
Therefore, before repairing a DBF file with memo or binary data fields, you should put the corresponding DBT or FPT file in the same directory as the source DBF file. And after the reparation, DataNumen DBF Repair will output a fixed DBF file as well as its accompanying DBT or FPT file. For example, if you want to repair MyDatabase.DBF located at directory C:\MyFiles\, then before reparation, you should copy MyDatabase.DBT or MyDatabase.FPT to C:\MyFiles\ unless such a file already exists there(In fact, this will be the most general case). Then you can specify MyDatabase.DBF as the source DBF file to be repaired and click "Repair" button. After the reparation, DataNumen DBF Repair will generate two files, MyDatabase_fixed.DBF and its accompanying file MyDatabase_fixed.DBT or MyDatabase_fixed.FPT.
Q: Why many of the date fields in the repaired database are set to 1900-01-01?
A: If date fields in the original database are invalid, DataNumen DBF Repair will reset them to a default value, i.e. 1900-01-01. You can prevent this by disabling the "Repair incorrect date fields" option in the "Options" tab.
Q: I failed to repair my DBF file with DataNumen DBF Repair, why?
A: Contact with our technical support: https://www.datanumen.com/contact/. If possible, please also save the repair log into a file(make sure the "Include System Information" option in the save file dialog is selected) and attach it in your e-mail.
Q: How to order the full version of DataNumen DBF Repair?
A: The demo version will report all the recoverable records in your dbf file, but it will not generate the actually fixed file. To get the actually fixed file, you need to order the full version.
Please go to:
https://www.datanumen.com/dbf-repair/order.htm
to order DataNumen DBF Repair. We accept all major credit cards, fax/phone orders, mail orders, and purchase orders.
If your company or institution is interested in licensing DDBFR for several users, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a multi-user license or site license.
Q: What happens after I send in the order?
A: You will receive an email confirming your order shortly after sending the online order form. Then, within 15 minutes, you will receive a second email which contains a URL to the full version of DDBFR.
If you do not get your full version, or if you've lost it, please contact us at https://www.datanumen.com/contact/. Please include your name, address, email address, and order confirmation number (if you have it). We will be happy to help you.
