dBASE tables (.dbf files) are automatically converted to Visual FoxPro format when you open them in Visual FoxPro. You can then use the tables as you would any other Visual FoxPro tables.
If your dBASE tables contain memo fields, a prompt appears asking if you want to convert the memos to Visual FoxPro format. Then another prompt asks you if you want to remove dBASE soft carriage returns. Choose Yes if the memos contain normal text; choose No if they contain binary data.
You must open tables exclusively for memo conversion to take place.
No backup copy is made of the tables before conversion. If you want to use the tables again in dBASE, you need to copy the table as a FoxPlus type table. In the Command window, type the following:
COPY TO Filename TYPE FOXPLUS
To use a dBASE table in Visual FoxPro
USE<database name> EXCLUSIVE
– Or –
If your table is encrypted, you need to decrypt it in dBASE before you can use it in Visual FoxPro.
Visual FoxPro uses a different indexing algorithm than dBASE, so if the table being converted has an associated dBASE .mdx or .ndx index, Visual FoxPro automatically creates a Visual FoxPro .cdx or .idx index for the table.
To use a dBASE IV table with an index and without a memo field in dBASE after Visual FoxPro has converted it, open the file in dBASE and reindex. This step is necessary only if you have changed any of the data.
If a dBASE table has one or more memo fields, Visual FoxPro automatically converts the memo file so that it is compatible with Visual FoxPro. You cannot use a dBASE IV table with a memo field in dBASE after it has been converted to Visual FoxPro.
The Visual FoxPro file format for memo fields allows you to store an amount of data limited only by your hard disk space.
For more information, see the section, "Introducing the Project Manager," in Chapter 1, Getting Started, in the User’s Guide.