dbf-processor

Process DBF (dBase) files - read, write, convert to CSV/Excel, filter/query data, validate structure, and edit/append records. Use this when users mention DBF files, dBase, FoxPro, or need to work with .dbf files.

DBF File Processor Skill

Process DBF (dBase/FoxPro) files with comprehensive read/write capabilities.

Core Capabilities

1. Read DBF files - Extract data and metadata from DBF files
2. Write DBF files - Create new DBF files or modify existing ones
3. Convert formats - Export DBF to CSV or Excel, import from CSV
4. Filter & query - Search, filter, and query DBF records
5. Validate structure - Check DBF file integrity and schema
6. Edit records - Modify or append records to DBF files

Prerequisites

Install required Python packages:

pip install dbfread dbf pandas openpyxl

Available Scripts

All executable code is located in the scripts/ directory:

Script	Purpose
read_dbf.py	Read and display DBF file metadata and sample records
dbf_to_csv.py	Convert DBF file to CSV format
dbf_to_excel.py	Convert DBF file to Excel format
filter_dbf.py	Filter and query records from a DBF file
validate_dbf.py	Validate DBF file structure and integrity
create_dbf.py	Create a new DBF file with specified structure
edit_dbf.py	Edit existing records or append new ones
security_utils.py	Security utilities for safe file handling

Common Workflows

1. Read a DBF File

Input: User asks to read or inspect a DBF file Action:

• Use the scripts/read_dbf.py script
• Display basic metadata (field names, types, record count)
• Show a sample of the data (first 5-10 records)

Example:

python scripts/read_dbf.py path/to/file.dbf utf-8 5

2. Convert DBF to CSV

Input: User wants to convert DBF to CSV Action: Use scripts/dbf_to_csv.py

Example:

python scripts/dbf_to_csv.py input.dbf output.csv utf-8

3. Convert DBF to Excel

Input: User wants to convert DBF to Excel Action: Use scripts/dbf_to_excel.py

Example:

python scripts/dbf_to_excel.py input.dbf output.xlsx utf-8

4. Filter/Query DBF Data

Input: User wants to filter or query specific records Action: Use scripts/filter_dbf.py

Example:

# Equals comparison
python scripts/filter_dbf.py data.dbf STATUS ACTIVE equals utf-8

# Contains comparison
python scripts/filter_dbf.py data.dbf NAME "John" contains utf-8

5. Validate DBF Structure

Input: User wants to check DBF file integrity or schema Action: Use scripts/validate_dbf.py

Example:

python scripts/validate_dbf.py file.dbf utf-8

6. Create/Write DBF File

Input: User wants to create a new DBF file or write data Action: Use scripts/create_dbf.py

Example:

python scripts/create_dbf.py output.dbf 'NAME C(50)' 'AGE N(3,0)' 'EMAIL C(100)' 'ACTIVE L'

7. Edit/Append Records

Input: User wants to modify existing records or add new ones Action: Use scripts/edit_dbf.py

Example:

# Append a single record
python scripts/edit_dbf.py existing.dbf append "New Name" 30 "[e-mail]" True

# Append from JSON file
python scripts/edit_dbf.py existing.dbf append_json records.json

Encoding Considerations

DBF files often use specific encodings. Common encodings to try:

• 'utf-8' - Standard UTF-8
• 'latin-1' - Western European
• 'cp1252' - Windows Latin-1
• 'gbk' - Chinese simplified
• 'cp850' - DOS Latin-1

If you encounter encoding errors, try different encodings.

Security Best Practices

When working with DBF files, always follow these security guidelines:

1. Validate File Inputs - Use security_utils.py for safe file path handling
2. Avoid Executing Code - Never use exec() or eval() with data from DBF files
3. Sanitize Outputs - Sanitize data when exporting to other formats
4. Use Principle of Least Privilege - Run scripts with minimum permissions needed
5. Backup Before Modifications - Always create backups before modifying DBF files

See scripts/security_utils.py for security utilities and examples.

Progressive Disclosure

When the user asks about DBF files:

1. First understand what they want to accomplish (read, write, convert, etc.)
2. Ask for the file path if not provided
3. Offer to show metadata first, then sample data
4. Ask about specific filters or transformations needed
5. Point them to the appropriate script in the scripts/ directory