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Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

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    #1

    Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

    Using alpha v8 on May 31 everything worked fine. On June 1, I couldn't open a layout within the database. I keep getting "Error Loading.... file is not a recognized DBF format. The data appears to be there but I can't access it.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

    It sounds like the file might have gotton corrupted in its header info. I am guessing that you don't have a backup. So I would make a backup copy now and then search the net for software that can fix DBase or dbf files.

    HTH

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      #3
      Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

      Thanks Doug -I'll try it but I'm not so sure it's a database problem (even though it says it is). The database is named "database for fire hydrants" and contains two tables - "fire hydrant repairs" and "fire hydrant testing" both using the same table structure. From this there are several browse layouts, quite a few forms and a lot of operations. Everything associated with "fire hydrant repairs" works fine. Nothing associated with "fire hydrant testing" works at all

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

        Mark, your table and database names are not consistent with the recommendations from Alpha. Blank spaces are sometimes an issue. For a classic DBF the filename "Fire Hydrant Testing" would be illegal. It's got too many characters and includes blank spaces. If I were in your shoes I'd rename the tables, and probably the database, itself.

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

          Thanks Tom - I tried to do that but it won't let me rename. It says the file is in use even though I can't open it.

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

            Reboot to clear any locking issues (not normally required, but the easy solution here). Then rename the files in File Explorer, with Alpha Five closed. Make a back up first. If you have any SETS, renaming your DBF files will render those set useless, so prepare for that. There are more than one file for each DBF, rename them all.

            I'm not advocating renaming the files, but that's a method if you want to rename them. I would not rename them, it's not the problem otherwise it would not have worked prior to this June 1 date. They probably are not corrupt either, because it does not happen that often. A good idea is for you to take a snapshot of your directory where the DBF files reside -- list the files or a take a graphic snapshot, and show that here to us first. I suspect you are missing some files that are associated with the DBF files.
            Steve Wood
            See my profile on IADN

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              #7
              Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

              Thanks Steve; I've tried renaming them in Explorer with no difference. There are no files missing because I haven't deleted any. It's really odd - one day it worked and the next day it didn't. I managed to open everything using an old backup from 2008 from a remote drive but that got corrupted with the new file date of 01/06/2010 automatically generated by Alpha Five.

              Like I said, I've got two layouts within the database. One works fine and the other can't recognize the .dbf format.

              The database is fire hydrants.
              There are two tables, fire hydrant repairs and fire hydrant testing.
              There are four browses, one of which is fire hydrant repairs (works fine). The rest are for fire hydrant testing and none of them work.
              There are fourteen forms. Those associated with fire hydrant repairs work fine. Those associated with fire hydrant testing do not.
              There are 46 operations all associated with fire hydrant testing. None of them work. Ditto for reports.

              The tables share the same table structure and browses/forms/operations etc. only use what's necessary from the table structure.

              I really can't do anything with fire hydrant testing. I can't rename; I can't compact; I can't duplicate - nothing, nada, zilch.

              The memo field is the same for both tables (from the structure) so I know that's not the problem. The only think that happened between May 31 and June 1 is automatic updates from Java and HP. I don't think that's the problem because portions of the database still work exactly the same way as they always did.

              I'm going absolutely nuts!

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                This may be a case where a memo field has been corrupted, causing Alpha to be unable to open the table.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                  Thanks for all your help Tom - I've suspected the memo field but assumed since it worked fine in fire hydrant repairs it was okay (it is the same memo field, after all). When I deleted the memo field in the table structure it didn't do anything except cause an error message in fire hydrant repairs. With all the data that would need to be re-entered, and all the forms, layouts and operations that need to be redesigned, do you think I'm better off trying to fix it?

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                    Please clarify. How do you put the the same field in two tables? A change in the table structure of one table should NOT affect the table structure in a second table. What am I missing?

                    Assuming you're working only with native Alpha Five tables I would not have deleted the memo field from the structure of the corrupted (inaccessible table). I would have closed Alpha Five, and then used Windows explorer to delete the gnormous FPT file, and then copied back to the database folder the same FPT file from my last good backup. I would have then reindexed the table. If you've deleted the memo field from the structure of the table it's probably too late to do this, without also restoring all the files for the table. i.e. DBF, CDX, FPT, and the table's dictionaries DDM, DDD, DDX. Do you have a good backup?
                    Last edited by Tom Cone Jr; 06-09-2010, 07:34 AM.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                      Sorry, I misled you. I had to think about it again since I can't open the table structure in the corrupted database to look at it. I used the same field names in each table structure, but they are different tables.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                        Hi to all who tried to help - I want to thank you for all your help but I've decided to start from scratch. The database recovery program(s) recommended to me were bought and paid for but the data is way to scrambled to fathom. It'll cost me thousands of dollars to re-enter the data, hard copy by hard copy times 3,500 records (thank God I kept the paper!), but it's taught me a valuable lesson when it comes to database design - don't use memo fields and back up the data daily if you use it daily! I wish I knew more!

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                          Last resort, zip up the entire project and give it to someone here with instructions of what needs to be recovered. Maybe you are still missing something that one of us would spot. I'll do it if you want.
                          Steve Wood
                          See my profile on IADN

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Re: Why does it not recognize a .dbf file?

                            Thanks for the offer Steve. I'll send you the zip file, which will now include "repaired" files that can likely be ignored. I'm in no hurry anymore - I'll just keep plodding along re-entering data and re-designing forms and reports in the meantime.

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