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DBF SQLITE
File conversion

Convert DBF to SQLITE

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 8, 2026
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Is it possible to convert DBF to SQLITE?
Yes - DBF converts to SQLITE.

The most reliable free path is to open the .dbf in LibreOffice Calc, export as CSV, then import the CSV into DB Browser for SQLite. Full Convert Enterprise handles the migration directly without a CSV step. The main caveat is that a CSV round-trip stores all values as text, so data types may need review.

1 programs
Also to SQLITE: MDB · ACCDB · SDF

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert DBF to SQLITE?

DBF is a 1980s fixed-layout single-table format that most modern applications cannot query directly. SQLite is a self-contained, serverless database that any language can access with SQL. Moving legacy DBF data to .sqlite makes it accessible to current tools without running a database server.

How to convert DBF to SQLITE

Full Convert Enterprise APP

Select dBASE as the source and SQLite as the destination; Full Convert maps column types and memo fields directly without a CSV intermediate step.

LibreOffice Calc FREE

Open the .dbf in LibreOffice Calc (set the correct character encoding on import), export as CSV, then import the CSV into DB Browser for SQLite via File > Import > Table from CSV to create a .db or .sqlite file.

Programs that convert DBF

Full Convert Enterprise

About these formats

.DBF Database File (dBASE / xBase table)

A DBF file is a single-table database in the dBASE/xBase format, in use since 1983 and still common in GIS shapefiles, accounting exports, and legacy business software. Open it free with…

Open .DBF details →
.SQLITE SQLite Database

A .sqlite file is a self-contained relational database created by SQLite, the most widely deployed database engine in the world. Open it with the free DB Browser for SQLite…

Open .SQLITE details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Character encoding matters - DBF files from older software often use DOS/OEM code pages; set the correct code page in LibreOffice Calc to prevent garbled characters in the SQLite output.
  • Memo fields stored in a companion .dbt or .fpt file may not survive a CSV round-trip; Full Convert handles them more reliably by reading DBF field descriptors directly.
  • A single .dbf holds exactly one table; if your data spans multiple DBF files, import each separately and create relationships in SQLite.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert DBF to SQLite without any paid software?
Yes - open the .dbf in LibreOffice Calc (free), export as CSV, then import into DB Browser for SQLite (also free) to get a working .sqlite file.
Will field types be preserved?
A CSV round-trip stores everything as text; Full Convert preserves data types more accurately by reading DBF field descriptors directly.
Can I convert a shapefile's DBF attribute table to SQLite?
GDAL/ogr2ogr can convert a full shapefile to SpatiaLite (.db), a SQLite-based spatial format better suited for GIS attribute data than plain SQLite.