What is the G file format?
.g files are satellite index files belonging to the Paradox relational database system, originally created by Borland International and later owned by Corel Corporation from 1996. A .g file holds a composite secondary index for a parent .db table and has no meaning on its own - it must reside in the same directory as its paired table and the rest of that table's satellite files.
Paradox stores each logical table as a cluster of files: .px for the primary index, .mb or .blb for memo and BLOB data, .val for validity checks, and a series of index files for secondary access paths. Single-field secondary indexes use the .x01, .x02... naming pattern; composite secondary indexes use .xg0, .xg1... and their .yg0, .yg1... counterparts. The .g extension identifies the composite secondary index set. Internally, the index is structured like a miniature Paradox table containing the composite key value, the parent record's primary key, and a 2-byte hint pointer.
Paradox was discontinued by Corel; version 11, the last release, shipped with WordPerfect Office X3 in 2006. The Borland Database Engine (BDE) required to access Paradox tables programmatically was last updated in 2001 and has serious incompatibilities with Windows 10 and 11. Modern relational databases - MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite - have entirely replaced it.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWParadox index files are passive binary data with no executable code. They are entirely inert without the parent .db table. Not a malware vector. If you encounter an isolated .g file without its parent .db, it is effectively useless and can be deleted.
Format details
in a nutshell- C/C++ source file (various compilers) - Some build systems or legacy codebases use .g as a generic C/C++ source extension; unrelated to databases.
- YACC/Bison grammar file - GNU Bison occasionally outputs .g grammar files; a text-based grammar specification for parser generators.
Programs that open G files
Windows3 apps
Corel Paradox (WordPerfect Office)
Paid Open the parent .db file (not the .g file) in Paradox; the .g index is used automatically. Requires BDE (Borland Database Engine) installed. Does not run on Windows 10/11 without compatibility shims.
DBsolo
Paid Third-party tool that reads Paradox .db tables (and associated index files) without requiring BDE. Can export to CSV/Excel.
DataNumen Database Recovery
Paid Commercial data recovery tool for Paradox .db/.g files when the database is damaged. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Proprietary binary database composite secondary index |
| Encoding | Binary |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Container | Proprietary Paradox index structure (internally organized as a mini Paradox table) |
| Index content | Composite key value, parent record primary key, and 2-byte hint pointer per entry |
| Encryption | None (unless parent .db table has Paradox password protection) |
| Typical file size | 1 KB - several MB (scales with indexed record count) |
| Standalone use | No - only valid alongside the parent .db table and its satellite files |
| Satellite file family | Used with .db, .px, .mb, .val, .xNN, .xgN, .yNN, .ygN cluster |
| Platform | Windows (XP-era and earlier); DOS (Paradox for DOS, legacy) |
| Last software version | Paradox 11 (WordPerfect Office X3, 2006); incompatible with Windows 10/11 |
| Engine dependency | Borland Database Engine (BDE), last updated 2001; incompatible with modern Windows |
| Released | early 1990s (Paradox for DOS/Windows era) |
| Latest version | Paradox 11 (bundled with WordPerfect Office X3, 2006); no updates since |
Community Q&A
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