Microsoft KB Archive/282327

= ACC2002: Exported dBASE III File Cannot Be Opened in dBASE III =

Article ID: 282327

Article Last Modified on 11/17/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 2002 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q282327



Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

This article applies only to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb).



SYMPTOMS
When you use dBASE III to open a dBASE III file exported by Microsoft Access, you receive the following error message:

Not a valid dBASE III file.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because the Jet database engine does not correctly write the header of the dBASE file if a table in the dBASE file contains a memo field. Therefore, dBASE III is prevented from successfully opening the file.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, install the latest Microsoft Jet 4.0 service pack, and then export the table to dBASE III format again.

For additional information about how to obtain the latest Microsoft Jet 4.0 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

239114 How To: Obtain the Latest Service Pack for the Microsoft Jet 4.0 Database Engine



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.



Steps To Reproduce the Problem
 Start Access on a computer that does not have Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 5 or later installed. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb. In the Database dialog box, under Objects, click Tables, and then click Employees. On the File menu, click Export. In the Export Table 'Employees' To dialog box, under Save as type, click dBASE III, and then click Export.</li> Start dBASE III and attempt to open Employees.dbf.

Notice that you receive the following error message:

Not a valid dBASEIII file

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