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SAVEDBF Microsoft Excel Add-in

(DEMO VERSION)
Copyright 2009-2013, Gyula Gulyas
http://thexlwiz.blogspot.com/

NOTE: This is a demo version that only saves 30 records.

Please purchase a copy via my blog at http://thexlwiz.blogspot.com/.


Microsoft has decided not to support DBF files starting in Excel 2007. Many GIS users
were left without an easy-to-use data editing tool.

SAVEDBF is an Excel add-in that helps convert and/or save a native DBF file that was
edited with Excel. This add-in does not require Microsoft Access to be installed on the
users computer.

Two common scenarios are supported:

1. Open a native DBF file in Excel Make changes Save as a native DBF file with
the changes.
2. Open/create Excel file that looks like a database (headers/columns/rows) Save
as a native DBF4 file.

Notes:

Tested on Excel 2010/2007 and Windows XP/Vista and 7 operating systems.
Tested on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Excel (English version only).
The native DBF file will not bloat in size and all field types/sizes will be the
same as the original unless the user makes a character field or integer field longer
(in which case the software adjusts the field size to accommodate the data).
New fields can be inserted/added to the DBF file in Excel.
Excel still reads/opens DBF files; however it will not save them as DBF. You can
associate the DBF extension with Excel and then you can open the DBF file by
simply double-clicking on it (how to set the default program for a file type:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ateZy-DTE).
The original DBF file can be overwritten and a backup copy of the original will
be created with the .BKU extension. For example, the backup copy of myfile.dbf
will be saved as myfile.dbf.BKU in the same folder. If you need to go back to the
original, just remove the .BKU extension. You need to enable this feature during
your Excel session under Options on the SaveDBF toolbar.
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The maximum number of rows is only limited by the Excel worksheet (1,048,575
records plus the header row).

Options:

Currently there are three options supported by the add-in as shown in Figure 1.


1. Autofix column names by removing leading and trailing spaces. Dashes (-),
question marks and other illegal characters are replaced by the underscore (_).
[Excel files only]

2. Convert all columns to text and use the width of the column as the size of the
field. Great for labeling programs! Longer text is truncated. [Excel files only]

3. Overwrite the original DBF file. A backup copy of the original will be created
with the .BKU extension. For example, the backup copy of myfile.dbf will be
saved as myfile.dbf.BKU in the same folder. If you need to go back to the original,
just remove the .BKU extension. [DBF files only]


All these options are only available in the current Excel session and will be reset after
Excel is closed!


Figure 1. SaveDBF - Options



The DEMO version does not let the user overwrite the original DBF file and the
checkbox is disabled.

The FULL version allows the user to overwrite the original DBF file.
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Installation Instructions:


1. Unzip the savedbf.zip into a temporary directory.
2. Make sure Excel is closed!
3. 32-bit Excel: Copy the savedbf.xlam to one of the trusted locations (try
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\XLSTART\). Do not copy
this PDF file there! (UPDATE: the Excel 2010 folder is called Office14). You
will need administrative rights to install software on your computer.
64-bit Excel: the 64-bit installation will be located at: C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\XLSTART\.
4. If you installed the add-in to XLSTART then you dont need to do anything
else. Open Excel and the right-most menu item SAVEDBF should be
available automatically. If you chose another trusted location for the add-in
then you need to install it. See how at
http://peltiertech.com/WordPress/installing-an-add-in-in-excel-2007/ .



UPDATE: You can watch the installation instructions on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj8rkHxUboU



** Disclaimer **

This software is provided "as is" and without any expressed or implied warranties,
including, without limitation, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose. If your locality does not allow these warranty conditions, you are not
granted permission to use the owner's software. Use at your own risk. If your computer
crashes or you lose your data, the owner of this software will *not* be held responsible.

The software available from THEXLWIZ CONSULTING LTD. is NOT a freeware. It is
not in the Public Domain. Distribution of the software is strictly prohibited without the
written consent of the owner. All freeware/software/files, trademarks, service marks, and
copyrights are acknowledged as belonging to their owners. Any of these, which the
owner wishes to be removed, will be done so immediately. By downloading any software
or viewing pages in which software can be downloaded, you agree to be bound to this
agreement.