ACC2002: Exported dBASE III File Cannot Be Opened in dBASE III (282327)

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.

MORE INFORMATION

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.
Start dBASE III and attempt to open Employees.dbf.

Notice that you receive the following error message:
Not a valid dBASEIII file

REFERENCES

For more information about how to export data, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type about exporting data and database objects in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.