Data Lost When File Saved in .DBF File Format (46228)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q46228

SUMMARY

When you save a Microsoft Excel file to the dBASE (.dbf) file format, only the list containing the currently selected cell or the area that has a defined name "database" is saved to the new file. Any data that does not fall within that range is lost.

Note also that only the selected worksheet in the workbook is saved to the dBASE file format.

MORE INFORMATION

When you save a file to the dBASE file format in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 or later, only the currently selected list, the list containing the currently selected cell, or the range with the defined name "database" is saved. A range on the worksheet that has the defined name "database" will take precedence over the selected list (that is, the .dbf file will contain the data from the "database" rather than the data from the selected list). If no list is found on the worksheet, you receive the following error message:
No list found. Select a single cell within your list and Microsoft Excel will select the list for you.
When you save your file to the dBASE file format, options set in the Page Setup dialog box are lost. For example, if you go to the Page tab in the Page Setup dialog box and set the scale to 75%, the scale will revert to 100% if you close the file (saving any changes) and reopen it in Microsoft Excel.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB46228
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