If you're working with dBase files and want them to migrate to MS SQL Server or export them into CSV files? If so, this handy white paper will be important for you.

1. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Web-IT Support and Consulting
A human vision on the digital world

2. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Still using dBase?
One would be surprised how many dBase databases are still
active in companies.
But what if you intend to migrate to
MS SQL Server or just want to export all these files into a *.CSV
format for further use?
Not an easy task, lots of effort and really time consuming.
That’s why I want to share the next solution with you
(download the slide share file to use the copy-paste function).
Enjoy reading and for any additional question,
just give a ring to my team (info at the last page).
Cheeriooo,
Webby (that’s me)

3. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Why this solution
My boss and his (my) team
always have creative
solutions and like to share
them.
Fastest way to convert hundreds of dBase files in 1 go
Countering the fact that MS Excel doesn’t use the system settings
(delimiters) in VBA code (more on this can be found on the web)
Solid basis to use the *.CSV files in MS Excel
or as bulk import files in MS SQL Server

4. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 1
Yep, this looks
easy to me.
Create a new MS Excel file and save it with the option
Define a sheet where people can enter the location of their sources
and destinations

5. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 2.1
Hey guys, wait a second. By default the
‘DEVELOPER’ menu is not activated.
To do so follow these steps:
1. Click on File >> Options >> Customize Ribbon
2. Select in the right pane the ‘Developer’ tab.
3. Click OK.
Create a new macro (module) in the same MS Excel file
(that’s why you had to save as a Macro-enabled workbook)

6. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 2.2
Easy peasy
Create a new macro (module) in the same MS Excel file
(that’s why you had to save as a Macro-enabled workbook)

7. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 3.1
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gives all the
information on
the code
Paste all the code on the following pages one after the other in the
module Window
Sub ExportdBaseFiles()
' -------------------------------------------------------
' Definition of variables
' -------------------------------------------------------
Dim OriginalFolderName As String
Dim OriginalFileName As String
Dim SaveAsFolderName As String
Dim SaveAsFileName As String
Dim LastCol As Integer
Dim LastRow As Long
Dim LoopInRows As Long
Dim LoopInCols As Integer
Dim SaveAsFileNumber As Integer
Dim DelimiterSign As String
Dim SaveAsExtension As String
' -------------------------------------------------------
Start of SUB
Download the presentation
to be able to copy-paste.

8. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 3.2
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gives all the
information on
the code
Paste this code after the previous one
' -------------------------------------------------------
' Initializing variables
' -------------------------------------------------------
' Refer as much as possible to cell values so the end-users can define their
own sources and destinations.
OriginalFolderName = Range("C2").Value
SaveAsFolderName = Range("C3").Value
OriginalFileName = Dir(OriginalFolderName & Range("C4").Value)
SaveAsFileName = ""
DelimiterSign = Range("C5").Value
SaveAsFileNumber = FreeFile ' FreeFile defines a file number that is not yet used.
SaveAsExtension = Range("C6").Value
' -------------------------------------------------------

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Step 3.3
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the code
Paste this code after the previous one
' -------------------------------------------------------
' Loop through all the files in the specified folder
' -------------------------------------------------------
Do While OriginalFileName <> ""
' Open the first file with the specified extension (cell C4 (.DBF)).
Workbooks.Open Filename:=OriginalFolderName & OriginalFileName
' Immediately save a file (destination) in the given folder (SaveAsFolderName) with
the same name as the original one and the specified extension (SaveAsExtension).
SaveAsFileName = SaveAsFolderName & Left(OriginalFileName, Len(OriginalFileName) - 4) &
SaveAsExtension
' Define the position of the last column and the last row. So the next part of this code can
scroll this entire range.
With ActiveSheet.Cells
LastCol = .Find("*", [A1], , , xlByColumns, xlPrevious).Column
LastRow = .Find("*", [A1], , , xlByRows, xlPrevious).Row
End With
' Open the destination file you just created (SaveAsFileName).
Open SaveAsFileName For Output As #SaveAsFileNumber

10. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 3.4
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the information on
the code
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' Loop through all the rows.
For LoopInRows = 1 To LastRow
' Loop through all the columns.
For LoopInCols = 1 To LastCol
' This IF-statement is optional. It's only useful if you intend to import the files afterwards in MS SQL Server.
' This is a predefined conversion to have a correct date format (in this case yyyy-mm-dd).
' First you test if it is a date, next you check if it's not a time. This because you don't want a time to be
converted in a date format (I noticed this is by default done by MS Excel).
If IsDate(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value) = True And InStr(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows,
LoopInCols).Value, ":") = 0 Then
' If the scrolling reached the last column, a line feed and not the given delimiter is needed to start a new line.
If LoopInCols = LastCol Then
Print #SaveAsFileNumber, Year(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value) & "-" &
Month(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value) & "-" & Day(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows,
LoopInCols).Value) & vbNewLine;
' If it's not the last column, the delimiter needs to be inserted.
Else
Print #SaveAsFileNumber, Year(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value) & "-" &
Month(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value) & "-" & Day(ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows,
LoopInCols).Value) & DelimiterSign;
End If
Else
' Same as previous but in case it's not a date.
If LoopInCols = LastCol Then
Print #SaveAsFileNumber, ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value & vbNewLine;
Else
Print #SaveAsFileNumber, ActiveSheet.Cells(LoopInRows, LoopInCols).Value & DelimiterSign;
End If
End If
Next LoopInCols
Next LoopInRows

11. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 3.5
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gives all the
information on
the code
Paste this code after the previous one
' Close the destination file (SaveAsFileName) after the last insert is done
Close #SaveAsFileNumber
' Move on to the next file
OriginalFileName = Dir()
' Close the source file used for the export
ActiveWindow.Close SaveChanges:=False
Loop
End Sub
End of SUB

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Step 4
Run the macro (module)
Ready to Rock ’n Roll
1
2
3

13. Web-IT Support and Consulting
Step 5
Check the destination folder and look if all files have been converted
If so, you can now work with these files in MS Excel or use them as
import files into your database
It’s again a perfect solution offered by my team. So proud of you
guys and girls! So what do you want me to add to this…
Nothing?
Hey I’m a wise ass, so just for you to know: The call or croak of a
frog is unique to its species. Frogs create this sound by passing air through
the larynx in the throat. In most calling frogs, the sound is amplified by
one or more vocal sacs, membranes of skin under the throat or on the
corner of the mouth, that distend during the amplification of the call.
Some frog calls are so loud that they can be heard up to a mile away.
 

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One last thing before I let you work…
I am so proud about these 2 kids.
They saw immediately that
Web-IT needed somebody like me
(smart, good looking, brains, ...)
One day the 2 little daughters of the owners were playing with the PC of the old man
They saw a presentation of Web-IT Support and Consulting and they asked what
W,E,B,-,I,T was
My parents explained that it was the name of the company and they started to make
funny noises
Webbit, webbiiiit, webbbi, webbeee and they said it sounded like the sound of a frog
Result?
My name: Webby
My body: a frog
Why is my name is Webby?

15. Web-IT Support and Consulting
It might seem a bit weird that I take over the entire (and
last) screen.
But it’s my job to end this case study.
I would be glad to give an answer to all your questions
and remarks.
Just call or e-mail me.
Oh yeah, ask for Webby. They’ll know where to find me.
Thanks for your attention and hope to hear you soon.
Web-IT Support and Consulting bvba
Steenhuffelstraat 8, 1861-Wolvertem
E-mail: info@webit-support.com
Phone: +32 (0)2 309 67 76
Mobile: +32 (0)475 59 98 20
GPS: latitude: 50.97395, longitude: 4.30504