Access
FoxPro

Access to FoxPro / DBF Converter

Move Access file databases to Visual FoxPro, dBase, or standalone DBF files with field-mapping review, memo companions, saved jobs, and optional DBSync exchange.

Access to FoxPro / DBF migration usually means exporting a Microsoft Access .mdb or .accdb database into a Visual FoxPro .dbc database or a folder of standalone .dbf tables.

The useful part is preserving table data in a DBF shape that the downstream FoxPro, dBase, Clipper, XBase, or legacy import process can actually read. Access queries, forms, reports, macros, and VBA do not become FoxPro application code automatically.

What DBConvert does on this path: handles Access → FoxPro / DBF as a repeatable desktop workflow:

  • Reads Access .mdb and .accdb files, including WorkGroups credentials where the source requires them.
  • Writes to a Visual FoxPro .dbc database or a folder of free DBF tables for dBase, FoxBase, Clipper, and XBase compatibility.
  • Maps Access field types to DBF-compatible fields and creates memo companions where long text or binary data needs external storage.
  • Saves sessions for repeated exports; DBSync keeps Access and DBF/FoxPro aligned during recurring exchange.

What it does not do: Access forms, reports, macros, modules, VBA, and application behavior are not converted into FoxPro forms or .prg programs.

Which tool: DBConvert or DBSync?

DBConvert for Access → FoxPro / DBF

One-time export or repeatable saved session. Use it when the deliverable is a FoxPro database, DBF folder, or DBF-compatible handoff for a legacy application.

DBSync for Access ↔ FoxPro

Recurring exchange. Use it when an Access workflow and a FoxPro / DBF workflow both keep changing and need scheduled insert, update, and delete synchronization. Review synchronization concepts.

Need more context? Compare DBConvert and DBSync side by side →

How DBConvert handles the Access → FoxPro / DBF differences

DBConvert handles the table-level export in the wizard: Access source file, WorkGroups credentials, table selection, field mapping, DBF output shape, memo companions, and validation. Access application objects remain a separate rewrite track.

Access source file

Select the source .mdb or .accdb file. If the database uses Access WorkGroups, enable those credentials before reading the tables.

FoxPro target shape

Write to a Visual FoxPro .dbc container or to free DBF tables. Choose the target shape based on what the legacy application expects to open.

Field mapping review

Access Short Text, Long Text, Number, Currency, Date/Time, Yes/No, and AutoNumber fields need DBF-compatible storage choices before the target tables are written.

Memo companions

Long text and some binary values are stored through DBF memo companion files such as .fpt or .dbt. Keep those files with the exported table folder.

Code pages and field limits

DBF targets have field-name, character-set, and legacy-format limits that Access does not. Test representative names, addresses, and long text after the export.

Application objects boundary

DBConvert migrates tables, views, and foreign keys. Access forms, reports, macros, modules, VBA, and business logic are rebuilt manually if FoxPro must become the application layer.

Type mapping checkpoints

Access source field FoxPro / DBF target Migration note
Short Text Character / Varchar Review field-name length, code page, and trailing-space policy.
Long Text Memo Requires a memo companion file beside the DBF table.
Number / Currency Numeric / Currency Check precision and scale before financial exports are accepted.
AutoNumber Integer / AutoInc policy Confirm whether the FoxPro target should preserve loaded values or generate new ones.
Date/Time Date / DateTime Blank and out-of-range values should be reviewed during the test export.
Yes/No Logical Check how the consuming DBF workflow treats true, false, and null-like values.

Choosing the Access → DBF route

This direction is usually about compatibility: a FoxPro, dBase, Clipper, or XBase process still expects DBF-style files.

Route Where it fits Where it falls short
Access export / manual DBF handoff manual, version-dependent Tiny one-off exports where the installed Access version and drivers can still produce the DBF flavor the target accepts. Weak for repeatable jobs, multiple tables, memo companions, field-name cleanup, code pages, and synchronization.
Single-file DBF exporters focused file conversion A single Access table or query result that needs to become a standalone DBF file. Limited fit for full Access database exports, table relationships, saved migration sessions, and ongoing exchange.
DBConvert / DBSync commercial desktop, Windows Full Access → FoxPro / DBF export with source credential handling, DBF target-shape choice, type-mapping review, saved sessions, scheduler / CLI, and optional synchronization. Commercial license. Access forms, reports, macros, and VBA are not converted to FoxPro application objects.

Before the final export

Treat the first DBF output as a test run against the actual legacy consumer, not just as a file conversion.

Validate in the legacy system

Open the exported DBF / FoxPro target in the application that will consume it. Check field names, memo text, dates, code-page characters, and numeric precision.

Decide whether sync is needed

If Access and the DBF workflow both keep changing, use DBSync with clear ownership rules. If DBF is only a delivery format, use a one-way DBConvert export.

Supported versions

  • MS Access .mdb (Jet) and .accdb (ACE) files
  • WorkGroups credentials and linked tables
  • Visual FoxPro .dbc databases and standalone DBF tables
  • Free tables (DBF without .dbc container) and Memo (.fpt) files

Supported in this path

Source Access
Target FoxPro
Microsoft Access .mdb Microsoft Access .accdb Visual FoxPro DBF / dBase free tables Clipper / XBase DBF
Access

All Access Tools

Other directions and pairs
FoxPro

All FoxPro Tools

Migration & sync options

Reverse Conversion

FoxPro to Access

Using Access to FoxPro Tools

When launching the DBConvert or DBSync application in GUI mode, it guides you through the steps to start database migration or synchronization:

1

Connect to Access source database

Specify the username/password and host/port parameters if your source database requires login credentials.

Connect to Access source database from DBConvert

Access source

Select the source .mdb or .accdb file. If it uses Access WorkGroups, enable WorkGroups and enter those credentials on the source step.

2

Connect to FoxPro destination database

Specify parameters for the destination database similar to the source, defining connection settings and username/password pairs.

Connect to FoxPro target database from DBConvert

FoxPro target

Write to a Visual FoxPro .dbc database or a folder of free DBF tables.

More guides for Access ↔ FoxPro

Next steps: configure, validate, run

After connecting source and target, the remaining steps are the same for every database pair:

  • Configure migration options - pick tables, fields, indices, views.
  • Issue detection - the built-in checker flags integrity problems before migration starts.
  • Execute - commit the job, monitor progress, save the session for reuse.
  • Schedule and CLI - rerun saved sessions on a schedule or from the command line.
Open the full guide

Steps 3-5, software features, command-line mode, scheduler, and system requirements.

See all features