[mapserver-users] free DBF editor ? is there anyone?

[Puneet Kishor]

Quick tips on using Excel to work on dbfs --

1. contiguous rectangular range named "Database" is saved as dbf.
2. width of column determines width of field (change width by dragging 
the column edges...) keep the width whole numbers.
3. the first row contains field names. Field names have to be 10 
characters or less.
4. the values in the second row define the field.

More on #4 above --

if a column is called "BIRTHDATE" (that is, "BIRTHDATE" is entered in 
the first row), that column won't automatically become a date column. If 
the second row in that column contains a valid date then that column 
will become a date column, otherwise it will default to text. Be 
careful, even an empty cell in the second row will screw up the column 
definition.

Don't delete a row... that will screw up the alignment with the shape 
file!

If you add a column (or delete one), select the entire range of cells, 
and redefine it as "Database" (you should see the range name just to the 
left of the entry box above the sheet.

Hth,

pk/

On Friday, August 10, 2001, at 01:13  AM, Speh Sylvain wrote:

> Hi,
>
> On Windows,I tried Excel 2000, but I couln'd add any kind of column. 
> Excel
> Apparently doesn't find the release of the DBFILE ( looking for a 3+ or 
> a 4
> one ). But I succeeded in changing text  values.
>
>
> If this could help you ...
>
>
>
> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : Puneet Kishor [mailto:pkishor at GeoAnalytics.com]
> Envoyé : vendredi 10 août 2001 06:53
> À : Eduardo Patto Kanegae
> Cc : MapServer-Users; FreeGIS
> Objet : Re: [mapserver-users] free DBF editor ? is there anyone?
>
>
> On Thursday, August 9, 2001, at 10:41  PM, Eduardo Patto Kanegae wrote:
>
>  
> ----- Original Message -----
>  From: Eduardo Patto Kanegae
> To: mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 6:22 PM
> Subject: free DBF editor ? is there anyone?
>
> does anybody know an editor for DBF files maintance?
>  
> i have to add fields to my shapefiles but don't have(too much expensive)
> ESRI ArvView....
>  
> any GPL tool or somethin like this...
> ----
>
> most spreadsheet kinda tools will open dbf files... try StarOffice...
> the spreadsheet as well as the database module will work with dbf files.
> Be careful with the row order... don't delete any rows or reorder
> them... they will get out of sync with your shp file and then you would
> be royally screwed. Otherwise, you can edit their contents to your
> heart's fill.
>
> Btw, you would be better off storing only a featureid in the dbf file
> and moving all the attributes to a real database such as MySQL.
>
--
Puneet Kishor
pkishor at eidesis.org