PRB: dBase Driver Cannot Update DBF Files in MDAC 2.1 and Later Versions

You may encounter a variety of ODBC error messages when accessing dBase databases which had been successfully accessible with prior versions of the Microsoft dBase Driver.

Versions of MDAC 2.1 and later require the Borland Database Engine (BDE) to update dBase DBF files.

There are two resolutions. One is to obtain the BDE:

Contact Inprise Inc. or a third-party vendor to obtain the BDE. Obtain licensing and run-time distribution requirements for the BDE from Inprise.
Third-party dBASE ODBC driver vendors include Merant (http://www.merant.com), Borland.Com (http://www.borland.com), and Inprise Inc. (http://www.Inprise.com). For more information about hardware and software vendor contact information, visit the following Microsoft Web site: The other option is to use the Microsoft FoxPro VFP Driver that ships with MDAC 2.1 to access the DBF files. To use this driver to access dBase files, select the Free Table Directory option when creating a DSN.

This behavior is by design.

For additional information, see the following article or articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: