DBI File

What are DBI files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DBI file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your DBI files.

What is a DBI file?

DBI files have multiple uses, and Borland DataBase Explorer Information is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Borland DataBase Explorer Information

.DBI files belong to files commonly used by the Borland DataBase Explorer. These .dbi files contain information when browsing database files using the mentioned software. Borland DataBase Explorer is a type of database software. Databases are a compilation of hundreds if not thousands of different information pieces. Borland DataBase Explorer is developed by the Borland Software Corporation, a computer technology company founded in 1983.

How to open DBI files

Important: Different programs may use files with the DBI file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your DBI file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested five different DBI openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: October 22, 2026

All known file formats using extension .DBI

While Borland DataBase Explorer Information is a popular type of DBI-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .DBI file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Isearch Database Info

Isearch Database Info files store summary metadata for a search index created by the Isearch search system. These text‐based files are written when Iindex builds or updates an index so Isearch and its tools know general properties of how the index is structured and how to interpret it. Their main purpose is to tell software reading the index what version of Isearch made it, what "magic" format revision the index follows, whether integer fields use big‐endian byte order, and what default document type to assume.

These files are produced by Iindex, the component of Isearch that creates and maintains full‐text search indexes. Other Isearch programs such as Isearch itself or Iutil read them when opening or verifying an index, so that they can interpret other index files correctly. The info file is ASCII text, easily viewed in a text editor, and always accompanies other files like the index, master document table, etc.

Internally the file is a formatted registry‐like list where each key and its value appear on separate lines, preceded by a plus sign and indented to show structure. Identifiers in this file include VersionNumber (of the Isearch program), MagicNumber (revision of database format), BigEndian (byte‐order setting), DocType (which logical document format to use if none specified), etc. A file typically begins at offset zero with the ASCII signature +DbInfo followed by lines like +VersionNumber, +MagicNumber, +BigEndian.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of DBI files. Remember, different programs may use DBI files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about DBI file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.