DBV File

What are DBV files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DBV 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 DBV files.

What is a DBV file?

A .DBV file is a DBase Variable Field Value file.

A DBase Variable Field Value file is a supporting data file used alongside a dBASE database table (a .DBF file). It stores metadata defining the structure of fields that have variable length in the database - specifically for text or binary large object (BLOB) fields. When a .DBF table references a .DBV file, the database system loads the .DBV file automatically to understand how much space each variable field occupies.

These files are created by dBASE and other xBase-compatible programs like Multisoft FlagShip whenever a database table includes variable-length fields. Users do not generally edit .DBV files by hand; instead they appear beside the matching .DBF file and are accessed by the database engine when needed to interpret the variable-field columns of the database.

Files begin with an internal structure that links them to their corresponding .DBF table; the .DBV file shares the same base name as the table it supports. They define field sizes for variable‐length fields, ensuring that text and binary content (such as BLOBs) are handled correctly.

How to open DBV files

We have identified one DBV opener that is compatible with this specific type of DBV file.

Programs that open DBase Variable Field Value files

Last updated: August 5, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

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

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