DOKK / manpages / debian 12 / shapelib / dbfcreate.1.en
DBFCREATE(1) shplib DBFCREATE(1)

dbfcreate - Create an empty xBase DBF file

dbfcreate xbase_file [[-s field_name width] | [-n field_name width decimals],...]

Creates an empty DBF file called xbase_file with columns described by all the -s and -n options that follow.

the name of xBase file to be created. Doesn't need the extension.
creates a string field with name field_name and size width.
creates a numeric field with name field_name, width of width and with decimals places sized by decimals.

dbfcreate testbase -s NAME 20, -n AREA 9 3, -n VALUE 9 2

this will create a file named testbase.dbf with 3 fields: NAME (string (20)), AREA (float (9,3)) and VALUE (float (9,2))

0
Successful program execution.
1
Missing xbase_file argument.
2
Failed to create the file xbase_file for writing.
3
Missing field_name, width, or decimals argument for a -s or -n option.
4
Failed to add a column given by a -s or -n option.

The following diagnostics may be issued on stdout:

DBFCreate(xbase_file) failed.

DBFAddField(field_name,FTString,width,0) failed.

DBFAddField(field_name,FTDouble,width,decimals) failed.

Argument incomplete, or unrecognised: arg

dbfcreate is part of shapelib, maintained by Frank Warmerdam. This guide was created by Eduardo Patoo Kanegae and converted to manpage by Johan Van de Wauw. It was further enhanced with the man page written by Joonas Pihlaja (jpihlaja@cc.helsinki.fi).

dbfadd(1), dbfcat(1), dbfdump(1), dbfinfo(1), shpadd(1), shpcat(1), shpcentrd(1), shpcreate(1), shpdump(1), shpdxf(1), shpfix(1), shpinfo(1), shpproj(1), shprewind(1), shptest(1)

March 2023