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Text string character formats in dbf files

DanielBrenner

Is there a Help Document on Rules For Text Strings and their formats in Text fields in dbf files?

I have to do a lot of merging of files with a text string field and all to frequently I get error message 001156 regarding something in the text string I put in the text field and I go bonkers trying to figure out what it is. I have been able to figure some things on my own but this is still a pain in the butt to have to go through. I have tried various queries in Help but nothing gets at what I'm talking about.

I have been able to fix errors like the ones below in the past (consistent character string recognition from one database to another) but then when I thought I'd figured it out things like the ones in the pics still come up.

Also: Why is it when I am adding a Text field to a dbf file if I indicate a certain number of characters, after it becomes a part of the dbf file, it automatically goes to 255, even if I use the default of 50 when I am initially naming the Text field???

As in, why should I have to indicate what my field length is when I get this instead?

NapaIntsErr.jpg

FID0err.jpg

XanderBakker_0-1610640055634.png

JorgeKappa_0-1649943711225.png

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DanPatterson_Retired

first inclination looking at the rest of the data is drop the ; a : seems ok but maybe not the semicolon

DanielBrenner

I managed to figure out a way to avoid the issue --it is/it was much bigger than a simple semi colon--but the really screwy thing that I only started noticing is how are some text fields only 50 characters and others are 254? How do I get a 254 character field when I'm adding text fields?

JoeBorgione

I have been able to figure some things on my own but this is still a pain in the butt to have to go through. Welcome to the wonderful world of data editing. You've probably got a full head of dark hair: I did at one time too...

I have to ask though, is there a compelling reason to use .dbf tables? How are you creating them, and setting the width of the text fields?

Edited to add: I just stumbled upon this link and it reminds me why I avoid dbf tables about as much as I avoid excel tables...

DanielBrenner

Joe,

It is not the width of fields that’s the issue, it’s the fact that I work with custom .csv files for an app based on a Highway Routes layer, which can require exporting of the shapefile created by the app and then editing the dbf in MS Excel/saving as .xlsx, then re-exporting as a .dbf then joining to another shapefile with core fields, and then once that has happened, re-organization of both thew core fields and the new fields needs to happen to create a decent sequence that will show up in the Identify window.

If you’re wondering why don’t I use geodatabases, care to tell me where I can find an MS Excel compatible .dbf file in a geodatabase layer?

JoeBorgione

How do I get a 254 character field when I'm adding text fields?

My question was based on what you mentioned above.^

Shapefiles and .dbf tables are lightweight and cheap; that's why they are still around. It seems to me that your application needs a data format that is more robust. Just sayin'.

DanielBrenner

Ok, but haven’t you ever seen what I’m talking about?

It’s a matter of what button do I hit. I accept the default 50 characters for a Text field but then I see other text fields with 254.

How does that happen?

And what do you mean by more robust format when I have to deal with Quality Control issues such as adding fields and more ideally keeping them in the same order between .dbf/.xls/.csv?

And how do I edit a geodatabase file in MS Excel like I can with a .dbf? How come we can’t edit the tables that go with them in a software that offers WAY MORE flexibility than ArcGIS in the .dbf interface?

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