Split a table into files by a column
One master register has to go out to the branches, each getting only its own rows. Normally that is a filter and “Save as…” as many times as there are branches. Here it is one action, a file for every value of the column.
Free to use. Column menu → “Split into files by values…”. Windows version — 4.6 MB, no installation: details. Pro — $29 once: price.
How it works
- Open the table and, if needed, filter the rows: the rows on screen are split.
- In the menu of the column you need choose “Split into files by values”.
- Pick a format and press “Preview”: you see the list of future files and the number of rows in each.
- “Split” — and the files are saved as a ZIP archive or, in Chrome and Edge, straight into a folder you choose.
What the files are
- Format — DBF with the same structure (with memo, a
.dbf+.fptpair), Excel, ODS, CSV or JSON. Each part is written by the same export as a normal one. - Columns — the ones visible on screen, in the same order.
- Name —
register_Surgery.dbf: characters Windows forbids are replaced, and files are in natural order — “2” before “10”. - Empty values — a separate “(empty)” file or skipped, your choice.
Pitfalls
Different spellings. By default case, extra spaces and accents are not distinguished: “Surgery” and “SURGERY” land in one file, named after the first spelling met. If they are different values, switch the matching off: you get two files, and the second is marked “(2)” instead of overwriting the first.
The wrong column. If there are more than 2,000 distinct values, the split refuses: it is almost certainly a number, a date or an amount, not a department.
A folder with files. If the chosen folder already has files with those names, you are asked before anything is overwritten.
FAQ
Can I split by two columns — department and month?
Not yet, by one. Split by department, then open the file you need and split it by month.
Is the DBF structure kept?
Yes: types, lengths and precision of fields are as in the source table.
Where are the files saved in Firefox and Safari?
Those browsers cannot write to a folder, so the files are saved as one ZIP archive.
Free to use. Your file is not uploaded to a server. Windows version — 4.6 MB, no installation: details. Pro — $29 once: price.