Open a shapefile’s attribute table without GIS software
A shapefile is not one file but a set: .shp, .shx and .dbf, often with .prj and .cpg. The names, categories and numbers behind the map shapes live in the .dbf — and that is an ordinary dBase table. If all you need is to read or count those attributes, you do not have to start QGIS or ArcGIS.
Free to use. Nothing to install. The file is read in your browser and never uploaded. Windows version — 4.6 MB, no installation: details. Pro — $29 once: price.
What is in the .dbf and what is not
The .dbf next to a .shp is a standard dBase table with one record per shape, in the same order as the shapes in the .shp. It holds the attributes: name, code, area, population, whatever the author stored.
The geometry itself — points, lines, polygons — is in the .shp, and this tool does not read it. You see the table, not the map. For checking attributes, finding a feature by name or pulling a list into Excel, that is exactly what is wanted.
How to open it
- Open the
.dbfof the shapefile in the app, or drag it into the window. - Check the fields on the left: names are at most ten characters, which is a limit of the format, so they are often abbreviated.
- Filter and sort like any table. The row order is the order of the shapes.
- Export the result to Excel, CSV or JSON if you need it elsewhere.
The usual snags
- Garbled letters. Shapefiles do not always say what encoding the attributes are in. The
.cpgfile, when present, names it; the.dbfheader may carry a language driver byte, or nothing. If accented or non-Latin names look wrong, switch the code page with one click — the file is not re-read. See garbled text in DBF. - Deleted records. A feature removed from a shapefile can leave a flagged record behind. You can show or hide them; see deleted records in DBF.
- Numbers. Coordinates stored as attributes (latitude, longitude) are plain numeric fields. Their precision is the field’s declared decimals, not what a map shows.
- Do not edit blindly. The
.dbfand the.shpmatch record by record. Adding or deleting rows in the table alone breaks that pairing; changing values in existing rows is safe.
FAQ
Can I see the map?
No. The app opens the attribute table only; the geometry in the .shp is not drawn. Use a GIS program or a web map viewer for the picture.
Do I need to open the .shp and .shx too?
No. For the attributes the .dbf alone is enough.
Does the file go to a server?
No. It is parsed in your browser tab and never uploaded.
Can I save the attributes to Excel?
Yes: open the .dbf and use “Export” → Excel or CSV. See converting DBF.
Free to use. Your file is not uploaded to a server. Windows version — 4.6 MB, no installation: details. Pro — $29 once: price.