Is it possible to recover corrupt DBF files with original structure intact?

Yes, it is possible to recover corrupt DBF files with the original structure intact, but it depends on how the recovery is performed and how severe the corruption is. The key factor is using a non-destructive recovery approach rather than trying manual fixes inside the database application.

To keep the original structure intact—such as table layout, field names, data types, indexes, and keys—you should first stop using the corrupted DBF file and make a copy of it. Opening or saving the file repeatedly in dBase or Visual FoxPro can change headers and worsen structural damage. Manual edits usually fix only surface-level issues and often lead to data misalignment.

Dedicated DBF recovery tools are designed to handle this situation more safely. Tools like SysInfo DBF Recovery Tool scan the corrupted DBF file, analyze its internal structure, and rebuild tables and records while preserving the original schema. One useful capability is the option to load the schema from another healthy DBF file with the same structure, which helps restore field alignment and column definitions when the original header is damaged.