We have a number of suggestions on how to access DBF files from a Macintosh.
The first solution is, as you mentioned, FoxBASE+/Mac. FoxBASE+/Mac Multi-User
works together FoxBASE+/LAN to allow concurrent operation on a network that
supports both MS-DOS and Macintosh users. Data on the network is available to
both machines at the same time, and access and manipulation operations are
done identically. If you want to transfer DBF files from a DOS machine to
a Macintosh, conversion is required. The index files for FoxBASE+/Mac are
different, however. The first time you use an index in FoxBASE+/Mac on a DBF
file from a DOS machine, a new index file will be created.
HyperCard can also be used as a front end to DBF files. Nittany Development
Group has a product called DBF-Access Tools for HyperCard. This is a set of
XCMDs for HyperCard used to import and export data in a variety of different
ways to and from DBF files. This is not multi-user, nor does it update any of
the DBF index files. If data was exported from HyperCard to the DBF file, and
you wanted to use dBASEIII PLUS with this DBF file again, you would need to
reindex the database. Using DBF-Access Tools for HyperCard, the data in a DBF
file could easily be read into HyperCard and manipulated.
Another HyperCard approach is a product called DashBoard from Symmetry. With
DashBoard you can again read and write to DBF files. It updates the indexes of
dBASE III files. Other applications, like FoxBASE or Clipper, will not have
their indexes updated. This product is currently in beta form.
4th Dimension can access DBF files by using dBinterface Rapid from CTDATA. This
is a set of externals for 4th Dimension that does high-speed, data conversion.
Use it to move data between DBF files and 4th Dimension and the dBASE format.
CTDATA also has a product called dBinterface Interactive. This gives you index
support for DBF files and record-by-record access. It supports shared access
via any AFP-compatible network, though the dBASE-compatible database must
support multi-user access.
DbFast/Mac from Bumblebee Software will also read DBF files. This is a dBASE
language development environment. It is a single-user database.
Finally, you can use Omnis 5 from Blyth Software. Omnis can import and export
data from DBF files. The DBF files cannot be accessed by more than one user at
a time, though. You can create a transaction where you import data, manipulate
it, and then export the data back out to the DBF file. When exporting data
from Omnis to the DBF files, the indexes are not updated.
People looking for multi-user solutions using DOS machines and Macintoshes at
the same time should look into FoxBASE+/Mac and 4th Dimension using
dB_Interface from CTDATA. Converting data from DBF files on a DOS machine to a
Macintosh is much easier, and you have quite a few options to choose from. The
deciding point seems to be what application you want to run on the Macintosh.