Data file
What is a .wdb file?
A .wdb file is a Microsoft Works Database for DOS (version 1.05). This is a data file — structured information used by a program rather than read directly. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 18 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
18 different formats have claimed .wdb over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
- Microsoft Works Database for DOSVersion 1.05 · fmt/169
- Microsoft Works Database for DOSVersion 1.12 · fmt/170
- Microsoft Works Database for DOSVersion 2.0 · fmt/171
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 2.0 · fmt/219
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 2.0a · fmt/222
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 3.0 · fmt/223
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 3.0a · fmt/224
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 3.0b · fmt/225
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 4.0 · fmt/226
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 4.0a · fmt/246
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 4.5 · fmt/249
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 4.5a · fmt/252
- Microsoft Works Database for WindowsVersion 2000 · fmt/256
- Microsoft Works Database for DOSVersion 3 · fmt/259
- Microsoft Works Database for DOSVersion 3a · fmt/260
- Microsoft Works Database for DOSVersion 3b · fmt/261
- Microsoft Works Database for MacintoshVersion 3 · fmt/268
- Microsoft Works Database for MacintoshVersion 4 · fmt/269
How to open a .wdb file
- Start with the program that produced it; that's almost always the right tool.
- Open it in a text editor to see whether it's readable text or binary.
- For database formats, DB Browser for SQLite or LibreOffice Base can often import it.
The registry records this extension against Microsoft Works Database for DOS, Microsoft Works Database for DOS, Microsoft Works Database for DOS and others, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .wdb file
- If you can view the data, exporting to .csv is usually the most portable option.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .wdb.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Works Database for DOS | 1.05 | — | fmt/169 |
| Microsoft Works Database for DOS | 1.12 | — | fmt/170 |
| Microsoft Works Database for DOS | 2.0 | — | fmt/171 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 2.0 | — | fmt/219 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 2.0a | — | fmt/222 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 3.0 | — | fmt/223 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 3.0a | — | fmt/224 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 3.0b | — | fmt/225 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 4.0 | — | fmt/226 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 4.0a | — | fmt/246 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 4.5 | — | fmt/249 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 4.5a | — | fmt/252 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Windows | 2000 | — | fmt/256 |
| Microsoft Works Database for DOS | 3 | — | fmt/259 |
| Microsoft Works Database for DOS | 3a | — | fmt/260 |
| Microsoft Works Database for DOS | 3b | — | fmt/261 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Macintosh | 3 | — | fmt/268 |
| Microsoft Works Database for Macintosh | 4 | — | fmt/269 |