WDB file extension is used in Microsoft Works Database files. Microsoft Works was an office suite that used to come preloaded on older versions of Windows. These files are similar to MDB files of Microsoft Access but have some limitations. This is the reason why, they are not natively supported by the latest version of Microsoft 365 or Office. In this post, we will learn how you can open WDB files in Windows 11/10.
What is a WDB file and how are they related to World of Warcraft?
Microsoft Works Database uses the WDB files which are similar to the MDB files of Microsoft Access. Since they are so old, one would rarely encounter these files. But as of late, WoW gamers have been seeing the WDB files when checking the cache of World of Warcraft, as its database cache files use the WDB file extension. The information related to game data, servers, creatures, items, and quests is stored in the WDB file.
How to open WDB files in Windows 11/10
Since Microsoft Works is not officially available, we must find alternatives to open the WDB files. We have mentioned a few simple methods below to open WDB files in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
- Use MS Word 2007 to open the WDB file
- Convert the WDB file to an XLS file to open it in Office
- Open the WDB file in Libre Office Base
- Use CodeAlchemists Works Database Converter
Let us talk about them in detail.
1] Use MS Word 2007 to open the WDB file
Microsoft Work, as mentioned earlier, was an older version of Office, which is why, there are still some remains of the app, with the help of which, we will open the WDB file in MS Word 2007.
- Open Microsoft Office.
- Click on Office.
- From the Files of type option, you need to select Works 6.0-9.0.
- Now, select the file and open it.
That’s how you can open a WDB file in MS Word 2007, if you have the latest version of Word, move to the next method.
2] Convert the WDB file to an XLS file to open it in Office
As you may already know, .XLS is an Excel Binary file format. Both Microsoft Word and Excel support these files. If you can convert the WDB file into an XLS file, we can easily open it in those apps. To do the conversion, vertopal.com. It is a free website that allows you to convert files. You can go to the link, upload the WDB file, and then open and convert it into XLS.
3] Open the WDB file in LibreOffice Base
If you are familiar with LibreOffice, you would know it is a free alternative to MS Office. You can install the Libre Office Base, an alternative to MS Access, to open these files. Base supports WDB files and launches them with ease. Your files will be converted to spreadsheets so you can read them easily.
4] Use CodeAlchemists Works Database Converter
CodeAlchemists Works Database Converter is a tool that can convert your WDB (Microsoft Work Database) into spreadsheet/CSV format. Then, you can view and access the converted files in Microsoft Excel. To learn more about the tool and to use it, navigate to codealchemists.com. All you need to do is open the tool, select the Source file, select the format to which you want the file to be converted, and then click on Convert. However, you need Java installed on your computer for this application to work.
These are the ways by which you can open a WDB file.
How do I open a WDB file in Windows 11/10?
WDB file format is quite old as it was used in Microsoft Work Database. If someone wants to open it now, they should either have a running instance of the Work Database app or use an alternative method. We have mentioned four methods by which you can open WDB files earlier in this post.
Read: How to convert Files from Microsoft Money to QuickBooks Pro?
How do I convert WDB files?
There are various converters for WDB files that you can use. We have mentioned two of them, CodeAlchemists Works Database Converter and Vertopal. You can use them to convert WDB files to a format of your choice.
Read: File Converter lets you quickly convert Files using the context menu.
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