# dbc-to-dbf
A pure Python utility to convert `.dbc` files into standard `.dbf` format — commonly used in public health data from the Brazilian government.
`.dbc` files are a compressed form of `.dbf` (dBase format) files used by **DATASUS**, the Department of Informatics of the **Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)**.
DATASUS provides large-scale public health datasets (such as hospital admissions, mortality records, disease surveillance, and more) in `.dbc` format to reduce file size and facilitate distribution.
These `.dbc` files are compressed using a legacy algorithm known as **PKWare DCL "implode"**, originally used in older versions of ZIP files. This format is no longer widely supported, and modern decompression libraries (like `zipfile` or `gzip`) **do not handle `.dbc` files**.
This project provides a **pure Python implementation** of the **BLAST decompression algorithm**, which is compatible with the compression used in `.dbc` files. It is a direct, object-oriented rewrite of `blast.c` by Mark Adler (co-author of zlib), adapted and modernized for Python usage.
With this library, researchers, data analysts, public health professionals, and developers can easily **extract health data from DATASUS** in a readable and processable format — enabling analysis, dashboards, research, and more.
---
## References
- DATASUS homepage: [https://datasus.saude.gov.br](https://datasus.saude.gov.br)
- File format documentation (Portuguese): [https://ftp.datasus.gov.br/](https://ftp.datasus.gov.br/)
- Compression format background: [https://github.com/madler/blast](https://github.com/madler/blast)
---
## 📦 Installation
Install directly from PyPI:
pip install dbc-to-dbf
Or clone from GitHub and install locally:
git clone https://github.com/mozaru/dbc-to-dbf.git
cd dbc-to-dbf
pip install .
---
## 🚀 Usage
### ➤ Option 1: Import and use in Python code
```python
from dbctodbf import DBCDecompress
dbc = DBCDecompress()
dbc.decompressFile("input.dbc", "output.dbf")
```
### ➤ Option 2: Run as a module
```bash
python -m dbctodbf input.dbc output.dbf
```
### ➤ Option 3: Use CLI command (installed with pip)
```bash
dbc2dbf input.dbc output.dbf
```
---
## 🔧 Features
- Fully implemented in pure Python (no native extensions)
- Converts `.dbc` (compressed DBF) to `.dbf`
- Based on Mark Adler's `blast.c`, adapted and improved using modern Python
- Object-oriented design for easy integration and reuse
- Easily testable and extendable
---
## 🖥️ Example CLI script (for custom use)
```python
import sys
from dbctodbf import DBCDecompress
if __name__ == "__main__":
if len(sys.argv) != 3:
print("Uso: python script.py <entrada.dbc> <saida.dbf>")
sys.exit(1)
input_file = sys.argv[1]
output_file = sys.argv[2]
try:
dbc2dbf = DBCDecompress()
dbc2dbf.decompressFile(input_file, output_file)
print(f"Conversão concluída: {output_file}")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Erro ao converter: {e}")
sys.exit(1)
```
---
## 🔗 Links
- 📂 GitHub: [https://github.com/mozaru/dbc-to-dbf](https://github.com/mozaru/dbc-to-dbf)
- 📦 PyPI: _(coming soon)_
---
## 🧑💻 Contributing
Pull requests are welcome!
If you find a bug or have a suggestion, feel free to open an issue.
---
## ⚖️ License
This project is licensed under the zlib License (see LICENSE file).
Original decompression algorithm by Mark Adler <madler@alumni.caltech.edu>
Python port and enhancements by Mozar Silva <mozar.silva@11tech.com.br> or <mozar.silva@gmail.com.br>.
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"description": "# dbc-to-dbf\r\n\r\nA pure Python utility to convert `.dbc` files into standard `.dbf` format \u2014 commonly used in public health data from the Brazilian government.\r\n\r\n`.dbc` files are a compressed form of `.dbf` (dBase format) files used by **DATASUS**, the Department of Informatics of the **Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS)**. \r\nDATASUS provides large-scale public health datasets (such as hospital admissions, mortality records, disease surveillance, and more) in `.dbc` format to reduce file size and facilitate distribution.\r\n\r\nThese `.dbc` files are compressed using a legacy algorithm known as **PKWare DCL \"implode\"**, originally used in older versions of ZIP files. This format is no longer widely supported, and modern decompression libraries (like `zipfile` or `gzip`) **do not handle `.dbc` files**.\r\n\r\nThis project provides a **pure Python implementation** of the **BLAST decompression algorithm**, which is compatible with the compression used in `.dbc` files. It is a direct, object-oriented rewrite of `blast.c` by Mark Adler (co-author of zlib), adapted and modernized for Python usage.\r\n\r\nWith this library, researchers, data analysts, public health professionals, and developers can easily **extract health data from DATASUS** in a readable and processable format \u2014 enabling analysis, dashboards, research, and more.\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## References\r\n\r\n- DATASUS homepage: [https://datasus.saude.gov.br](https://datasus.saude.gov.br)\r\n- File format documentation (Portuguese): [https://ftp.datasus.gov.br/](https://ftp.datasus.gov.br/)\r\n- Compression format background: [https://github.com/madler/blast](https://github.com/madler/blast)\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \ud83d\udce6 Installation\r\n\r\nInstall directly from PyPI:\r\n\r\n pip install dbc-to-dbf\r\n\r\nOr clone from GitHub and install locally:\r\n\r\n git clone https://github.com/mozaru/dbc-to-dbf.git\r\n cd dbc-to-dbf\r\n pip install .\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \ud83d\ude80 Usage\r\n\r\n\r\n### \u27a4 Option 1: Import and use in Python code\r\n\r\n```python\r\nfrom dbctodbf import DBCDecompress\r\n\r\ndbc = DBCDecompress()\r\ndbc.decompressFile(\"input.dbc\", \"output.dbf\")\r\n```\r\n\r\n### \u27a4 Option 2: Run as a module\r\n\r\n```bash\r\npython -m dbctodbf input.dbc output.dbf\r\n```\r\n\r\n### \u27a4 Option 3: Use CLI command (installed with pip)\r\n\r\n```bash\r\ndbc2dbf input.dbc output.dbf\r\n```\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \ud83d\udd27 Features\r\n\r\n- Fully implemented in pure Python (no native extensions)\r\n- Converts `.dbc` (compressed DBF) to `.dbf`\r\n- Based on Mark Adler's `blast.c`, adapted and improved using modern Python\r\n- Object-oriented design for easy integration and reuse\r\n- Easily testable and extendable\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \ud83d\udda5\ufe0f Example CLI script (for custom use)\r\n\r\n```python\r\n\r\n import sys\r\n from dbctodbf import DBCDecompress\r\n\r\n if __name__ == \"__main__\":\r\n if len(sys.argv) != 3:\r\n print(\"Uso: python script.py <entrada.dbc> <saida.dbf>\")\r\n sys.exit(1)\r\n\r\n input_file = sys.argv[1]\r\n output_file = sys.argv[2]\r\n\r\n try:\r\n dbc2dbf = DBCDecompress()\r\n dbc2dbf.decompressFile(input_file, output_file)\r\n print(f\"Convers\u00e3o conclu\u00edda: {output_file}\")\r\n except Exception as e:\r\n print(f\"Erro ao converter: {e}\")\r\n sys.exit(1)\r\n```\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \ud83d\udd17 Links\r\n\r\n- \ud83d\udcc2 GitHub: [https://github.com/mozaru/dbc-to-dbf](https://github.com/mozaru/dbc-to-dbf)\r\n- \ud83d\udce6 PyPI: _(coming soon)_\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83d\udcbb Contributing\r\n\r\nPull requests are welcome! \r\nIf you find a bug or have a suggestion, feel free to open an issue.\r\n\r\n---\r\n\r\n## \u2696\ufe0f License\r\n\r\nThis project is licensed under the zlib License (see LICENSE file).\r\n\r\nOriginal decompression algorithm by Mark Adler <madler@alumni.caltech.edu> \r\nPython port and enhancements by Mozar Silva <mozar.silva@11tech.com.br> or <mozar.silva@gmail.com.br>.\r\n\r\n",
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