191

.191 — Microsoft Visual FoxPro Database Container

Microsoft · 1995

Developer
Microsoft
Category
Database
MIME Type
application/vnd.ms-foxpro-container
First Released
1995
Open Format
No
File Signature
N/A (Proprietary, not easily identifiable by magic bytes)
At a Glance
.191
Microsoft Visual FoxPro Database Container

A .191 file is a database container used by Microsoft Visual FoxPro to store various database objects and application components.

Reviewed on May 3, 2026
Compression
Varies
Transparency
No
Editability
Low
Best for
Visual FoxPro database encapsulation

Key Features

  • Stores multiple database objects in a single file.
  • Proprietary format used exclusively by Visual FoxPro.
  • Facilitates the organization of application components.
  • Binary format, not human-readable directly.

Best For

  • Organizing related database objects for Visual FoxPro.
  • Encapsulating all components of a simple Visual FoxPro application.
  • Development and deployment of legacy Visual FoxPro applications.

Less Ideal For

  • General data storage outside of Visual FoxPro.
  • Interoperability with modern database systems.
  • Web application backends.
  • Data sharing with non-Visual FoxPro applications.

Common Use Cases

  • Storing tables, views, and indexes.
  • Bundling forms, reports, and labels.
  • Packaging application code and procedures.
  • Distributing self-contained database applications.

How to Open It

  1. The primary way to open and manage .191 files is by using Microsoft Visual FoxPro.
  2. If you need to access the data within, you might be able to import it into another database system if you have Visual FoxPro to export it first.
  3. Opening this file directly without Visual FoxPro will likely result in an unreadable binary dump.

What is a .191 file?

The .191 file extension is associated with Microsoft Visual FoxPro, a powerful database management system. These files act as containers for database objects, such as tables, queries, forms, and reports, that are created and managed within the Visual FoxPro environment. They are crucial for organizing and accessing the data and application logic for applications built with this software. While not commonly encountered outside of Visual FoxPro development, they represent a self-contained unit of a database application.

Programs That Open .191 Files

PlatformProgram
WindowsMicrosoft Visual FoxProPaidOfficial

Common Problems with .191 Files

⚠️ Cannot open .191 file without Visual FoxPro.
You need to install Microsoft Visual FoxPro or use a compatible tool if one exists for data extraction.
⚠️ Visual FoxPro is a legacy product and may be difficult to obtain.
Seek out alternative database solutions for new projects, as .191 is tied to an unsupported platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is .191 an open format?▼

No, the .191 format is proprietary to Microsoft Visual FoxPro and is not considered an open standard.

Can I open a .191 file on a Mac or Linux?▼

Directly opening .191 files on macOS or Linux is not supported. You would typically need to run Visual FoxPro, which is a Windows-only application, possibly through a virtual machine or compatibility layer.

What is the difference between a .191 file and a .DBF file?▼

.DBF files are standard database table files. A .191 file acts as a container for potentially multiple database objects, including .DBF files, forms, reports, and code, within the Visual FoxPro environment.

Technical Details

A .191 file is a binary file that encapsulates multiple database elements. It is proprietary to Microsoft Visual FoxPro and its internal structure is not publicly documented. These files are integral to the operation of applications developed within the Visual FoxPro IDE, serving as a central repository for related database components.

Did You Know?

Microsoft Visual FoxPro itself was an evolution of FoxPro, originally developed by Fox Software before Microsoft acquired it.
The .191 extension is part of a suite of file types used by Visual FoxPro, often alongside .DBC (Database Container) files.

Security Information

As with any file originating from older software, be cautious when opening .191 files from untrusted sources, as they could potentially contain malicious code if developed with insecure practices.