PC-FILE

PC-File is a simple flat file database management program for DOS. It was originally written by Jim "Button" Knopf in late 1982, and he formed the company Buttonware to develop, market, and support it. Jim Button was considered by many to be one of the "fathers" of shareware. Originally written for the Apple II, PC-FILE was ported to CP/M and then to DOS became popular as it popularity grew from local PC user groups.

In 1993 Buttonware was sceduled to be sold to McAfee, but fell through, then PC-File was purchased by Outlook Software, which offered newer versions of the program, including PC-File 8 for Windows.

File Identification
Early version created many files with extensions such as, .DTA, .HDR, .INX, .ANS, .REP. PC-File+ is a major rewrite from PC-File 3.0 and PC-File/R, that switches to native use of the dBase III file format.

Sample files

 * https://telparia.com/fileFormatSamples/document/pcFile/

Links

 * PC-File : Wikipedia
 * The Origin of Shareware
 * PC-File Readme - Welcome to "User Supported Software" (Shareware)
 * PC-FILE+ (TM) USER'S GUIDE Version 1.0
 * Buttonware Agrees To Sell Assets, Rights
 * Complete Guide to PC File: Through Version 5.01 by Margaret Levine Young