How to convert .fob file into .txt file in NAV

How to convert .fob file into .txt file in Microsoft Dynamics NAV?

How to change '.fob' backup file to '.txt' file or how can I view contents of a .fob file is a common question for new developer of Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

When we export objects from NAV Development Environment, we got two options either export objects as .fob file or export object as .txt object.By the way, fob stands for Financials OBject. Both .fob file format and .txt file format have their own importance and usages.

.fob Format:

Generally, when objects are ready to promote to production we export objects as .fob file and import them, even Microsoft releases its cumulative update as fob file. When we import .fob file in the Development Environment, it promotes an option to compile the imported object.

.txt Format:

.txt file is the text version of the object with some formatting, we use the .txt file to compare the same object from the different system or different version of the file usually using tools like winmerge or beyond compare. With this comparison, we can determine the difference and make appropriate changes as required. We need NAV developer License to import .txt file in Object Designer, but we don't get the option of compiling .txt file. So it overwrites old object and object must be compiled to make it workable.

We cannot convert .fob file into .txt file.

It is not possible to convert .fob file into .txt file but there are two alternative solution for converting .fob file into .txt file.

1. Export same object as the .txt file from the original source.
2.  In a  separate blank database, import those .fob objects and then compile those there and export as text.