Import DBF file to Pandas data frame in Python

dbf2DF.py

import pysal as ps
import pandas as pd
'''
Arguments
---------
dbfile  : DBF file - Input to be imported
upper   : Condition - If true, make column heads upper case
'''
def dbf2DF(dbfile, upper=True): #Reads in DBF files and returns Pandas DF
    db = ps.open(dbfile) #Pysal to open DBF
    d = {col: db.by_col(col) for col in db.header} #Convert dbf to dictionary
    #pandasDF = pd.DataFrame(db[:]) #Convert to Pandas DF
    pandasDF = pd.DataFrame(d) #Convert to Pandas DF
    if upper == True: #Make columns uppercase if wanted 
        pandasDF.columns = map(str.upper, db.header) 
    db.close() 
    return pandasDF