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How to Open DAT Files

Posted on July 28th, 2009 by Marck
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The .DAT file extension is one of the most common formats used to name files.  It can get a bit confusing for the average user to find a program that can open a .DAT file, especially when it’s sent through disk or through e-mail.  Here are some tips to help you open files with .DAT extensions.

What is a DAT File?

File extensions are used to name files to be recognized both by the user and by the computer.  Many programmers use the .DAT file extension as an arbitrary way to denote that the file contains data relevant to the file compilation in a program directory.  Stand-alone .DAT files may contain information like text, spreadsheets, slideshows, reports, and other documents.

The best way to open a .DAT file is usually to ask the sender what the file contains, and what program you should use to open it.  If you can’t get in touch with the person, it’s best not to open the .DAT file.

Setting Up a Text Editor

Almost any file can be opened with a simple text editor like Notepad or Wordpad.  Some people may encounter problems opening DAT files, so it’s important to set up your text editor first:

  1. Set the font to a standard unicode format (preferably Courier New or Lucida Console for Windows).
  2. Disable window or ruler wrapping.
  3. Disable text formatting.
If simple text editors do not work for you, you can use an advanced text editor like Notepad++ or Crimson Editor.  Advanced text editors not only open text documents, but they also have the capacity to read and open source code.

Finding Clues

You can find out the program that you can use to open a .DAT file with these clues:

  • File size. Large .DAT files may either be part of a program, or a compilation of archived data.  Smaller .DAT files may be text files or small pictures.
  • Header contents in a text editor. Another way to discover what program you can use to open .DAT files is to open it with a text editor.  The first few lines of the file, or the last lines in the file footer, typically denote the program you can use to open the .DAT file.

Trial-and-Error

Another way to open a .DAT file would be by trial-and-error.  Most of the time, you’ll have to go through every program installed on your computer to open the .DAT file.  Sometimes, though, the .DAT file cannot be opened by any program, and you have to ask the sender about the details of that file.

Files with a .DAT file extension can be quite confusing for computer users.  With these tips, looking for the right program to open a data file can be made faster and easier.

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