How to Open a DAT File

This How To explains how to open .DAT files - if this is even possible at all. .DAT files are used by programmers to store any kind of data.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Notepad or better .txt-editor, like Editpad.
• Some perseverance.

1. Start Notepad (or a better .txt editor, like Editpad).
2. Opening .DAT file with Notepad Open the .DAT-file.
   
   If this succeeds, try to spot clues in the file to figure out what kind of data you are dealing with. Proceed accordingly.
3. If you couldn't open the .DAT file with a text-editor (Notepad), try as many other programs as you like.
   Suggested programs to open the .DAT file:
   * MS Word or Excel (because some .DAT file's are comma-separated-value (.CSV) files.
   * .DAT files could also be MS Outlook-files.
   * You could also try an IDE (Itegrated Development Environment, a programmers tool).

Tips & Warnings

• Make backups of your important files.
• Try not to alter and/or save the changes in .DAT files on your PC: they could be important for other programs.