alphabetical list of extensions

File extension .DAT

File description

The DAT extension is basically a generic file format. It comprises of data that may be referenced or opened by using a specific application program. However, some of the DAT format files can be directly opened, most consist of application data that has been referenced by the application when it is running. Thus, most of the DAT extensions are not meant to be opened by the user manually.

Though DAT happens to be a generic file format, it may be utilized by multiple applications. This may make it difficult to figure out as what application should be used to open the DAT file. But, if the DAT file is saved in a text format, the contents of the file can be easily viewed by opening it with a text editor.

Description of the problem

If you have on your computer a .DAT file that you cannot open, you are in exactly the same situation as thousands of other people who have similar problems with this or any other unknown file.

There may be several reasons why you cannot open the file with .DAT extension. Directly on this website you can find a solution of the most common problem with the .DAT file – that you do not have on your computer the appropriate program to open the file.

Solution

From the list below, select the appropriate program, install it and double click on the icon of a file that did not want to open - the problem with the .DAT file extension should be solved. However, if this does not happen, go back to the website to learn about other possible causes of the error, which have been described at the bottom of the website.

Category

Data Files

Developer

N/A

Popularity

File name: Data File

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

602PC Suite

Allegro

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

AVG Antivirus

BitDefender

BrainVoyager QX

CA Anti-Spyware

Clarion

Corel WordPerfect

Corel WordPerfect Office

Daqarta

FileAlyzer

Firefox

Inno Setup

KaZaa

LabVIEW

LogiKal

MapInfo

Microsoft Exchange Server

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Word

Mini-Flash Programming Software

Miranda IM

My Personal Programmer

Nero Multimedia Suite

Norton SystemWorks

Ontrack EasyRecovery

Palm Desktop

Peachtext

Pegasus Mail

PSpice

Safari for Microsoft Windows

SeeYou

Skype

SmartWare

UFOCaptureV2

Winmail Opener

XnView

Yahoo! Instant Messenger

ZEMAX

Mac OS

iPhoto

Original program

Text editor

Linux

DataFlex

GLPK

RADIANCE

Android

Opera Mobile

Category

Misc Files

Developer

Microsoft

Popularity

File name: Exchange E-mail Attachment

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

Biblet WMDecode

Message Viewer Lite

Outlook

Windows Mail

WinMail Decoder Pro

Winmail.dat Reader

Mac OS

Klammer

iOS

Klammer

Category

Video Files

Developer

N/A

Popularity

File name: VCD Video File

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

GOM Player

MPlayer

Nero

PowerDirector

PowerProducer

River Past Video Cleaner

VCDGear

VLC media player

Mac OS

Elmedia Player

MPlayer

VCDGear

VLC media player

Linux

MPlayer

VCDGear

VLC media player

Category

Game Files

Developer

Mojang Specifications

Popularity

File name: Minecraft Data File

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

INVedit

MCPlayerEdit

Minecraft

Minecraft server

NBTExplorer

Mac OS

MCPlayerEdit

Minecraft

Minecraft server

NBTExplorer

Linux

MCPlayerEdit

Minecraft

Minecraft server

NBTExplorer

Category

Game Files

Developer

Electronic Arts

Popularity

File name: SimCity 4 Game Data File

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

Building Architect Tool

DatGen

SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition

Mac OS

SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition

Category

System Files

Developer

Microsoft

Popularity

File name: Windows Registry Hive File

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

Microsoft Windows

Category

Misc Files

Developer

Jordan Russel

Popularity

File name: Inno Setup Uninstaller Data File

Programs that will open this file:

Windows

Inno Setup uninstaller

Category

Data Files

Developer

U.S. Department of State

Popularity

File name: Nonimmigrant Visa Application Data File

Programs that will open this file:

Remember!

The .DAT file extension can correspond to several not related file formats. If there is more than one file format with the .DAT extension, you will probably find most of them at this website. Remember that you need to download a program to support a particular file type. So first look through the entire contents of the website to select a program to support just the file you have.

Other possible reasons why your .DAT file does not want to open

In addition to the problem described above, i.e. the lack of the appropriate application to support the .DAT file, there may be several reasons that cause problems with opening and operation of the data format:

1. Incorrect version of the installed application

A quite common problem is the lack of application in the appropriate version. Even if you have an application, with the help of which you should open the .DAT file, you may have a problem with it because of its version. Perhaps in previous versions the application has not yet supported the .DAT file, so download the update and check again.

2. Incorrect .DAT file association with the program

If you have already installed the appropriate application, and it is the correct version, the file may not open correctly, because the operating system does not have information that this program supports the file. So you need to "show" which program the computer should use. To do this:

Right-click the .DAT file
Go to the "Open with" - then "Choose default program ..."
Locate the appropriate application
Click "OK"

3. The file is corrupt

It also happens that the file you want to open is corrupt and therefore there is no such possibility. In this situation, you should find its different version, or ask a person from whom you got, to send it again.