DAT file: How can I open a .DAT file?

The table below provides useful information about the .dat file extension. It answers questions such as:

• What is the .dat file?
• What program do I need to open a .dat file?
• How can the .dat file be opened, edited or printed?
• How can I convert .dat files to another format?

We hope you find this page helpful and a valuable resource.

✅ General Data File

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a General Data File. The DAT file extensions is generally used for a "Data" file in which programs store their related data, be it text, structured data, encrypted information or anything else.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: -

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

data

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.hst

General History File

.nsf

Lotus Notes Data

.ntf

Lotus Notes Template

.ond

Lotus Notes Database

.id

Lotus Notes User ID File

.nlo

Lotus Notes Linked Object

✅ Affymetrix Image Data File

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Affymetrix Image Data File. This data file containing raw image data (pixel intensity values).

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: Affymetrix Genechip

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

Bioinformatics Toolbox for MatLab

DAT related extensions:

.gin

Affymetrix Gene Information Library

.cdf

Affymetrix Chip Description File

.chp

Affymetrix Probe Array Results File

.cel

Affymetrix Probe Array Results File

.exp

Affymetrix Experiment File

.grc

Affymetrix Grid Control File

✅ DataFlex Database File

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a DataFlex Database File. DataFlex is an advanced object-oriented 4GL designed for developing database applications in character mode environments.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: DataFlex

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.tag

DataFlex Query Tag

.hdr

DataFlex Database Header

.vld

DataFlex Compressed Database

.dfr

DataFlex Registration Data

.bpo

DataFlex Business Process Object

.wbo

DataFlex Web Business Object

✅ Treepad Database

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Treepad Database. TreePad is a tree-based Personal Information Manager (PIM).

DAT format description

Category: Data files

Application: Treepad

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.idx

Treepad Database Index

.blb

Treepad Database Blob Data

.dbi

Treepad Database DBI Data

.dbk

Treepad Database Backup

.ibk

Treepad Database Index Backup

.bbk

Treepad Database Blob Backup

✅ Radiance Data File

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Radiance Data File. Radiance is a suite of tools for performing lighting simulation originally written by Greg Ward. It includes a renderer as well as many other tools for measuring the simulated light levels. It uses ray tracing to perform all lighting calculations, accelerated by the use of an octree data structure.

DAT format description

Category: Data files

Application: Radiance

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.rad

Radiance Scene

.pov

POV-Ray Raytracing Format

.oct

Radiance Octree

.cal

Radiance Function File

.zbf

Radiance Z-buffer File

.pov-state

POV-Ray State File

✅ eM Client Database

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is an eM Client Database. eM Client is a Windows based e-mail client for sending and receiving e-mails, managing calendars, contacts, and tasks.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: eM Client

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.dat-wal

eM Client WAL Data

.dat-shm

eM Client SHM Data

.zbfx

eM Client Backup Data

✅ SVAL Frequency-time Spectrogram Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is an SVAL Frequency-time Spectrogram Data. The SVAL program is an interactive software for frequency-time analysis of dispersed signals of any dynamic and frequency range.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: SVAL

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.zal

SVAL Backup Data

.rdg

SVAL Ridge Data

.itp

SVAL Interpolated Data

.spc

SVAL Spectrogram Data

.trc

SVAL Truncated Data

.all

SVAL All Signal Data

✅ Shareaza Thumbnail Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Shareaza Thumbnail Data. Shareaza is an open source P2P file-sharing client that connects to four modern networks: G2, Gnutella, eDonkey2000 and BitTorrent.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: Shareaza

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.torrent

BitTorrent Meta File

.sks

Shareaza Skin

.csa

CrystalPlayer Skin

.vp5

CrystalPlayer Video

.mls

CrystalPlayer Playlist

.zed

BitTorrent Metainfo

✅ SWAT Database

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a SWAT Database. SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) is an hydrology model with the following components: Weather, surface runoff, return flow, percolation, evapotranspiration, transmission losses, pond and reservoir storage, crop growth and irrigation, groundwater flow, reach routing, nutrient and pesticide loading, water transfer.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: SWAT

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.hru

SWAT HRU Data

.gw

SWAT Groundwater Input Data

.rch

SWAT Reach Output Data

.wgn

SWAT Weather Generator Input Data

.cio

SWAT Master Watershed Data

.wwq

SWAT Watershed Water Quality Input

✅ SPOT Satellite Image Format Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a SPOT Satellite Image Format Data. SPOT is a commercial high-resolution optical Earth imaging satellite system operating from space.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: SPOT

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.spot

SPOT Satellite Image

.stx

SPOT Satellite Image Statistics Data

✅ Inno Setup Uninstall Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is an Inno Setup Uninstall Data. Inno Setup is a free installer for Windows programs.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: Inno Setup

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.isl

Inno Setup List

.fgl

Inno Setup Component Definitions Data

.iss

Inno Setup Script

✅ Celestia Binary Database

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Celestia Binary Database. Celestia is a 3D astronomy program created by Chris Laurel. The program is based on the Hipparcos Catalogue (HIP) and allows users to travel through an extensive universe, modeled after reality, at any speed, in any direction, and at any time in history.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: Celestia

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.cmod

Celestia Model

.celx

Celestia Script File

.xyzv

Celestia v1.6 Trajectory File

.xyz

Celestia Trajectory File

.dsc

Celestia Deep Space Catalog

.ssc

Celestia Solar System Catalog

✅ Minecraft Game Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Minecraft Game Data. Minecraft is a sandbox video game created by Swedish game developer Markus Persson and released by Mojang in 2011.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Game Data files

Application: Minecraft

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.mcgame

Minecraft Game Backup

.mcfunction

Minecraft Function File

.schem

Minecraft Schematic Data

.mclevel

Minecraft Game Level Data

.rsa

Minecraft Game Codesign Data

.bo3

Minecraft BO3 Object

✅ SimCity 4 Game Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a SimCity 4 Game Data. SimCity 4 (SC4) is a city-building, urban planning simulation computer game.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Game Data files

Application: SimCity 4

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.sgr

SimCity 4 Graphics Rules

.sc4model

SimCity 4 Model

.sc4desc

SimCity 4 Description

.tgi

SimCity 4 Type Group Instance Data

.sc4lot

SimCity 4 Lot Data

.exmp

SimCity 4 Cohort Data

✅ Windows Registry Hive Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Windows Registry Hive Data. The Registry database actually consists of a number of files that contain a subset of the Registry called a hive. A hive consists of one or more Registry keys, subkeys, and settings.

DAT format description

Category: Data files

Application: Microsoft Windows

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.log1

Windows Registry Hive Log

✅ GameMaker Studio Audio Data Package

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a GameMaker Studio Audio Data Package. GameMaker Studio is a game development tool, featuring a level editor, asset manager, code editor, and its own scripting language known as GameMaker Language (GML).

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Development files

Application: GameMaker Studio

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.gex

GameMaker Studio Extension

.gml

GameMaker Studio GML Script

.yyp

GameMaker Studio 2 Project

.gmez

GameMaker Studio Extension

.yyz

GameMaker Studio 2 Exported Project

.win

GameMaker Studio Game Asset Package

✅ Prince of Persia Game Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Prince of Persia Game Data. Prince of Persia is a platform game, originally developed by Jordan Mechner in 1989 for the Apple II.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Game Data files

Application: Prince of Persia

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

Prince of Persia on Wikipedia
RoomShaker

DAT related extensions:

.plv

Prince of Persia Single Level Data

✅ Alan IF Adventure Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is an Alan IF Adventure Data. Alan is a tool for creating works of Interactive Fiction, a.k.a text adventures. It is easy to use. It's focus has always been on the authoring aspects.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Game Data files

Application: Alan IF

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.a3r

Alan v3 Resource File

.a3c

Alan v3 Adventure Code

.alan

Alan v3 Source Code

.acd

Alan IF Adventure Code

✅ Unreal Tournament Game Data

.dat

Description:
The DAT file is a Unreal Tournament Game Data. Unreal Tournament is a first-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes.

The DAT format description is not yet available

Category: Game Data files

Application: Unreal Tournament

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

DAT aliases:

-

DAT related links:

-

DAT related extensions:

.archive

Unreal Tournament Localization Data

.unreal

Unreal Tournament Link Data

.umod

Unreal Tournament Mod Data

.version

Unreal Tournament Version Data

.ucl

Unreal Tournament Cache Data

.bin

Unreal Tournament Shader Cache

✅ Nero BackItUp Drive Image

.nda

Description:
The NDA file is a Nero BackItUp Drive Image. Nero BackItUp is a program for backing up and restoring data.

NDA format description

Category: Data files

Application: Nero BackItUp

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

NDA aliases:

dat

NDA related links:

-

NDA related extensions:

.loas

AAC Low Overhead Audio Stream

.nri

Nero ISO9660 CD-Rom Compilation

.nsd

Nero Super VideoCD Compilation

.nvc

Nero Vision Compilation

.nhv

Nero HD-Burn Video Compilation

.nhf

Nero HFS CD Compilation

✅ Tecplot ASCII Data

.tec

Description:
The TEC file is a Tecplot ASCII Data. Tecplot is an interactive plotting program for visualising and analysing engineering and scientific data.

The TEC format description is not yet available

Category: Data files

Application: Tecplot

Mime-type: application/octet-stream

Magic number: -

Magic string: -

Sample: -

TEC aliases:

dat

TEC related links:

-

TEC related extensions:

.ntb

Tecplot License Data

.lpk

Tecplot Layout Package

.mmb

Tecplot Data

⚠ Be careful with .dat files.

It's important to know that the .dat file extension can be used by various programs, not just the ones you expect. This includes potentially harmful software or malware that might create .dat files. Be cautious when dealing with .dat files from unknown sources.

🔄 .dat converters

The following softwares are capable of converting .dat files to other formats:

For example, using the softwares above, a .dat file can be converted into one of the following formats:

🚫 The .dat file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

🔴 Can't open a .dat file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Select an app to open this .dat file

It means that the operating system does not have a default app associated with the .dat file type. To resolve this issue and open the file, you can take the following steps:

• Right-click on the .dat file. A context menu will appear.
• From the context menu, select Open with. Windows will display a list of recommended apps.
• If the desired app is listed, select it from the provided options.
• If you cannot find the appropriate app, you may need to install software that supports the specific file type.

If you don't know how to change the default app for the .dat file, check the FAQ.

🔴 Can I change the extension of files?

Changing the filename extension of a file is not a good idea. The extension of a file serves as a hint to the operating system and various software programs about the type of data contained within the file. When you alter a file's extension, you essentially modify how software applications interpret and handle that file. Every file has a specific format, also known as its file type or file format. The problem is, changing the file extension does not change the file format.

If you have helpful information about the .dat file extension, write to us.