Opening a .dat file extension

[ElmerFudd]

Hello, I was trying to open a file that was sent to me by an Outlook user and it seems that I cannot view it once I downloaded it. It tries to open it with another application. I tried NOTEPAD but it is gibberish, also MS Word wont able to open it. She told me that it is a .doc file, why it turns out to be a .dat file.

[mpc]

The problem is due to the fact that the sender is using Rich Text formatting, which can cause problems with non-Microsoft email programs. Tell the sender to turn of Rich Text formatting when sending to you.

[ElmerFudd]

Thank you for the reply. How can they turn off this Rich Text Formatting. They are new to the internet and first time to use a computer. lol

[mpc]

I don't know what version they have, but they're all similiar(I'm using 2002). From within Outlook, have them go to the Tools menu, then select options, then select the "Mail Format" tab, then on the drop down menu select either "html" or "plain text" rather than rich text.

Tools>Options>Mail Format Tab

[ElmerFudd]

Excellent! I will now copy this information and send it. Thanks again.

[Welshjim]

As far as I know, .dat files are data files and, while they can be opened in Wordpad (or other editors), they, indeed, contain gibberish (code) which the ordinary PC user cannot use or make sense of.

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Jim
WIN98, IE6, cable,
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm

[Buffalo]

I believe that .dat files can contain viruses. I would save that file to a folder and then scan it with your antivirus software.