Probably an easy question but I have a file .dat that I can't open. Any ideas how I can open it???

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Answers

Lots of ways.... but it really depends on what you expect to be in it?

You can associate it with a particular application by going into Windows Explorer and selecting View/Option/File Type and adding it as a new type or the easier less messy way would be to open the application you want to view/play it in and select File Open and navigate to the file....

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Thanks Gav, but I'm not getting far fast. I went into Windows explorer but I can't change it. It's someones entry into the competition on the Gallowgate, any more ideas?.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Have you tried just opening it in Notepad? or renaming it as a .txt file and seeing what's in it?

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Okiay, I'm thick I know but how do I rename it to a .txt file?

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Select it in Windows Explorer, right click on it and select rename....delete the .dat bit and type .txt there....

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

It will let me rename it but not the.DAT bit I now have a file that says entry.txt but is still a .dat when I look into the properties.

I hat computers at times :-)

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Kegsy
Open My Computer then navigate to the folder where the file is. RIGHT mouse click the file icon and you should get a pull down where one of the options is Rename. This should let you overtype the original name with a new name, but make sure you hit Return/Enter when you've finished typing the new name.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

It let's me rename the name but not the type of file it is. ie I've just renamed it to f****r.xt bit in the properties its f***~1.dat!

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

I sorted it. Thanks for your help. I went in to DOS and renamed it to a .txt file that way. Couldn't do it in Windows for some unknown reason.

Thanks again for your help

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2000

Kegs - for future reference in Windows you need to go to explorer and then chose View/options and uncheck the (defaulted as checked) hide file extensions for known types. Now in the Explorer you can see and change the extension.
Otherwise as you well know you just change the name to name.something.actualextension (eg update.txt.dat instead of update.dat).
You're not trying to open the dat file which resides on everyones PC that tells system administrators which mucky (and non mucky) sites you've been on are you? You can delete your temp files and history but you can't take away the IS departments ability to get you sacked for non corporate surfing.

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

Thanks Scratchy, I'll bear that in mind. It was from a form from thegallowgate.com and for some reason it became a .dat file. Anyway, how come you haven't entered the predictions competition?

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000

I'll enter in a bit - I'm off on holiday for about 3 weeks on thursday and have loads of work to fudge do...A fantasy Football competition if I can find a hosting company where asp's work for starters - a bit like the Euro2000 one - but with a friendlier interface (no email to me forms for a start which loads of buggers had problems with).

-- Anonymous, August 01, 2000