Chip,
Most likely, that dat file is simply a collection of information
that's used and read when you're on the site/forum/whatever where you
got the photo. Probably contains the "room" and so on configurations.
It's NOT going to be a picture, but when at the place you got the
picture for viewing, it's probably instructions to the server about
how/where to get the picture from.
It *might* be a simple text file. You can always try opening it with
NotePad to look at it if you're curious, but DO NOT make any changes to
it, in ANY WAY. By itself, it is useless to you 99% of the time.
When you close Notepad, if it asks you to save, say NO, and just
exit. Otherwise it could destroy the integrity of the file.

dat = data, so in one way or another, it holds data for something. But
it's a commong thing, so may or may not be a text file or any
language/program you have on your computer. The users are never
expected to directly use a dat file.

HTH

Twayne


> I don't know. We created a customized room in the Internet, saved it
> to a file (no choice of extensions), found where it was stored, and
> it was a .dat file. Now I can't open it. Thanks.
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
>> What is a Photo, the .dat file? If so why does it have a .dat
>> extension?
>>
>> --
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> Windows Desktop Experience
>>
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty
>> of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the
>> accuracy, reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall
>> not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential
>> damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, information
>> or opinions expressed in this mail/post..
>>
>>
>> "Chip" <Chip@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:A41955C8-7FAE-4EFB-B5EC-369267D5ABC9@microsoft.com...
>>> This is a photo. I tried the program recommended on the website by
>>> Kenneth
>>> and it didn't work.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "HeyBub" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Chip wrote:
>>>>> I am not sure this is the correct discussion group to ask, but
>>>>> does anyone know what program opens a .dat file ???
>>>>
>>>> A program belonging to the same suite of programs that created the
>>>> file.
>>>>
>>>> "DAT" usually means "data" and the format of data can be anything.
>>>> The layout of a payroll file will differ significantly from a list
>>>> of golfer handicaps.

> I went to the website http://filext.com/file-extension/DAT and
> most of the info was from a company called FILExt. I downloaded a
> free trial of their software and it open it in 'gobbly-gook' fashion.
>
> This file was created on the Internet which showed a room and you
> could change color of paint, and other stuff. We printed it. It
> worked. It also asked if we wanted to print it to a file. We did,
> and it created a .dat file.

There is your answer: It holds the information needed to recreate that
room, etc., next time you go back to the site.

HTH



>
> Thanks for your help and staying with me.
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:33:03 -0700, Chip
>> <Chip@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I am not sure this is the correct discussion group to ask, but does
>>> anyone know what program opens a .dat file ???
>>
>>
>> There's no answer to that question. Unlike a file type such as .doc
>> or ..xls, .dat files can be created by several different
>> applications and it is not a standard format. Where did you find
>> this file, and what else do you know about it? Do you know what
>> program created it?
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Chip" <Chip@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsEDC12A2-F3F1-48BE-9B4D-F511E61F5092@microsoft.com...
>
> This file was created on the Internet which showed a room and you could

"The Internet" is BIG. Which website is it?

> change color of paint, and other stuff. We printed it. It worked. It
> also
> asked if we wanted to print it to a file. We did, and it created a .dat
> file.

So the dat file has print job in it (perhaps in binary format). The closest
thing you can do is to send .dat file content to the printer. If you expect
to open it and 'see' something on your monitor, I highly doubt that's
possible. You may be able to see garbage characters on your monitor though.

"Twayne" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:OGsDIza7IHA.3696@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> I went to the website http://filext.com/file-extension/DAT and
>> most of the info was from a company called FILExt. I downloaded a
>> free trial of their software and it open it in 'gobbly-gook' fashion.
>>
>> This file was created on the Internet which showed a room and you
>> could change color of paint, and other stuff. We printed it. It
>> worked. It also asked if we wanted to print it to a file. We did,
>> and it created a .dat file.
>
> There is your answer: It holds the information needed to recreate that
> room, etc., next time you go back to the site.
>
> HTH

Wouldn't that be the result of "saving" your preferences instead of
"printing" to a file? Sounds like you've been to this mysterious "internet
room". What is it?

WordPerfect creates .dat files. A .dat file holds the records ("data
source") that will be merged into a "form" file.

If it's truly a WordPerfect .dat file, then Excel should be able to open it
as well.

Jeannine

I have a movie that is a dat file. Windows media player plays it.

"Jeannine" <jeannine@wfleague.org> wrote in message
news:eeXmFPb7IHA.4864@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> WordPerfect creates .dat files. A .dat file holds the records ("data
> source") that will be merged into a "form" file.
>
> If it's truly a WordPerfect .dat file, then Excel should be able to open
> it as well.
>
> Jeannine
>

Richard wrote:
> I have a movie that is a dat file. Windows media player plays it.
>

That's different. You have a program to which you feed a file. If the
program can understand the contents of the file it matters not what the name
might be.

Here, the OP has a file and wonders what program can read it.