DAT File

What are DAT files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DAT file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your DAT files.

What is a DAT file?

DAT files have multiple uses, and Outlook Email in Rich Text Format (winmail.dat) is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Outlook Email in Rich Text Format (winmail.dat)

Sometimes you may receive an email attachment named winmail.dat and wonder what that is. You see it because the sender of the message used the Microsoft Outlook email client and sent the email in Rich Text Format, a format that allows different font sizes and colors.

Not all email clients understand this format, and in this case, the Rich Text formatted email message ends up as a winmail.dat file attached to the email.

Technically these files are called TNEF files, short for Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format, which is the name Microsoft used for the file format.

There are various stand-alone viewers available if your email client does not support winmail.dat files.

How to open DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

Programs that open Outlook Email in Rich Text Format (winmail.dat) files

Last updated: October 22, 2026

All known file formats using extension .DAT

While Outlook Email in Rich Text Format (winmail.dat) is a popular type of DAT-file, we know of 67 different uses of the .DAT file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Windows Registry Hive

Microsoft Windows uses a concept called the Windows Registry to store various configuration settings that affect how Windows and installed software works. The registry values are stored in different registry files, called Registry Hives. For example, the Registry holds information about which application you have selected to be the default opener for JPEG images.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Bitcoin data

The original Bitcoin client stores private key information in a file named wallet.dat. This file contains your private keys, public keys, the transactions related to your wallet, and other important data. If you have an HD wallet, it also includes the HD seed and the private key's derivation paths. Keep this file safe, as it contains your bitcoins.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

LabVIEW Binary Data Log

LabVIEW provides an easy-to-use application development environment designed specifically for the needs of engineers and scientists. Without any prior programming experience, you can use LabVIEW to take measurements from various devices and create custom software functionality.

Data captured by your application can be logged to files in various formats using built-in functions. The DAT format is more compact than a user-readable text format and can contain various data, e.g., temperature readings.

DAT opener for Windows

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

Surface-water Modeling System Dataset

The Surface-water Modeling System Dataset (with the .DAT extension) files are a type of data file. They're specifically used within the field of hydrodynamics, which means they help study how water behaves when it moves.

These .DAT files are typically used with a software tool called Surface-water Modeling System (SMS). Experts in the field of water studies - like hydrologists and aquatic scientists - use SMS to make sense of complex datasets about water flow and to map them out visually.

Imagine a scenario where you need to know how water will behave under certain conditions, like which direction it will flow if a dam breaks or how it will flow around a new bridge. That's exactly what this software and the .DAT files are used for.

Of course, the exact contents of a .DAT file can vary because they depend on what measurements have been taken. Generally, though, they contain information about things like water speed, depth, and direction.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

MicroStation Resource data

MicroStation is a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software used in the architectural and engineering industries to design structures and products in 2D and 3D. A resource is an element that can be used in such a drawing project.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

Clarion 2 Database

This file contains the data users have entered into a program developed in the Clarion programming language. Clarion is a development environment focused on creating database applications. Therefore, the database file is not used by Clarion itself, but one of the hundreds of programs developed using this programming language. Some viewers can display the content of any Clarion generated database, as the database format itself is standardized.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Runtime Software Compressed Disk Image

DriveImage from Runtime Software is used to create copies of an entire hard drive partition. A drive copy is saved as an XML file accompanied by a DAT file, and optionally a series of files named 001, 002, 003, etc., if you have selected to split the copy into multiple files of smaller size.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

CHEMICAL Molecule Data

CHEMICAL is a molecular modeling program for MS-DOS by Larry Puhl that bonds and places atoms that the user has selected from a Periodic Table. Its associated data files contain molecular data models.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Adobe Freehand Project

Freehand was a vector drawing program for Windows and Mac from Adobe, which acquired it from Macromedia. At the time, it was a market leader in vector drawing programs. The DAT file created by this program was a vector drawing project file.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Clrmamepro DAT / MAME Listinfo ROM info

This type of dat file contains information about an arcade machine ROM copy. The files contain, e.g., name of the game, manufacturer, size, checksums etc. The checksums can be used to verify that your copy of the ROM is complete and unaltered.

MAME is a Multi Arcade Machine Emulator that can run old arcade games on your computer.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified 2 DAT openers that are compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

DirTel Database

DirTel is an address book for MS-DOS, and the associated DAT file contains the addresses entered by the user.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

PasswordBox Encrypted Database

PasswordBox is a console-mode program that will keep all your passwords safe in an encrypted database protected by a master password. The database consists of a single .dat file.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

DVD Master Disc Control File

DDVID.DAT is one of several control files written to the area reserved for mastering content on a Master DVD to prepare pressing duplicates.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

GeoLite1 IP geolocation database

GeoLocation database from Maxmind. It contains mappings between IP-addresses and physical locations, so you can use a user's IP address to look up the user's country. Home pages often use it to enable specific behavior when a website visitor is from a specific country - e.g. block access, change language, or change currency.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

InnoSetup Uninstall Log

InnoSetup is a Windows installation program used by developers to create installation packages of their software. The uninstall log files contain information about which files must be removed if you decide to uninstall a software program.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

CardFile PIM data

Data file for the legacy Personal Information Manager software, CardFile PIM, for the Atari home computers.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

EasyRecovery saved recovery state

EasyRecovery from OnTrack is a software tool to recover data from crashed hard drives and solid-state disks. During the recovery process, it saves a state file so it knows which sections of the drive have been processed so far.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

Linux Kernel X86 Bootable

A Linux kernel is the "brain" of a Linux system. It is the main Linux operating system file that provides the low-level functions of the operating system.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

LocoScript Data

LocoScript was a word processor first developed for the Amstrad CPC 464 home computer in the late 1980s. Later, versions were made for MS-DOS. Documents saved by LocoScript used the .dat file extension.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Compass MSX-Assembler Data

We know that one DAT format is Compass MSX-Assembler Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Compressed Data

Compressed Data files marked by the signature "gepackt…" are installer payloads used by MAGIX software. They store compressed archives that MAGIX's installer splits into smaller data chunks so that installation can proceed step by step during the software setup. These files are not meant to be opened directly - MAGIX Installer software reads, decompresses, and extracts their contents as part of installing or updating MAGIX products.

MAGIX creates these files during its download-and-install process. The installer program writes them to temporary directories (often something like "MAGIX Downloads\Installationsmanager") where they're used only during setup. Once extraction is complete, the installer uses the decompressed content (such as program executables, resource files, or language packs) to build the final installed application.

A technical identifying feature of those files is a header at byte 0: the ASCII string "gepackt" followed by bytes 0x00 06. That signature distinguishes them from other formats using the same file extension.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Createc SPM Data

Createc SPM Data is a type of raw file produced by Createc scanning probe microscopy equipment. It captures direct measurement output (topography and associated signals) from a scan in high detail. The data are useful for later visualization, analysis, or conversion, typically using tools like Gwyddion.

This format is written by the Createc acquisition software that controls the SPM instrument. The file holds both parameter metadata (such as scan dimensions, piezo calibration constants, DAC gain/offset) and binary image data. The image data itself is stored as compressed 32-bit floating-point values before any further processing. Metadata section includes parameters like DAC_Type, ZPiezoconst, GainZ, image dimensions, which are needed to convert raw data to physical units like Angstroms or Volts. Files may also include spectra (multi-point measurements per pixel) following the topography channels.

Files in this format begin with a clear ASCII header. The first line or bytes include a tag such as "[Parameter]…" followed by "DAC-TypeCreatecSPMdata,32bitfloatdata,compressed". This signature starts at byte offset zero. When spectrum data are present, after the topography channels ("V, Z data") spectra are stored in four-byte float format. Calibration for converting from raw DAC units to physical units depends on settings in the metadata like piezo constants and channel gains.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

DKBtrace Scene

DKBtrace Scene files store 3D scene descriptions in plain ASCII text for the DKBtrace ray-tracing program, which was written by David K. Buck for the Amiga. They define objects, viewpoint/camera, lights, textures and transformations so that DKBtrace, via a command-line invocation, can render the scene into a 24-bit image.

These scene files are authored by the user (or by utilities) using DKBtrace's built-in scene description language (SDL). Typically the workflow is: write/edit the .DAT scene file in a text editor; then invoke DKBtrace as renderer, passing the scene file name. The program reads the file and produces an image. SDL supports primitives like spheres, planes, triangles, quadric solids; features such as constructive solid geometry (CSG); textures (wood, marble, checker etc.); lighting, reflection/refraction, etc.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Gaze Configuration

Gaze is a DOS-based graphical menu program by J. Schipperheijn. It provides a visual interface for tasks that are usually typed as commands.

Gaze .dat files store color configurations, menu item references, and other environment parameters. The program loads these details to display and handle menus as specified. Adjusting them changes the behavior of menu items and overall layout.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

HOLEN BIOS+CMOS Dump

HOLEN BIOS+CMOS Dump files store a full dump of the system BIOS firmware plus the CMOS settings as captured by the DOS-utility HOLEN, written by Veit Kannegieser. They capture the BIOS program code and the live CMOS RAM region which includes configuration data, hardware setup, and user BIOS settings.

The tool that creates these dumps runs under DOS, reads the BIOS from its non-volatile storage (usually an EEPROM or flash chip), reads the CMOS memory (the small battery-backed RAM used by BIOS to remember settings), and writes them together into one file. That file can be used for backup, analysis, or for restoring the BIOS plus saved CMOS settings.

The file begins with a distinctive ASCII signature: "BIOSABZUG+CMOSHolenVeitKannegieser…" (followed by "HOLENV.K.") right at the start of the file. That header, at offset zero, identifies the file as a HOLEN dump and is the main internal identifier.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

HPFS-Access DB

We know that one DAT format is HPFS-Access DB. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

IL2CPP Global Metadata

The IL2CPP Global Metadata file format is a unique file format used in Unity, a popular game development platform. It's like a recipe book for the game or application, containing the essential information defining how everything within the game works together.

IL2CPP stands for 'Intermediate Language To C++'. Any game built and published with Unity using IL2CPP technology will have this DAT file. It acts as a sort of translator, helping to convert the original game coding language into a language that's more efficient for the game's runtime operation, which is C++.

This DAT file contains global metadata, meaning it holds important 'global' or system-wide data about the game or app, like code structures, references, and other crucial information. All this information aids in optimizing the game's performance, making it run smoothly and efficiently, regardless of the system or device it's on.

While this file is instrumental in the functioning of the game, as a user you'll often never see it or need to interact with it directly. It's predominantly there for the game developers to help them create the best experience possible. So, in simple terms, you can imagine the DAT file as an instruction manual, filled with vital details about the game. It helps Unity translate the developer's creative vision into an actual game that you can play, and ensures that it runs optimally across different systems and devices.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

INSTALL Professional Project

These files contain project settings for the DOS program INSTALL Professional.

INSTALL Professional was a script-driven installation program designed for software developers distributing products on MS-DOS. Its primary goal was to make installing software as seamless as possible, even for novice users. By automating tasks like creating directories, copying files, and handling multiple disks, INSTALL Professional saved developers the time and effort of writing their own installation routines from scratch. Its robust error-handling system would detect issues - like a missing disk or a full hard drive - and guide end-users toward fixing them, ensuring that installations were both user-friendly and reliable.

A central feature of INSTALL Professional was its proprietary "Reduce" compression algorithm, used to shrink program files before distribution. This helped developers fit their software onto fewer disks and streamlined the installation process. The program also offered a library manager to combine multiple compressed files into a single archive and quickly "freshen" or update files when releasing new versions. This was particularly helpful for large-scale distribution, where managing many files across multiple disks or CD-ROMs could easily become cumbersome.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

Knowledge Dynamics Installer Project

We know that one DAT format is Knowledge Dynamics Installer Project. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Konpass MSX-Assembler Data

Konpass MSX-Assembler Data files store assembly source buffers and/or compiled object data used by the MSX assembler IDE originally known as Compass, now maintained as Konpass. These are authored by Compass or Konpass as part of assembling Z80 assembly programs for MSX computers. The format preserves things like source code (including proprietary "Asm" format and ASCII variants), editor buffers, and possibly compiled binary segments when output as ".DAT" from the IDE. The file allows Konpass/Compass to resume editing or to link source pieces together.

Files of this type are written and read by the Compass or Konpass assembler environment. When assembling or editing, the IDE may save changed source buffer contents or pre-compiled code in ".DAT" files so that these can be later concatenated or loaded as part of final builds. Often pairs of such files are concatenated (e.g. inl-tran.dat + inl-res.dat) to produce a runnable binary output (.COM). Thus the ".DAT" file acts as an intermediate or buffer storage container in the assembly workflow.

Internal format is proprietary, binary with embedded ASCII-signature headers. It begins with a signature like ".Konpass#" at offset 0, followed by text "(C)2022 by Konamiman… Based on Compass#" and older copyright marker "(C)1998 by Compjoetania TNG". Presence of strings like "DATfile" and "BASED ON COMPASS" identify it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

MADE Engine DB

The MADE Engine DB format is the database system used by the MADE engine within ScummVM for storing game data such as scripts, objects, variables, and game-state information. It is created by games built on the MADE engine (used by Activision among others) and read by ScummVM when running those games. The database holds all the content necessary for the game logic, dialogues, object definitions, and other dynamic data that the MADE engine interprets at runtime.

When a MADE-engine game is installed or set up, its game assets are compiled into a single database file. ScummVM opens this database to load objects (with their properties, flags, data fields), textual resources (dialogue, strings), variables, and the main code object index. During gameplay this database is accessed to fetch object definitions ("Object" classes), variable states, object properties, and to retrieve or update game-state as the player progresses. The data is not normally edited directly outside of the original game tools or ScummVM's own infrastructure.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Made4U Remote Codes Db / Programming Data

We know that one DAT format is Made4U Remote Codes Db / Programming Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

McAfee VirusScan Data

McAfee VirusScan Data files store virus definition information used by McAfee VirusScan to identify malware threats. The definitions include virus names, signatures for detecting viruses, and instructions (cleaning data) on how to remove or disinfect viruses once found. These files are produced by McAfee Labs and are updated regularly so the antivirus engine can recognize the newest threats.

Several different .DAT files of this format play distinct roles. The NAMES.DAT file holds the list of viruses and their names; SCAN.DAT contains the signature patterns used by the scanner to detect those viruses; CLEAN.DAT includes cleaning routines or data needed to repair files infected by known viruses. Friedman/McAfee's VirusScan creates these DAT files; the VirusScan engine reads them during scans. Emergency or rescue disks use special reduced-size versions prefixed with "EM" (for example EMSCAN.DAT, EMCLEAN.DAT, EMNAMES.DAT) for boot-sector virus detection.

These files appear in McAfee's installation directories. VirusScan Enterprise relies on them daily as its threat database; the engine will fail to detect any virus not present in the installed DAT files. For emergency boot disks, the EM-versions are copied and renamed without the "EM" prefix to serve the same purposes after booting the system from rescue media.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Micrografx Graph Data

We know that one DAT format is Micrografx Graph Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Microsoft Internet Explorer cache

The Internet Explorer web browser stores certain data on your PC to speed up the display of web pages. For example, if you revisit the same page, the web browser will only need to download the changed content and not, e.g., fonts and images that have not changed. This saves both bandwidth and time.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

MirandaIM database

Miranda IM was an instant messenger application for Windows with support for multiple messaging protocols. You could chat on ICQ, IRC, AOL, and many other platforms using this single application.

The database file contains the log/history of all your chats.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

Music Assistant Scale

We know that one DAT format is Music Assistant Scale. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

NetShield Virus Patterns

NetShield Virus Patterns files store the virus signature data used by the Network Associates / McAfee NetShield anti-virus software. They are produced by McAfee's definition-file update service and used together with the scanning engine to detect and identify known viruses, worms, trojans and similar malicious code.

These pattern files are updated frequently - typically every few weeks - to reflect newly discovered threats. Several DAT files work together: one holds detection signatures, another holds virus names, another data needed for cleaning infected files, and additional files may be included for polymorphic virus detection. The scanning engine reads these files to match against files on disk or memory to find infections.

Older versions of NetShield require that only recent DAT files are used, as older DATs may lack signatures for newer threats or may not be compatible with newer scan engine versions. These DAT file types include NAMES.DAT for virus naming information, SCAN.DAT for detection strings, CLEAN.DAT for removal/repair data.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Network Associates VirusScan Data

Network Associates VirusScan Data files are used by McAfee's VirusScan and VirusScan Enterprise antivirus products to store the signatures and related data needed to detect, identify, and remove known malware. These files are part of the product's detection definition system, updated regularly by McAfee Labs so that the scanning engine can compare the contents of files on a computer against the threat signatures held in the DAT files. Without current DAT data, new viruses or variants may go undetected.

These files are created and maintained by McAfee Security (originally Network Associates). Users obtain them via automatic or manual updates - often in ZIP or executable installers. Typical filenames include SCAN.DAT, NAMES.DAT, CLEAN.DAT, and optionally other DAT files such as WEBSCANX.DAT, INTERNET.DAT, MCALYZE.DAT or POLYSCAN.DAT, depending on product version. The files are read by VirusScan software during scanning and not manually edited.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Novell Librarian Data

We know that one DAT format is Novell Librarian Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Palm Desktop DateBook

Calendar database file used by Palm desktop software, a companion software for Palm Pilot handheld devices. This file contains a user's calendar entries and repeating events.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified one DAT opener that is compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

PCBoard Config Data

PCBoard Config Data is a configuration file used by the PCBoard bulletin-board system (BBS) software. It is written by the main PCBoard program (PCB.EXE) or its setup utility (PCBSetup), and holds all of the system's setup choices such as board paths, file locations, system-wide options, node-specific settings, and other parameters needed for operation. It defines how the BBS behaves: which files are used, which conferences are active, which display files to load, what ports and security policies are in place, etc.

Multiple copies of this configuration file are often used in a multi-node setup: each node may use its own file to allow node-specific settings like node number, serial ports, or local directories. Alternatively, several nodes may share one configuration file via the /FILE command-line switch to point all instances at the same file.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

RepiPack Archive

We know that one DAT format is RepiPack Archive. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

RIKA Firenet Firmware

RIKA Firenet Firmware is firmware used inside RIKA's FireNet module and USB-WiFi stick in pellet or combination stoves with touch displays (software version 2.x). It enables the stove to connect to RIKA's FireNet cloud platform, manage updates, handle WiFi setup, and provide networked control and monitoring features. The firmware is produced by RIKA (Innovative Ofentechnik GmbH) for their heating appliances.

The firmware is loaded into the FireNet communications module installed in the stove or in the external dongle used for remote access. It runs on hardware built around the ESP32-S3 chip, responding to communication via USB (USB CDC) and WiFi. Devices produce binary firmware image files for updating their onboard module. During an update, the module verifies the version, downloads the new firmware, and then restarts. Firmware versions are labelled in a numeric scheme like 2.27, 2.28, 2.29 etc. Users can update via the stove's touch display navigating menus selecting "UPDATE," or via firmware upgrade pages on RIKA's web platform.

Inside the firmware image, certain byte-level signatures serve to identify it. For example one signature is bytes 4 - 10 containing the ASCII string "MwLmfN" (hex 4D 77 4C 6D 66 4E) starting at offset 4. The file also contains many internal strings such as "TINYUSB DEVICE'123456'TINYUSB CDC'TINYUSB MSC'TINYUSB HID'TUSB_CDC", "RIKA-STOVE UPDATE SUCCESSFULLY DOWNLOADED. RESTART NOW.", "APPLICATION_FIRENET_ESP32-S3" and versions messages like "WIFI FIRMWARE VERSION", "RIKA FIRENET 2".

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Sea Graphics Viewer Data

Sea Graphics Viewer Data files support the data resource used by Sea Graphics Viewer, a DOS-based program by H. De Laat and B. Wakkee, used to display and convert graphics and animation files. They serve as internal data for Sea, storing font, icon, animation or GUI components that the viewer uses alongside its executable to render its own interface and support features like slideshow, previews and GUI elements. Sea Graphics Viewer was bundle-distributed with a file named SEA.DAT described as a "datafile" in its package.

The program that writes these files is Sea Graphics Viewer itself, supplied in a package containing SEA.EXE, SEA.DAT, and other supporting files. SEA creates or expects SEA.DAT at installation; users do not generate them while viewing ordinary graphic files like JPEGs or GIFs. Instead, SEA.DAT contributes reusable graphical data - fonts, buttons, artwork - for the viewer's menus, GUI and possibly animated elements. SEA.DAT is loaded by SEA; it is not typically edited by end-users.

Internally, SEA.DAT is identified by a signature: the file begins with bytes 0x4334211254453223 (ASCII "C4!.TE2#") at offset zero. It also contains recognizable ASCII strings such as GUIFONT'XV4, ABOUT., ANIME., ARROW., RIGHT., LEFT., SEAL. These mark specific sections or resources inside the datafile for the viewer's interface layout and animation behavior.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

SimRefinery Scenario

SimRefinery scenario files store predefined game setups for Maxis-Chevron's 1992 management simulation SimRefinery. These files capture whole refinery layouts, process units, storage tanks, product outputs, and financial targets so that players can run or replay specific refinery "scenarios" such as fixed challenge or tutorial states.

Created by SimRefinery's scenario editor or included in the original prototype game build, the files encode the refinery's configuration - what crude is fed, how the refinery processing units are arranged and connected, what tanks are present, and what products must be produced - along with economic/production metrics. During gameplay the engine reads these files to set up the simulation world, track performance, and enforce scenario-specific goals.

Files begin with a binary header signature matching the ASCII string "OBJDAT" at byte offset zero. Data includes names internal to refinery components (for example "FCC FEED HYDROFINER", "CATALYTIC REFORMER", "JET HYDROFINER", etc.), tank identifiers ("CRUDE TANK", "ALKYLATION PLANT", "GASOLINE BLENDER" and many others), component strings ("HYDROCRACKER", "SULFUR PLANT"), and labels for severity or cost metrics (for example "SEVERITY (OCTANE)", "COST($)"). These internal keywords are embedded in the file in ASCII among data fields.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

SoftAction Resource Data

SoftAction Resource Data is a proprietary binary format used by SoftAction's management system. It stores structured metadata and resource records managed through the RSC (Resource) module of the system. Files in this format are generated by the SoftAction Resource Management System, designed by a company or product named Maxidea. They serve to catalog, update, and version resource entries within environments controlled by that system.

SoftAction Resource Data files are written by the SoftAction/Maxidea system during routine resource management operations. They typically accompany resource collections and track updates, including metadata such as update dates, ownership, and version history. These files are read by the same management system tools to display, search, or modify resource metadata; they are not a generic document format and require the SoftAction software to interpret them correctly.

The format begins with a fixed header including the ASCII signature "(C) SoftAction 1996" followed by "RSC FILE, Latest Update Date:" at offset zero. Further into the file, after about 91 bytes, there is a similar marker "RSC Management System Designed By maxidea^^'" followed by a control character (0x1A) at the end of that header section.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Softdesk AdCADD Data

We know that one DAT format is Softdesk AdCADD Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

SoftICE Initialization Data

SoftICE initialization data files define how the SoftICE debugger should start up and what settings it should use automatically. These files are plain textual configuration files read by SoftICE at load time, primarily to set up window layouts, hotkeys, color schemes, and automatic initial commands. They allow a user to personalize the debugging environment without manually entering commands each time.

The file is produced and used by NuMega SoftICE (for DOS and for older Windows systems). It's written and edited by the user (or installer) as ASCII text. SoftICE parses it when launching, whether started from the command line or loaded via CONFIG.SYS; settings in the initialization file control configuration options, assign commands to function keys, and define an initialization command sequence.

Special configuration options include things like the keyword EXTENDED, which tells SoftICE to load directly into extended memory without displaying a warning message. Function key assignments are lines of the form F1 = "string", where the string may use special markers like ^ (to make commands invisible) and ; (to indicate a carriage return). The INIT = "… " line defines commands that execute automatically when SoftICE starts. This line usually ends with "X;" to exit the debugger unless additional startup behavior is desired.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Sound Images Sound Driver

Sound Images sound driver (gen.2) files are binary driver/audio bundles created by Tony Williams of the Sound Images team for DOS games around 1992 - 1993. They combine playback code, music tracks and sound effects intended for use with FM/OPL2 sound cards (such as AdLib), allowing the game engine to drive sound through a dedicated interrupt-based interface.

These files are produced by compressing the raw driver data and audio content, then included in the game's data directory under names like "ADLIB.DAT". At runtime these files are decompressed into memory, then a segment is allocated, an interrupt vector is set to point to the driver entry point, and subsequent music/effect commands are issued via software interrupts much like AdLib sound drivers. In games such as Lemmings, the decompressed driver includes not only the playback engine but also track titles and various strings identifying Sound Images, Tony Williams, and Sound Driver / Music / FX. Much of the structure is similar across different game versions; compression schemes are shared among Holiday Lemmings, Oh No! More Lemmings, etc.

Internally the file begins with a signature that is recognizable in hexadecimal. At offset 0 the header contains the ASCII text "Sound Images Generation 2 sound driver (c) 1992/93 Tony Williams / Sound Images" preceded by some padding bytes and followed by other identifying data.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Spectre 3D Model/texture Data

Spectre 3D Model/texture Data is a file format used by the 1991 video game Spectre to store its 3D models and texture references. The format is written by the Spectre game program; it holds meshes (models) of objects visible in gameplay and the associated texture names that identify which images should be applied to those meshes. These files are not general-purpose model formats but specific to Spectre's internal asset pipeline.

Files in this format organize object names (like WINDMILL BLADE, COLUMN, PLAYER) and texture identifiers (including entries such as "*.TEX" or "NOTEXTURE") to correspond with in-game graphics assets. These strings appear within the file body, helping the game engine to match each model component with its visual surface. The purpose is to link model geometry to the correct texture mapping so the game can display objects correctly textured.

Internally, the file begins with the ASCII signature ;PALETTE at offset 0x00. It also contains multiple recognizable model‐ and texture‐name strings (such as "PLAYER", "RED BASE", "GRENADE", etc.), and references to files with the ".TEX" suffix. These textual identifiers serve as markers for palette definitions or texture resources.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

StarCalc Data

StarCalc Data files are used by StarCalc, a compact planetarium program for Windows 9x (by Alexander E. Zavalishin) that generates star maps showing celestial bodies and star catalogs for any observer location and time. These files hold data used by StarCalc for things like star catalogs, deep-sky objects or related sky-mapping databases.

These data files are written (exported or maintained) by StarCalc itself or by plug-ins supplying astronomical catalog data for StarCalc. They are read by StarCalc at runtime to load star information, catalog entries, magnitude/position data and object names so that the sky map displays correctly.

Files begin with a distinctive ASCII header. At offset 0, the first bytes are SCSAOCOMPACTFILE which denotes "StarCalc compact file" used within the program to identify its own binary star/celestial database.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

StarForce protected data

StarForce is a copy protection system. It stores one or more files in a single "container" that gets protected by their proprietary system. Software developers embed part of the StarForce protection into their application, enabling it to read the data from the protected container file if the user has entered the correct license key. Without the key, the protected data cannot be read.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

Stowaway Archive

Stowaway Archive files are backup archives produced by the Stowaway program, a DOS utility written by Patri-Soft to collect files and directories into a single compressed container for safe storage or restoration. Records held inside such an archive preserve directory paths and file attributes, allowing files to be restored to their original layout on the file system.

Creation of a Stowaway Archive is handled entirely by the Stowaway tool under MS-DOS. Once built, these archives are primarily read back by the same application to extract the contents. The archive uses its own compression/archival scheme rather than relying on external compression libraries or standard formats like ZIP or TAR.

A technical signature appears near the start of the file: the ASCII string ".ASTARTqw" at offset byte 1, and the presence of the substring "STARTQW" somewhere in the stream. These markers identify the archive as a Stowaway format file.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

The Chessmaster Game Data

We know that one DAT format is The Chessmaster Game Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

The Norton AntiVirus Virus Signatures

The Norton AntiVirus Virus Signatures format stores the set of virus‐recognition patterns (definitions) used by Norton AntiVirus for detecting malware. These files are produced by Symantec's signature‐update tools (for example, via LiveUpdate or Intelligent Updater) and are consumed internally by the Norton AntiVirus scan engine as part of its definition database. They are essential for allowing Norton to match known virus signatures during scans.

Multiple files with names like "VIRSCAN.DAT", "VIRSCAN1.DAT", "VIRSCAN2.DAT", etc., constitute partitions of the full signature set. There is also often a companion file "VIRSCAN.INF" that may contain metadata or mapping information. The updater delivers these DAT files (frequently compressed inside a package such as VIRSCAN.zip), which are unpacked and stored in the VirusDefs folder of Norton's installation directory.

Inside each DAT file are binary signature entries that the antivirus engine uses at runtime to compare against files being scanned. Norton's system checks authenticity before applying updates; files are signed and delivered in packages using tools like Intelligent Updater, with metadata like version numbers, dates, and digital signatures to secure them.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

The Software Toolworks' Hyperbase Data

We know that one DAT format is The Software Toolworks' Hyperbase Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

TouchBase Contacts DB

TouchBase Contacts DB is a binary contact management database produced by Raima Data Manager version 3.21A. It is used to store personal contact records - names, addresses, company, various phone numbers, custom fields, dates, and notes - in a structured internal database. It is produced by software that uses Raima's engine to manage address book data, not by the engine itself alone.

The content consists of a list of contact records, each containing standard address book fields such as First Name, Last Name, Salutation, Address 1 & 2, City, State, ZIP Code, Country, Company, Title, along with optional or custom fields like Custom1 - Custom6, Number1/Phone1 & Number2/Phone2, Check1 - Check4, Date1 & Date2, Unique ID, and a Notes field. It is intended for use by the program that created it (often a contact management app) to add, retrieve, modify, or display contact information.

Internally the file includes identifiable signatures and strings that allow recognition and parsing; for example, it contains the ASCII signature "RaimaDataManagerVersion 3.21A" embedded at offset 16, and includes field-label strings such as "FIRST NAME", "LAST NAME", "CONTACT", "UNIQUE ID", "COMPANY", "PHONE 1", etc. These markers help tools or the owning application identify the format and interpret individual fields.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Track Attack Track Data

Track Attack Track Data files hold definitions of racecourse tracks for the 1983 arcade game Track Attack, created by Ramarc. They define the layout of each track including boundaries, surfaces, and graphical elements. The game uses these files to load track definitions in order to display and race on them.

Files are produced by the game's level or track editor tool (or extracted from the original arcade ROM) and are loaded at runtime by Track Attack to instantiate track geometry and visuals. Within the game's internal workflow, a track definition file is parsed to interpret where walls go, how track surfaces are arranged, and which graphical assets to apply in different areas of the track.

These files begin with a signature in ASCII: the header starts at offset 0 with "RAMRACERGAMEDATAFILE" followed by dashes, then "Trackdefinitions:DATA\TRACK\". This signature helps the game identify valid track definition files before parsing the rest of the content.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

TurboActivate Licensing Info

TurboActivate Licensing Info files act as readonly product-version descriptor files used by the TurboActivate system from wyDay (LimeLM). Each file contains information that enables the software to recognize its specific version, verify product keys, and check cryptographically signed activation data locally without needing to re-download metadata.

These files are produced from the vendor's online dashboard: when a developer defines a product version in LimeLM, they generate a corresponding file to distribute with their application. The application's TurboActivate library reads this file at runtime in order to confirm the version GUID, verify licenses, and enforce activation logic. No license or user-specific data (like activation status) is written into this file.

Internally the file reaches the local system as a static data blob. It begins with the ASCII signature TAPDFV1 placed at byte offset zero, which identifies it precisely as a TurboActivate "product details" file.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Uropa2 Operation Data

Uropa2 Operation Data files are binary data files used by the game Uropa² (released in 1997 by Vulcan Software / Austex Software) to store operational information such as mission orders or game-state operational parameters. These files are generated by the game itself and read by the game during play to reconstruct mission-related data. The contents are specific to Uropa2's internal operation logic and are not general-purpose archives or text logs.

These files are created when the game saves or processes "operation" elements - such as mission maps, objectives, or equipment deployment status - and are loaded by the Uropa2 engine during gameplay or mission loading. They are not meant to be manually edited, and the game software interprets their contents to determine what operations are available or active within the game universe at a given moment.

Internally, operation data files begin with a fixed byte signature: at offset 0 there is ASCII "FLS0", followed by null or specific reserved bytes; further into the file, there appears the string "Data/Operations/fs" which indicates the directory or section named Operations. The file also contains ASCII strings "OPERATIONS", "DATA" and the extension ".DAT" within its data. These identifiers allow game tools or libraries doing file classification to reliably recognize Uropa2 operation data among other DAT files.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

VideoCD MPEG

MPEG encoded video stream in a RIFF container used in VideoCDs.

Programs that open these DAT files

We have identified 2 DAT openers that are compatible with this specific type of DAT file.

Windows boot log data

When a Windows PC starts (boots), Windows will log data about the boot process to a log file. This file will help resolve startup problems as the administrator will be able to see how far in the startup process Windows came before a problem occurred.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Yu Gi Oh! Data

Yu Gi Oh! Data files store game assets for the PC game Yu Gi Oh! Power of Chaos, packaged into a single archive. Such a file named data.dat holds graphics, text, cursors, and other non-audio content; a companion file named voice.dat holds all speech, sound effects, and background music.

These archives use a simple virtual file system. After the header, there is a table listing every internal file: each entry includes an encrypted 256-byte file name, the offset where that file's data begins, and its size (twice in two identical fields). After that table, actual file data blocks follow one after another.

Files names in the table are encoded: each byte has its high and low 4-bit halves swapped (a 4-bit rotation left, done four times total equals a 4-bit rotation right to decode). Unused name bytes are padded with zeroes.

Files begin with a fixed ASCII signature in the first eight bytes: the characters KCEJYUGI. Immediately after is a 4-byte unsigned integer giving the number of files in the archive.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Zulu BPM Library

Zulu BPM Library files are used by Zulu DJ Software, published by NCH Software, to store metadata about audio tracks in the user's library including beats per minute, volume gain settings, offset data and file paths. These files record information that helps Zulu display, sort and play audio tracks consistently, particularly after edits to BPM or volume or when tracks are added or rescanned.

These files are written and read by Zulu DJ software itself. When a music file is analyzed - either automatically during import or manually by the user - for its tempo, start offset or volume values, these settings are saved into the library file so that Zulu can recall them the next time it loads the track. Other programs are not known to write or reliably read this format.

Files of this format begin with the ASCII text "FILEPATH=" at the very start of the file. They also include several keywords such as USER_MODIFIED_VOLUMEGAIN, USER_VOLUMEGAIN, USER_MODIFIED, USER_OFFSET, SAMPLERATE, VOLUMEGAIN, USER_BPM, and OFFSET which identify specific stored values like custom BPM, gain adjustments, and the sample rate at which a track was processed.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Zygo MetroPro SPM Data

Zygo MetroPro SPM Data files store measurement results from the MetroPro interferometric surface profiling system. They begin with a binary header created when measurement data are saved as "Binary Data File (MetroPro .dat format)" from the Save Data command. The file contains raw or processed optical measurements including intensity and phase (connected phase) matrices. Its purpose is to hold full measurement datasets produced by MetroPro software, for later analysis, conversion, or export to other formats.

These files are written by Zygo MetroPro software after capturing interferometric data. The workflow typically is: MetroPro acquires data with its instruments (optical profilers, Fizeau interferometers, etc.), then when Save Data is selected, it emits one of these binary .dat files. Later tools or users convert or import them for display, post-processing, or exporting intensity or phase information and additional measurement metadata. At least one of intensity or phase datasets is always present.

Technically, the file begins with a header that includes metadata such as header format, software version, image dimensions, origins, number of bytes for intensity and phase data, comment, timestamps, among many parameters. Data fields are stored in big-endian form (most significant byte first). Following the header are blocks of intensity data (if present), then phase data (if present), in a row-major order starting at top-left. Floating-point metadata use IEEE format; integer data for matrices may be 32-bit signed. A distinguishing byte signature is 0x881B036F (at offset 0), which corresponds to Magic Number for header format 1.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

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