I just rec'd a contract on an apartment in Italy that was sent with a .dat file. How do you open this? Everything I've tried to open it with give me gobblygook!!

Try MicroSoft "Notepad." It's usually under Start/Programs/Accessories.

When it's open click the pull-down "format" and select the "word wrap" option. This keeps the sentences from stringing out so far to the left.

Hi anavert,
Were you expecting this attachment?
I had a quick google and came up with this site
http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2...fsrc=rss-howto

Hope it helps, Microsoft answer of getting them to resend in a common format seems to be the answer to be.
However I bet there is someone with a better answer

Goos luck

Muck

I tried opening it in "Notepad" but still not readable. The problem isn't the wraparound. It's readiting it at all. I also tried all the possibilities in Word---European, etc. Nothing.

.dat files are used by many programs including Microsoft Outlook (not Outlook express). My guess is that if the filename was winmail.dat that it's from Outlook. It usually contains formatting info such as font size, color, etc. and likely does not contain any useful or relevant info about your rental contract.

If you can't read it with Notepad, Wordpad or Word, I'd suggest getting rid of it.

A .dat file can be a registry file . . if it is exicuted, it could alter your system . . although it should ask if you want to merge the file into your registry . . I'd delete that file

Rich

Hi ana,

I agree. Don't open the .dat file.

PS,

This will tell you about .dat files.

http://www.pchell.com/support/winmaildat.shtml

I suggest that you write back to the apartment manager and ask for the contract to be sent via PDF. That seems to be universal.
good luck!
carol / Brahmama

The problem with pdf is that not everyone knows how (or is equipped) to make them. Rich Text Format files that Wordpad produces are as close to universal as most people (using Windows) can get.

See if your correspondent can Save As .rtf