You can use the Notepad program on your Windows 7 computer to create DAT files, but you cannot open an Excel file in Notepad without first saving it as a CSV file. The CSV format is a plain-text document type that separates values with commas, which allows you to preserve some of the Excel formatting while still being able to view the file in plain-text editors. Your converted DAT file will then prove accessible in the program that requires that format.
Step 1
Double click to open your Microsoft Excel 2010 file.
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Step 2
Click the "File" tab in the upper-left corner, then select "Save As."
Step 3
Click the drop-down menu to the right of "Save As Type" and select "CSV (Comma Delimited)."
Step 4
Click the "Save" button, click "OK" to save the active sheet, then click "Yes" to keep the worksheet in CSV format.
Step 5
Right click the CSV file you just created, click "Open With" and select "Notepad."
Step 6
Click "File" at the top of the window, then click "Save As."
Step 7
Click the drop-down menu to the right of "Save As Type" and choose "All Files."
Step 8
Click inside the "File Name" field and add ".dat" to the end. For example, if your filename is "xxxxxx," modify it so it reads, "xxxxxx.dat."
Step 9
Click the "Save" button.
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