How can i read database file which is with .dat Extension?

Malvik Bhavsar

11y24.6kDatabases & DBA

14 Replies

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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
Ohkee....thank you all for reply...
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Vulpes11y ago
Well, as we have no idea how to read the binary format used by the .dat file, I don't think you have any choice but to export it to a CSV file first.

Even then you might have a struggle reading it unless you know (from documentation or otherwise) exactly what each field represents.
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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
Yes, PMS export report as CSV file but i need get data automatically using scheduler in my application. so....
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Vulpes11y ago
Can the PMS export data as a text file?

Why do you need to read the file outside the PMS in any case?
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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
Hello Saumitr, Actually this *.dat file is one of the PMS(patient management system) software database file and yes i can open file in notepad but there are some readable data and many symbols mixing so i could not find/read exactly data.
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Saumitr Sharma11y ago
i)Can you open .Dat file in note pad ?
ii) How .dat file is created?
iii) Basically, a DAT file can be anything from a standard CSV (comma delimited data-file) to a proprietary binary file. From my own experience, I have seen .dat files (and .data files, used interchangeable) be used to store sets of class objects from specific applications, to images, to full in-house low-level databases.

iv)Open up the .dat file in Textpad,

It may contain SQL scripts to create the required databse objects that you can apply to your database. Check that the scripts are safe to run and run them against your dev server.

Or it may contain table data in a delimmted form that you can import in SQL server.

Either way have a look at the contents of the file to see what to do.

v)Since it is a *.dat file, it's not likely to be a SQL Server Backup, but it could be since SQL does not "require" a backup extension for the file (even though it makes it easier :D)

As suggested earlier, I would try opening the file in notepad or wordpad. A dat file might also be something from Excel for all we know. In any case, it is unlikely to be a database that someone just detached and forwarded along for you to attach to your server.

You might suggest to whomever sent you the file to try taking a backup of the database, assuming one exists, and send you that file to work with the data.
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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
Hello Pradeep,
It's not working. and i don't know what the databse it is.
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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
ohke..i will check on monday and then reply to this works or not.....
Thank you Pradeep
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Pradeep Shet11y ago
Dont change the extension, it wont work..I said just select all files from dropdown
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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
yes, i did change extension.dat to .bak and try to restore database but it's say invalid bak file.
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Pradeep Shet11y ago
Have you tried selected all files instead of bak files in dropdown available in Restore Database wizard?
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Malvik Bhavsar11y ago
Yes, exactly pradeep
Any idea about this?
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Vulpes11y ago
To be able to read any database file, you need to know which database product created it in the first place.

Off hand I can't think of any database product which uses a standard extension of .dat and it might just be a simple text or CSV file.

I'd try opening the file in notepad. If it's readable text, then you should be able to load it with a line such as:

string[] lines = System.IO.File.ReadAllLines("somefile.dat");

However, if it's just gibberish then it will be a binary file written in a proprietary format and you'll need to try and find out which database product created it to have any hope of reading it.
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Pradeep Shet11y ago
Hi,
Do you mean you want to restore the database? Then while restoring select all files from dropdown instead of bak file.
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