How to edit .dat files

[MirageAg99]

What software do I need to edit the .dat files? This is the 1st game i've wanted to edit stuff so I can input more teams. Thanks.

Microsoft Access or the free Open Office. Microsoft Access won't open the file just double clicking on it as .dat are general data files not asigned to any editor by default. To open it, right click with your mouse over the .dat file and choose "Open with". If Access is not in the "open with list", select the option "choose program" and then choose Microsoft Access.

Note: the right menu options names can be a bit different from what i wrote as my windows is in Spanish language and i just translated them for you.

[jobob]

Originally Posted by [Icy]

Microsoft Access or the free Open Office. Microsoft Access won't open the file just double clicking on it as .dat are general data files not asigned to any editor by default. To open it, right click with your mouse over the .dat file and choose "Open with". If Access is not in the "open with list", select the option "choose program" and then choose Microsoft Access.

Note: the right menu options names can be a bit different from what i wrote as my windows is in Spanish language and i just translated them for you.

I've never used Open Office before... all I see when I open the files are garbage characters or #### signs. Any advice for someone new to .dat editing?

[worst2first]

I'm having the same problem with Open Office. I open the file and get a line of gibberish. Any help would be appreciated.

[dp68]

I'd really like some help editing these files too. I cannot import them using Excel or any of the Office Suite. I don't seem to have Microsoft Access, honestly I have never heard of it.

Originally Posted by dp68

I'd really like some help editing these files too. I cannot import them using Excel or any of the Office Suite. I don't seem to have Microsoft Access, honestly I have never heard of it.

Of course Excell won't open it, you need Microsoft Access that is also into the Office suite. Else we have suggested already the free openoffice. You can also wait for Arlie 1.1 patch that will have a built in editor.

[flounder]

Here's how to open them using OpenOffice.

1. Go to Start-All Programs-OpenOffice.org 2.0-OpenOffice.org Base. That should open the Database Wizard.

2. Where it asks "What do you want to do?", select Connect to an existing database. In the pulldown menu, select Microsoft Access. Click the Next button.

3. Click the Browse button and find the database file you want to edit. By default, the dialog will only show files with extension ".mdb". To see files with extension ".dat" (the BBCF files), you must type "*.dat" into the "File Name" box.

4. Click Finish. A dialog will appear asking where you want to save the new database. This file is just a connection to the BBCF database so it doesn't matter what you name it or where you save it.

5. The database will be open now. Select the Tables option on the far left and double-click on a table to open it for editing.

[mh2365]

Originally Posted by flounder

Here's how to open them using OpenOffice.

1. Go to Start-All Programs-OpenOffice.org 2.0-OpenOffice.org Base. That should open the Database Wizard.

2. Where it asks "What do you want to do?", select Connect to an existing database. In the pulldown menu, select Microsoft Access. Click the Next button.

3. Click the Browse button and find the database file you want to edit. By default, the dialog will only show files with extension ".mdb". To see files with extension ".dat" (the BBCF files), you must type "*.dat" into the "File Name" box.

4. Click Finish. A dialog will appear asking where you want to save the new database. This file is just a connection to the BBCF database so it doesn't matter what you name it or where you save it.

5. The database will be open now. Select the Tables option on the far left and double-click on a table to open it for editing.

good help for a walkthrough and I got this far. How do you save it when you are done editing it? When I hit save it just saves it as the open document database not as the pstats.mdb? Also where on the table are the highschools?

[kybucki]

I am having the same problem

[mh2365]

It seems to save the pstats automatically with the save button but I still can't find the high schools

[kennywanchizoate]

MH

High schools are in a separate file called psetup, which also has the cities and some other information in it as well.

KennyWan

[mh2365]

Originally Posted by kennywanchizoate

MH

High schools are in a separate file called psetup, which also has the cities and some other information in it as well.

KennyWan

Thank you

[Green Caesar]

I have Access 97 and I am getting a message that the file is in an unrecognized database format.

I am trying to open Icy's 1.5 database

Originally Posted by Green Caesar

I have Access 97 and I am getting a message that the file is in an unrecognized database format.

I am trying to open Icy's 1.5 database

Access 97 is too old, you need a newer version to edit it.

[Colbster]

how new????