This wikiHow teaches you how to convert a Microsoft Excel (. XLS) file to the. DAT format on a Windows computer. You'll need to convert the. XLS file to a. CSV (comma separated values) format first, then convert it to a. DAT file through an application like Notepad.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Converting an Excel Document Into a. CSV File
![Convert Excel to Data Step 1 Convert Excel to Data Step 1](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-1-j.webp)
Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel
This application is in the application group " Microsoft Office " in the segment " All Apps ” in the "Windows"/"Start" menu.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 2 Convert Excel to Data Step 2](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-2-j.webp)
Step 2. Click the File menu
It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 3 Convert Excel to Data Step 3](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-3-j.webp)
Step 3. Click Open
![Convert Excel to Data Step 4 Convert Excel to Data Step 4](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-4-j.webp)
Step 4. Click the file you want to convert
The file will open in an Excel window.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 5 Convert Excel to Data Step 5](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-5-j.webp)
Step 5. Click the File menu
![Convert Excel to Data Step 6 Convert Excel to Data Step 6](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-6-j.webp)
Step 6. Select Save as…
![Convert Excel to Data Step 7 Convert Excel to Data Step 7](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-7-j.webp)
Step 7. Open the folder where you want to save the file
![Convert Excel to Data Step 8 Convert Excel to Data Step 8](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-8-j.webp)
Step 8. Click the “Save as type” drop-down menu
A list of file types will open.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 9 Convert Excel to Data Step 9](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-9-j.webp)
Step 9. Select CSV (Comma delimited)(*.cvs)
This way, you can create a file that can be converted to the. DAT format.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 10 Convert Excel to Data Step 10](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-10-j.webp)
Step 10. Type in a file name
Enter a name in the "File name" field. If you want to use an existing name, skip this step.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 11 Convert Excel to Data Step 11](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-11-j.webp)
Step 11. Click Save
A confirmation message will be displayed.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 12 Convert Excel to Data Step 12](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-12-j.webp)
Step 12. Click OK
The. CSV file will be saved and ready to be converted.
Part 2 of 2: Converting. CSV Files Into. DAT Format
![Convert Excel to Data Step 13 Convert Excel to Data Step 13](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-13-j.webp)
Step 1. Press Win+E key
A File Explorer window will open.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 14 Convert Excel to Data Step 14](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-14-j.webp)
Step 2. Visit the folder where the. CSV file is stored
Don't click the file once the folder is open; just let the folder show on the screen.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 15 Convert Excel to Data Step 15](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-15-j.webp)
Step 3. Right-click the file you want to convert
![Convert Excel to Data Step 16 Convert Excel to Data Step 16](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-16-j.webp)
Step 4. Select Open with…
A list of applications will be displayed.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 17 Convert Excel to Data Step 17](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-17-j.webp)
Step 5. Click Notepad
The file will be opened in the Notepad application.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 18 Convert Excel to Data Step 18](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-18-j.webp)
Step 6. Click the File menu
It's in the upper-left corner of the Notepad window.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 19 Convert Excel to Data Step 19](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-19-j.webp)
Step 7. Click Save As…
![Convert Excel to Data Step 20 Convert Excel to Data Step 20](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-20-j.webp)
Step 8. Click the “Save as type” drop-down menu
This menu is under the “File name” column. A list of file types will be displayed.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 21 Convert Excel to Data Step 21](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-21-j.webp)
Step 9. Select All Files (*.*)
With this option, you can define your own extension to use.
![Convert Excel to Data Step 22 Convert Excel to Data Step 22](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-22-j.webp)
Step 10. Rename the file with a. DAT extension at the end of the name
For example, if the “File name” column is currently labeled Buku1.txt, change it to Book1.dat.
Capitalization of the. DAT extension has no effect (e.g. “. DAT” or “.dat”)
![Convert Excel to Data Step 23 Convert Excel to Data Step 23](https://i.how-what-advice.com/images/009/image-25432-23-j.webp)
Step 11. Click Save
The original file is now successfully saved into. DAT format.