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DAT CSV
File conversion

Convert DAT to CSV

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Aug 9, 2026
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Is it possible to convert DAT to CSV?
Yes - DAT converts to CSV.

Open the .dat in a text editor first to confirm it contains readable, delimited rows. If it does, import it into Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, set the correct delimiter, and save as CSV. If the content is binary, use the application that created the .dat file to export CSV instead.

1 programs
Also to CSV: DTA · HVE · XFDF

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert DAT to CSV?

The .dat extension is a generic label used by hundreds of unrelated programs with no standard structure. .csv is a universal tabular exchange format accepted by spreadsheets, databases, and data tools. When a .dat file happens to contain structured delimited text, converting it to CSV makes it immediately usable across those tools without plugins.

How to convert DAT to CSV

Microsoft Excel APP

Go to Data > Get Data > From File > From Text/CSV, select the .dat file, choose the delimiter in the preview dialog, then File > Save As CSV.

LibreOffice Calc OPEN-SOURCE

Open the .dat via File > Open; the Text Import dialog appears automatically - set the delimiter and click OK, then File > Save As > Text CSV.

Programs that convert DAT

Embroidermodder 2

About these formats

.DAT Program Data File (generic)

A DAT file holds generic data created by a specific program, and the extension alone won't tell you which one or what's inside. Open a copy in a text editor first: readable text means it's…

Open .DAT details →
.CSV Comma-Separated Values

A CSV file stores tabular data as plain text - one row per line, values separated by commas (or semicolons in European locales). Any spreadsheet opens it: Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice…

Open .CSV details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The .dat extension says nothing about the content; open it in a text editor first - readable delimited rows mean you can proceed; binary symbols mean you cannot.
  • If the file is already comma-delimited, renaming a copy from .dat to .csv and opening it directly in Excel works without any import steps.
  • For .dat files from GPS devices, lab instruments, or data loggers, use the device's own software to export CSV - generic importers do not know the internal structure.

Frequently asked questions

What if my .dat file uses tabs instead of commas?
Both Excel and LibreOffice Calc let you choose the delimiter during import; select Tab in the import dialog and the columns will separate correctly.
Can I just rename .dat to .csv?
Only if the file is already comma-delimited text - rename a copy and open it to verify; nothing inside the file changes.
What if the .dat is binary?
Binary .dat files can only be opened by the application that wrote them; use that program's own export function to produce CSV.