>>It might just be text. try opening it in notepad
>
>1-For text data this would be correct, but probably numeric data would be in binary format.
>2-If they didn't put a cr/lf at every record, how would you learn what's the record length?
>
>I think he needs record template of this .dat file, or he should be try and find out...

I know the notepad thing is just a way of getting a quick handle on what might be in there.