winmail.dat file

[Texas Mac Man]

I received an email from a friend with an attachment named “winmail.dat”. I tried to open with Microsoft Word, but it wouldn’t open. I did a Google search to determine what type of file this is.

I found this. “What is this winmail.dat  file?

Many times you might receive an email with an attachment called winmail.dat. The file is sent from people using Microsoft Outlook as their email program. The file allows Outlook users to send Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format (TNEF) information along with the email so that it retains the look and feel of the document with formatting, fonts, and colors when its received by another Microsoft Outlook user.

Unfortunately, the file is only relevant and used by Microsoft Outlook. Users of Outlook Express, Eudora, Netscape Messenger, and other email programs will receive the attachment called winmail.dat with the email. The file is attached to the email because the original sender is sending emails in Microsoft Outlook Rich Text Format instead of Plain Text format. “

In the Google search I also found a free Mac app, called TNEF’s Enough, that will convert/open the file. Versions are available for OS 9 (& below) and OS X.

[cdub1988]

Heh, the winmail file.

That thing drove me nuts when I use to be at my old job......so many lookOut users out there sending us mail and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what that was until I did the same thing.

Good stuff, Tom.

Thanks for the reminder. It struck me funny, since you can probably tell I really like that program anyways.......  

Chris

[sandbox]

Tom when I open a .dat file the default application is Graphic Converter http://www.lemkesoft.com/xd/public/content...GlkPTE5Mw_.html

Not that I set it up that way, I didn't, it just automatically open the application.

[tacit]

Graphic Converter won't open a winmail.dat file, because it is not a graphic. The ".dat" extension doesn't mean anything; it just stands for "data". It could be anything.

The solution is to write to whoever is sending you these emails, and tell them not to set Outlook for rich text--set it to HTML or plain text instead.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

The solution is to write to whoever is sending you these emails, and tell them not to set Outlook for rich text

Good luck! I find it easier to simply ignore the file. Most people only know one way to do things, especially on a computer.

Of course, it is just as frustrating when you explain that you can't see the attachment they also sent, usually because they created the "email" in Word or some such manner but not sent as a ".doc" file. The problem is always the Mac, "Nobody else has any trouble seeing my messages."