# How to open my .dat file which is in tecplot format
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Tags:** vtk
**Created:** [January 19, 2022, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796 "2022-01-19T10:33:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mohammed\_Niyasdeen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Mohammed_Niyasdeen)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/1 "2022-01-19T10:33:45Z")
I am trying to make a 3D plot using the .dat file which is in Tecplot format. I tried several questions similar to this and nothing solved my problem.
How to 3D plot the attached file?
My OS is windows 10, Paraview Version is 5.10.0 and downloaded from the official page, graphics hardware is Intel HD graphics 4600
[RPL3DFM\_Lib - Copy.dat](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/aAFtcwjC2eBS36Z17QR6fUidebX.dat) (3.7 MB)
---
### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 10:36am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/2 "2022-01-19T10:36:12Z")
.dat is very generic, which format is actually used ?
---
### Author:  [@Mohammed\_Niyasdeen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Mohammed_Niyasdeen)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 10:41am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/3 "2022-01-19T10:41:43Z")
Hi Mathieu,
I am sorry, what do you mean by format here?
---
### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 10:44am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/4 "2022-01-19T10:44:08Z")
> **[List of file formats | Binary files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_file_formats#Binary_files)**
>
> 1.Bak file (.bak, .bk) – various backup formats: some just copies of data files, some in application-specific data backup formats, some formats for general file backup programs |
> 2.BIN – binary data, often memory dumps of executable code or data to be re-used by the same software that originated it |
> 3.DAT – data file, usually binary data proprietary to the program that created it, or an MPEG-1 stream of Video CD |
> 4.DSK – file representations of various disk storage images |
> 5.RAW – raw (unp...
As you can see, the DAT format is not an actual format, just binary data generated by a software. ParaView does not know how to read it unless you know which software generated it or which standard it uses.
---
### Author:  [@Mohammed\_Niyasdeen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Mohammed_Niyasdeen)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 11:00am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/5 "2022-01-19T11:00:07Z")
- I used a software called [http://flamemaster.com/](http://flamemaster.com/) to create multiple DAT files (say Lib\_01, Lib\_02, etc…).
[Lib\_01.dat](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/pHMoXqzjZJlOH0kUmlTsIQX8Isw.dat) (138.0 KB)
- Then, I use a simple Fortran code to combine all the DAT files to a single mother DAT file called RPL3DFM\_Lib - Copy.dat
[RPL3DFM\_Lib - Copy.dat](https://discourse.paraview.org/uploads/short-url/aAFtcwjC2eBS36Z17QR6fUidebX.dat) (3.7 MB)
- Now, I am trying to open the mother file in Paraview to generate the image like this.
Does this answer your question? Please let me know if you need more info.
---
### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 11:02am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/6 "2022-01-19T11:02:09Z")
This should be readable with the TecplotReader, you have to find the right configuration for your file though.
---
### Author:  [@Mohammed\_Niyasdeen](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Mohammed_Niyasdeen)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 11:06am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/7 "2022-01-19T11:06:25Z")
I loaded the file using TecplotReader and clicked apply.
But nothing displays on the screen.
Do you know what should I click next?
---
### Author:  [@mwestphal](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/mwestphal)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/how-to-open-my-dat-file-which-is-in-tecplot-format/8796/8 "2022-01-19T17:52:53Z")
Take a look at the PropertiesPanel on the right, you need to set the properties according to the specification of your data.