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13376
July 2nd, 2002 02:00
Downloaded attachments ending up as .dat files
I used to be able to download and open attachments into what I thought was "my documents". At any rate I was able to open them safely and I think look at them later. Now, when I attempt to save a downloaded attachment, in "my documents" the options under "my documents" are "Desktop", "my computer", "local disc [C:], etc. So I try "my documents" and get a "winmail" file name. In the "Save as type" box I get: DAT Files [+ .dat] or some symbol to the upper left of the .dat that frankly looks more like a per cent symbol. At any rate, the other option under "Save as type" is "All Files [+ . +] or something like that, again uncertain whether what I put as + is really a % or an x. I have not proceeded beyond this point, oh yes i have! I think that then I get the message when I attempt to pick one of the categories and try to open it: Caution
You are attempting to open a file of type "(.dat)
These files are used by the operating system and by various programs. Editing them or modifying them could damage your system.
If you still want to open the file, click Open with..., otherwise click Cancel.
Naturally, I don't want to damage my system so I just stop right there. In my list of "my documents" files there is a "Winmail" file. Frankly, I haven't wanted to mess with it. Also, I would just like to be able to download, name and open files safely from attachments. A couple of days ago I saw a posting or two with this exact or on the surface exact problem but I was having trouble logging on and so I didn't get an opportunity to get onto it. I am running Windows xp. Thank you for any help.
You are attempting to open a file of type "(.dat)
These files are used by the operating system and by various programs. Editing them or modifying them could damage your system.
If you still want to open the file, click Open with..., otherwise click Cancel.
Naturally, I don't want to damage my system so I just stop right there. In my list of "my documents" files there is a "Winmail" file. Frankly, I haven't wanted to mess with it. Also, I would just like to be able to download, name and open files safely from attachments. A couple of days ago I saw a posting or two with this exact or on the surface exact problem but I was having trouble logging on and so I didn't get an opportunity to get onto it. I am running Windows xp. Thank you for any help.
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Karell
2 Intern
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2.5K Posts
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July 2nd, 2002 12:00
Thank you for using the Dell | Talk forum.
If you installed any software before the problem started, uninstall it.
If you removed any software before the problem started, install it back onto
the system. Here is further information on these types of files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OL98: (CW) Winmail.dat Attachments Included in Received Messages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Outlook 98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Corporate Workgroup/Other option. This option allows you to use Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) services. To determine your installation type, on the Help Menu click About Microsoft Outlook. In About Microsoft Outlook you should see "Corporate" if you have the Corporate Workgroup installation.
SYMPTOMS
When you use Microsoft Outlook 98 to send e-mail containing attachments through the Internet, some recipients using e-mail clients other than Outlook, report that the mail message includes an additional file called Winmail.dat. The file is usually very small, but cannot be opened in the mail message.
CAUSE
The Winmail.dat file is used to preserve formatting that the sending client includes in the message, but is not recognized by the receiving client. In the case of Outlook, the Winmail.dat file includes Rich Text Formatting (RTF) instructions. This type of formatting is used with the Microsoft Outlook Rich Text Format and when using Microsoft Word as an e-mail editor.
RESOLUTION
To avoid including Winmail.dat, use the Plain Text mail format. To select Plain Text for all messages, follow these steps:
On the Tools menu, click Options and then Mail Format.
In "Send in this message format", click to select Plain Text.
To send to certain recipients with RTF format and others with Plain Text, you must use the Personal Address Book. To set Plain Text by recipient, follow these steps:
On the Tools menu, click Address Book.
In Show Names From, select the Personal Address Book.
Select the addressee you wish to set as Plain Text and on the File menu, click Properties.
Click to clear the "Always send to this recipient in Microsoft Exchange Rich Text Format" check box.
REFERENCES
For more information on Winmail.dat attachments, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q149203 XFOR: Preventing Winmail.dat From Being Sent Over IMC
Q138053 XFOR: Preventing WINMAIL.DAT Sent to Internet Users
Additional query words: 98
wchodgson
2 Posts
0
July 13th, 2002 15:00
Thank you for your post! Which "tools" menu do I use to click "options"?
Also, Why wouldn't I want all my incoming e mail to be plain text? Why would I want any to be RTF? It may be that only one person is sending me these .dat files, but I thought that I should ask.
Sincerely,
William
DELL_Karell wrote:
- Wchodgson,
-
- Thank you for using the Dell | Talk forum.
-
- If you installed any software before the problem
- started, uninstall it.
- If you removed any software before the problem
- started, install it back onto
- the system. Here is further information on these
- types of files.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- OL98: (CW) Winmail.dat Attachments Included in
- Received Messages
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The information in this article applies to:
-
- Microsoft Outlook 98
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have
- installed Outlook with the Corporate Workgroup/Other
- option. This option allows you to use Messaging
- Application Programming Interface (MAPI) services.
- To determine your installation type, on the Help
- Menu click About Microsoft Outlook. In About
- Microsoft Outlook you should see "Corporate" if you
- have the Corporate Workgroup installation.
-
- SYMPTOMS
- When you use Microsoft Outlook 98 to send e-mail
- containing attachments through the Internet, some
- recipients using e-mail clients other than Outlook,
- report that the mail message includes an additional
- file called Winmail.dat. The file is usually very
- small, but cannot be opened in the mail message.
-
- CAUSE
- The Winmail.dat file is used to preserve formatting
- that the sending client includes in the message, but
- is not recognized by the receiving client. In the
- case of Outlook, the Winmail.dat file includes Rich
- Text Formatting (RTF) instructions. This type of
- formatting is used with the Microsoft Outlook Rich
- Text Format and when using Microsoft Word as an
- e-mail editor.
-
- RESOLUTION
- To avoid including Winmail.dat, use the Plain Text
- mail format. To select Plain Text for all messages,
- follow these steps:
-
- On the Tools menu, click Options and then Mail
- Format.
- In "Send in this message format", click to select
- Plain Text.
-
- To send to certain recipients with RTF format and
- others with Plain Text, you must use the Personal
- Address Book. To set Plain Text by recipient, follow
- these steps:
- On the Tools menu, click Address Book.
-
- In Show Names From, select the Personal Address
- Book.
- Select the addressee you wish to set as Plain Text
- and on the File menu, click Properties.
- Click to clear the "Always send to this recipient in
- Microsoft Exchange Rich Text Format" check box.
-
- REFERENCES
- For more information on Winmail.dat attachments,
- please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft
- Knowledge Base:
-
- Q149203 XFOR: Preventing Winmail.dat From Being Sent
- Over IMC
- Q138053 XFOR: Preventing WINMAIL.DAT Sent to
- Internet Users
- Additional query words: 98
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