To import data from a text file into Microsoft Excel, follow this step-by-step guide: First, create a blank spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and ensure you have the .txt file on your PC.

Microsoft Excel has an import wizard, but if you structure the text correctly, you can bypass the wizard altogether.

If the DAT file you're trying to open is text, you can convert the file into text in the Microsoft Excel program by first saving it as a CSV file.

You can convert OpenOffice.org text documents to Excel with the text import tool. Save the text document with the .txt file extension, open it in Excel and save it as an Excel spreadsheet.

Edmond Woychowsky walks you through his process, including all the necessary sample code, to convert an XML file to an Excel spreadsheet.