sending .pdf and arriving .dat

Question

sending .pdf and arriving .dat

I'm trying to send a newsletter from pages, saved as .pdf to someone with a pc and it's arriving as a .dat file that they can't open (virus warnings, etc.) This is with both xp and vista. They are using incredimail. I have mail version 2.1.

This is causing some big problems. Why isn't she recieving pdf's?

I've tried resetting to plain text and 'windows friendly' and no change.

imac, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Jan 9, 2008 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Jan 9, 2008 3:10 PM in response to susyn rasmussen

susyn,

I am using Pages 3.0.1, and there are two methods for creating a PDF file.
1. Pages>File>Export...>PDF.
2. ( + P), and then choose PDF.

Which method are you attempting to use?

Since you did not specify which version of Pages you are using, and If you choose a different method without success, you may find better answers in the iWork (previous to iWork '08) > Pages Forum.

;~)

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Answer 2

Henry G4

Level 4

1,871 points

Jan 9, 2008 3:19 PM in response to susyn rasmussen

Hi.

Try archiving (zipping) the pdf file, and then sending it to the pc recipient.

Good Luck.

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Answer 3

Jan 9, 2008 4:32 PM in response to Ferd II

I'm using Pages 08.

I've exported to .pdf and I've file->pdf, both. They both open with adobe reader. I have not tried zipping it since it's getting very trying and I didn't want to push anymore 'try this ...' than necessary.

When I google .dat it seems there's a lot of pc users with the problem and it's blamed on Outlook. But neither one of use use Outlook. The "fix" is sending plain text only (isn't that also called disabling?)

So, I went into preferances and changed to plain text. Still no luck.
I hate dealing with windows stuff. Would a zip file = plain text or windows friendly or whatever?

Why is she getting a .dat file instead of a .pdf?

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Answer 4

Henry G4

Level 4

1,871 points

Jan 9, 2008 5:24 PM in response to susyn rasmussen

susyn rasmussen wrote:

Why is she getting a .dat file instead of a .pdf?

Because somewhere in the middle, the mail message is being encapsulated in the Transport Neutral Encapsulation Format (TNEF), which is Microsoft propietary format, not supported by IncrediMail, nor almost any other email client but Outlook.

There's not much you can do from your side, apart from trying the zip method (sometimes the .zip files are accessible even after the TNEF encapsulating). The recipient can install in her WinPC some .dat file reader, they're little programs that allow to access the data merged in the .dat attachment.

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Answer 5

j.v.

Level 5

4,155 points

Jan 11, 2008 2:15 PM in response to susyn rasmussen

You didn't say here, but the file that you are trying to send, does it have the ".pdf" file extension appended onto the end of the filename? If not, you might want to try adding that file extension onto the filename, so that you are attaching "newsletter.pdf" to the email rather than just "newsletter" and see what happens. I would keep the "Windows-friendly" checkbox checked, too.

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Answer 6

Jan 12, 2008 11:32 PM in response to Henry G4

BINGO.

Cox only supports Outlook Express. It says so right on their website. Neither one of us use that. For some reason, I would have expected a provider as large as Cox to support more than one email program.

The only other program associated with .dat files was MS Exchange.

Thank you.

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