DAT

DAT is the extension used for the data files of GTA 3D series games. They are commonly text files (although there are binary ones) and have different structures.

List of data files

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The icon marks the files that are present in every game of GTA 3D series (GTA 3, GTA VC, GTA SA and GTA IV).

Game	File	Description	Notes
	CAPS.DAT		binary file
	FemalePlayerSettings.dat, MalePlayerSettings.dat	Contains info necessary to render the multiplayer player
	spath*.dat	Defines script path data for objects
	ambient.dat
	animgrp.dat, animgrp1.dat	Contains predefined animation sequences (By default different types of walking)
	animviewer.dat
	ar_stats.dat		Still present in GTA 4 but unused?
	bloodFx.dat
	carcols.dat	Contains information about vehicle colors
	cargrp.dat
	carmods.dat
	CHASE*.DAT	Controls all cars in the introduction sequence	binary files located in the ..data\paths directory
	cj_gta.dat
	clothes.dat		Still present in GTA 4 and GTA V but unused.
	credits*.dat
	cullzone.dat		binary file
	cullzoneempty.dat		binary file, unused
	default.dat
	distantlights.dat		binary file
	entityFx.dat
	explosionFx.dat
	fistfite.dat
	flight*.dat	Defines path data for all airbourne NPC aircrafts
	fonts.dat	Contains information about the fonts used in the game	The fonts are split up into sprites. Fonts themselves are located in the ...\models\fonts.txd texture dictionary.
	frontend.dat
	furnitur.dat		Still present in GTA 4 but unused?
	gridref.dat	Defines responsibilities of certain map areas and their owners for Rockstar's internal bug tracking system called Bugstar.	Leftover from San Andreas development stage, apparently not required by the game.
	gta.dat	General map listing file	called gta3.dat for GTA 3 and gta-vc.dat for Vice City
	gta_quick.dat
	handling.dat	Contains the attributes of all vehicles in the game (handling.cfg from previous games)
	hud.dat	Contains initial display settings for each HUD component
	hudcolor.dat	Contains RGB colour values that the game uses
	loadingscreens*.dat	Contains the animation of static loading screen images
	map*.dat		located in the ..data\maps directory
	materialFx.dat
	materials.dat
	melee.dat		Still present in GTA 4 but unused?
	meleeAnims.dat	Specifies all anims available to the melee system
	moveblend.dat	Contains some parameters for blended ped animation
	nav.dat	This file is read in to initialise the "CPathServer" pathfinding class
	navprecalc.dat		binary file
	networktest.dat
	numplate.dat		Still present in GTA 4 and GTA V but unused.
	object.dat	Defines additional object information for dynamic objects
	ped.dat
	pedProps.dat
	pedgrp.dat
	pedpersonality.dat
	pedpopulation.dat		binary file
	pedstats.dat
	plants.dat
	polydensity.dat
	popcycle.dat
	procobj.dat
	scenarios.dat
	shopping.dat
	statdisp.dat
	surface.dat
	surfaud.dat
	surfinfo.dat
	timecyc.dat	Controls the weather and the game's appearance
	timecycp.dat	Controls the weather and the game's appearance
	tracks*.dat		located in the ..data\paths directory
	train.dat, train2.dat		still present in Vice City but unused
	visualSettings.dat (IV)	Stores initial values for configuration of in game elements
	water.dat
	water1.dat
	waterpro.dat
	weapon.dat

See also

• Data Files (San Andreas) – description for common data files of San Andreas
• nodes*.dat
• Cutscene data

External Link

•  GTAForums: Documenting GTA IV Data files