The WinMail.dat issue seems to be a known bug. Here's an article about it:
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/outlook-is-sending-winmail-dat-attachments/

I haven't had this particular problem, but I have received .dat files 
when people have sent me other file types. In some cases, just changing 
the file extension to what I know it's supposed to be fixes the problem.

In your case, I would try that first. then I would try the suggestions 
in the article.


On 9/24/2014 11:01 AM, ted chittenden wrote:
> I work as a braille proofreader for a local agency for the blind. The braille files I proofread are created using Braille2000. As for me, I am running a computer with Windows 7, JAWS 15 (the latest), and Microsoft Office 10. I am also using Cox' web email service, and the company assured me by phone yesterday that it hasn't changed this service in any way. I ran Microsoft's spy-catching program last night to see if there were any hidden files from foreign sources on my computer that might be causing me harm (it found none). Yesterday, my boss sent me the latest book for me to proofread; however, instead of the .abt file I normally get, I received a Winmail.dat file. I opened this file using Wordpad only to find a bunch of computer code with a line near the top saying "Generated by Word 14." My boss has resent me this file in a .brf format and as a zipped file with exactly the same results. She also sent me another file (presumably written in Word) that was an announcement of an upcoming event that showed up in my email as another winmail.dat file. My questions before I lose my job are:
>
> 1) Are these files being generated by Word 14.
>
> 2) Is there a way on my boss's or my end to fix the file so that I can receive and read them correctly or (assuming the answer to my first question is "Yes") will I need to purchase Microsoft Office 2014 to be able to work on these files.
>
> 3) If none of the above is true, what canI do so that I can begin working on my braille proofreads again.


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