Why are jpeg files beng saved with .dat extension?

[purplfan]

I scanned several old pictures into Elements 6 which I then edited. I need to save them as low resolution jpegs for emailing, but every time I try, they save with a .dat extension even though I specify jpeg. What am I doing wrong? The pictures with .dat won't open.:confused:

[RobertSchuldenfrei]

Hi Purplfan,

I noticed that no one responded to your post. Since this is your first post I did not want you to think no one cared. This is a very responsive forum. Welcome to the one-stop place for all things Photoshop Elements (PSE).

I do not know what is going on. And, perhaps, others do not know either and that is why you have not had any responses. So, lets try a few tests to get to the bottom of this.

1/ Can you open a know JPEG file and do a SAVE AS another .jpg file?

2/ Can you open a JPEG file and save it as .gif file?

3/ Can you save one of your scans as a .gif file?

4/ When you save a picture that you would normally print at high resolution can you save it as a .jpg? Can you save it as a .psd file?

As far as I know .dat is not one of the file formats that PSE uses. Once we know the answers to some or all of these questions we will investigate how you are going about the scan and resolution reduction.

Cheers,

Bob

[Joe_Kostoss]

The .dat files are data files usually associated with other files or cookies. I suspect that the scanner scans the photo saves it as a jpg file along with an associated dat file which contains information about the scan. dat files should not be opened or changed. Check elsewhere in your computer folders for the actual jpg file. It should be there, but perhaps you are seeing the dat file thinking it is the saved jpg.

[Zeria]

Hi Purplfan

Welcome to the Village.....:)

This thread (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46862) discussed .dat files, e-mail and the Mac OS-----so if you are using a Mac, this might help.....

[purplfan]

Thanks, but I'm using XP.

[Wendy]

Hi purplfan ...

Try saving them using save for web ... and see if they save OK that way :)

Wendy

[Barb O]

I scanned several old pictures into Elements 6 which I then edited. I need to save them as low resolution jpegs for emailing, but every time I try, they save with a .dat extension even though I specify jpeg. What am I doing wrong? The pictures with .dat won't open.:confused:

Is it possibly how you are typing the new file name when you do the save?

If your current file is in jpeg format and the box where you specify the file name for the Save is displaying the current file name including the .jpg file extension within the name, you must be very careful how you type in the new name so that you preserve the ".jpg". I have seen people type a new name in the wrong position or wipe out the . of the .jpg or have 2 "."s in the file name after they type in the new name and then have an unusable photo file as the result.