Dat files
Dat files are used by MAME to display extra information about its systems. All but hiscore.dat are store in the C:\Mame\dats folder. Here's a quick list of the dat files available...
| File \ Link |
Default Folder |
Description |
| command.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Shows controller command sequences used to make special moves in games. |
| gameinit.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Shows information on how to run tricky systems. |
| hiscore.dat |
C:\Mame\plugins\hiscore |
This file injects code into running systems adding new hi-score information. |
| history.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains game information and trivia on the arcade systems supported by MAME. |
| mameinfo.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains information and updates on the arcade systems supported by MAME. |
| messinfo.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains information and updates on the computer/console systems supported by MAME. |
| renameSET.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains information about name changes made to rom sets in MAME. |
| renameSET_SL.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains information about name changes made to software lists in MAME. |
| story.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains hi-scores for the arcade systems supported by MAME. |
| sysinfo.dat |
C:\Mame\dats |
Contains information and updates on the computer/console systems supported by MESS. |
| File \ Link |
Description |
| command.dat |
Shows controller command sequences used to make special moves in games. |
| gameinit.dat |
Shows information on how to run tricky systems. |
| hiscore.dat |
This file injects code into running systems adding new hi-score information. This file is stored in C:\Mame\plugins\hiscore |
| history.dat |
Contains game information and trivia on the arcade systems supported by MAME. |
| mameinfo.dat |
Contains information and updates on the arcade systems supported by MAME. |
| messinfo.dat |
Contains information and updates on the computer/console systems supported by MAME. |
| renameSET.dat |
Contains information about name changes made to rom sets in MAME. |
| renameSET_SL.dat |
Contains information about name changes made to rom sets in MAME. |
| story.dat |
Contains hi-scores for the arcade systems supported by MAME. |
| sysinfo.dat |
Contains information and updates on the computer/console systems supported by MESS. |
All the dat files except hiscore.dat and renameSET.dat are viewable in the media panel in MAME's user interface. To access them click the "Info" tab. If the dat files have information on the selected system, it will be shown there. You can select the different dat files by using the arrow keys or by clicking the arrows next to the dat name at the top of the panel. Just remember though, not all systems are included in all the dat files.
Hiscore.dat is part of the plugin system in MAME. To use it you need to enable the hiscore script in the plugins menu on MAME's user interface. Once enabled, it will automatically update any supported games hi-score tables with it's new information. There is no need to install the dat file as it is included in the MAME installation file.
