Reading a .DAT file with the Microsoft Text Driver

[zacks]

I have an application that uses the Microsoft Text Driver to read ASCII
delimited files. Most of the time these files are either CSV or TXT
file extension. Recently I needed to read some that had a DAT file
extension. When I tried to open it with the Microsoft Text Driver an
exception was thrown that said the file was already in use. But if I
simply rename the file with a TXT file extension the application opens
and reads the file just fine.

What gives?

 

[Charlie Brown]

Is there a special reason for using the text driver versus a .net built
in method?

 

[zacks]

Is there a special reason for using the text driver versus a .net built
in method?

Ignorance?

When developing the application I was told to use the text driver
because that would make it easier to modify the application later to
add other ODBC data sources.