Click "Next." Type "Word" into the box and click "Finish." Double-click the Word shortcut that appears on the desktop to launch Word. Open an MS Word file on your computer by double-clicking it.

Learn how to use a Microsoft 365 setting to choose whether to open files in the online or desktop app, giving you full control for each file.

Another route is to first open Microsoft Word in your browser. Within Word, access the File menu and select Open to locate your DAT file on the hard drive or linked storage device.

Microsoft Word can accommodate a surprising number of file formats, and even take in Excel and PowerPoint data, though it might look funny. Here's how.

If you have several pre-defined blocks of content in Microsoft Word, you can avoid the busy Quick Parts gallery by assigning keyboard shortcuts.