I recently downloaded SimGoober's ploppable pack but when i go into the game the files don't show up. Then I realized that they were in DAT Files. Does anybody know how to unpack DAT files so these files will show up in game? Thanks!
You don't need to unpack the DAT files. I suppose you downloaded a model pack, but still missing the lots for those models. Take a look at the readme file or the file description at the LEX, it should tell you what you need for getting them into the game.
I downloaded the Lots and the Models (example: SG Grocery Store Lots and SG Grocery Store Models) but still nothing shows up in game as well as in the plugins folder it doesn't have every file individually they're just all in one dat file.
Most likely, they are growable lots, which won't show up in the menu. Once the conditions in your city are appropriate, they should start growing in your commercial zones.
Make sure have downloaded the ploppable pack if it is ploppables that you want. This is the link to it: http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1184 and it includes 100 ploppable lots from all commercial types. You will need all the commercial model packs listed in the Readme as well as the lot pack.
It sounds as though you have downloaded the growable lots which will grow when conditions are correct.