SVAR is able to read 3 types of input files: text files (including comma separated values files), MatLab's binary MAT files, and spreadsheets.
For text files it is important to note that SVAR may have problems reading such files in unicode format. If you have installed the compiled version of SVAR, then text files in unicode format can't be read properly by SVAR. Converting unicode text files to non-unicode text files is easy under Windows 2000, XP, and 2003. This is explained in the FAQ.
The recommended format for data input for the compiled version of SVAR is Lotus 1-2-3, i.e., wk1 files. SVAR reads such files much faster than text files. Moreover, matlab's MAT files seem to be matlab version dependent. In particular, it is not possible to read MAT files created by matlab 6 or later using matlab 5.3 and earlier. Hence, the compiled version of SVAR can't read such MAT files either.