download part in .mpd format

[Ken BAker]

obviously a newbie here.

i have downloaded the complete file of Ldraw part definitions.  they are in the .dat file format.

i want to convert a part definition to .stl for 3D printing.  all the online converters i have tried require the input file to be in the .mpd format.

how do i convert from .dat to .mpd, or how can i download a part definiton in .mpd format?

thanks!

Ken Baker