Binary Templates - A New Way of Editing Binary Files

• Download 010 Editor setup including sample Binary Templates -1.62 MB

Introduction

Binary files have always been difficult to edit, usually involving scanning through an endless number of bytes using a hex editor. Binary Templates offer a new way to edit a binary file that is much easier and more intuitive. A Binary Template looks similar to a C/C++ structure definition; however, Binary Templates are much more powerful than structures since they are executed as a program. This difference allows complex expressions, functions, and control statements such as if-else or do-while, to be contained inside of the C/C++ structures. Thus Binary Templates are powerful and flexible enough to work with practically any binary file format, from WAV files up to Word documents.

Binary Templates are currently supported by 010 Editor, a professional hex editor by SweetScape Software. When a Binary Template is run in 010 Editor, a binary file is parsed into a hierarchal data structure that can be viewed and edited using the program's interface. To install 010 Editor and some sample Binary Templates for BMP and ZIP files, see the download link above.

Sample Code

The code below demonstrates a sample Binary Template that could be used to read your own custom image format. Whenever a variable is declared, that variable is mapped to a set of bytes in a binary file. For example, the variable header would be mapped to the first four bytes of the file, the variable version to the next 4 bytes, and so on.

    // Define a structure used for a color
    typedef struct
    {
        uchar   red;
        uchar   green;
        uchar   blue;
    } RGBTRIPLE;

    // Define the image file
    struct FILE
    {
        // Define the header information
        char    header[4];
        int     version;
        int     width;
        int     height;
        int     format;

        // Define the lines of the bitmap
        struct LINE
        {
            RGBTRIPLE colors[ file.width ];
        } 
        lines[ file.height ];
        
    } file;

Binary Templates can also contain control statements. For example, to read a different set of lines based on the version, you could use:

    // Define the lines of the bitmap
    struct LINE
    {
        if( file.version == 0 )
            RGBTRIPLE colors[file.width];
        else
            RGBQUAD   colors[file.width];
    } 
    lines[ file.height ];

Templates have a number of other powerful features. Local variables that are not mapped to a file can be declared using the local keyword. Over 90 different functions are available for reading data, manipulating strings, or calling mathematical functions. Coloring can be applied to different parts of the file and big and little endian data is easily handled. Most Templates parse a file starting at the beginning and move to the end; however, parsing a file in any order is possible by using the functions FSeek or FTell.

To see a Binary Template in action, download and install 010 Editor from the link at the top of the page. Then open a BMP or ZIP file and a Template will automatically be run. Next click on the 'Template' tab of the Inspector and the whole file will be presented in a data structure for easy editing.

For More Information

More information on Binary Templates or 010 Editor see:

• Binary Templates - Parsing Binary Files
• 010 Editor - Professional Hex Editor

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