This document explains in detail how to start exploring and examining file formats, with a focus on Game Resource Archives. For beginners and advanced users alike.
The definitive word in archive exploration.
Download below, or scroll on down and read it here:
DGTEFF as PDF
DGTEFF as ZIPPED PDF
Authors: Mr.Mouse and Watto
Version: 1.0 as of November 2004
Rewritten for the WIKI by Dinoguy1000 as of August 2006
Introduction
What is a GRA?
What is a GRAF?
Tools
Hex Editors
Hex Workshop
Terms, Definitions and Data Structures
Files
Bits
Bytes
16-bit (2-byte) numbers
32-bit (4-byte) numbers
64-bit (8-byte) numbers
Strings
Hexadecimal Numbering
Signed and Unsigned Numbers
Big-Endian and Little-Endian
File Offsets
Archive Patterns
Directory Archives
Tree Archives
Chunked Archives
Split Chunk Archives
External Directory Archives
Checking Your Results
Common Types of Fields
Validating Your Fields
Padding
Filename Patterns
Encryption and Compression
The Basics
XOR
NOT
SHL
SHR
Encryption
Painkiller Encryption
Compression
Worked Examples
Quake *.PAK
Appendix
Binary -> Byte Number Table
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) Table
Formats of some Common Game Archives
Useful References
Common File Format Tags
Legal Information