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Old 06-14-2006, 10:08 PM   #1
TroyMan
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How to open bin file


Can any one tell me how to open bin file please. Thanks
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:28 PM   #2
nadroj
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do you mean open with an editor? if so, you wouldnt want to do that. .bin files are usually used to run. try something like ./nameOfFile.bin to run it.
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:32 PM   #3
TroyMan
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yes, that what i meant. open bin file in editor
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:33 PM   #4
nadroj
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you'd open it the same way you open any other file. are you planning on editing the file? if so, id recommend not to as youll most likely ruin the file. binary files are not meant to be edited in plain text.
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:39 PM   #5
TroyMan
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do u know how to find some readings about this subject, i mean creating modifiying or editing bin files.
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:42 PM   #6
nadroj
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why do you want to edit the file? do you mind telling what file it is? do you know if the file was created with an application and is serializable, or if its an installation file?

but mainly: why do you want to edit it.
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:46 PM   #7
TroyMan
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just want have idea how it looks like, how its written ...
 
Old 06-14-2006, 10:57 PM   #8
nadroj
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if you want to see what it looks like go ahead and open it. for the simplest way run the command 'cat nameOfFile.bin'. note that (if it actually IS a binary file) the characters in the file will appear to be random and wont make sense. its 'binary' data. it may be a program, such as a c++ program or java (not quite) program, which was compiled and the .bin file is the compiled code that the computer understands.

reading the binary data wont be of any use, i think.
 
Old 06-15-2006, 01:22 AM   #9
Wim Sturkenboom
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Vi (or one of its descendants) will open in hexmode when it's a file with binary content. Alternatively hexdump will dump the content of any file in hex.
Do not use cat, it might ruin your terminal setup.

If your not a programmer, the contents of binary executables will not make much sense. You might consider to find a disassembler (don't know of any for Linux). This will convert the file to assembly code (which is a bit more human readible).

And editing binary executables can be usefull (if you know what you're doing). I've done it for simple things where hardcoded values needed to be changed and there was no access to source code.
 
  


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