UE 12.20 Want a simple hex editor, no smarts

[FUBARinSFO]

Hi:

This is a great text editor. But at the moment, I'd like to make a few hex edits on a file, and all the UE smarts are getting in the way.

1. Is there a "raw" hex edit mode, no replacements of source bytes on file open and load?

2. Is there a way to open UE in "normal" 8-bit byte mode, not Unicode?

Thanks in advance.

-- Roy Zider

[Mofi]

There is a hex mode at Edit - HEX Functions - Hex Edit.

If your file is a text file with Unicode encoding, or has mixed line terminations, or contains NULLs, etc., you would need to disable nearly all auto-detection and auto-conversion settings and later enable it again to force UltraEdit to open it unmodified and directly in hex edit mode.

But there is a faster and more easier trick to edit a strange text file in hex edit mode without changing any configuration settings.

1. Open a new file, enter a single space, save it with a new name, press left arrow key and switch to hex edit mode.
   
   
2. Now use Edit - HEX Functions - Hex Insert/Delete and delete 1 byte to delete the single space or select the 20 and press CTRL+X to cut (=delete) the single space entered before to be able to switch to hex edit mode.
   
   
3. While still in hex edit mode use now File - Special Functions - Insert File to insert your file to the empty file in hex edit mode. You will see that the content of the file is inserted without any conversion.
   
   
4. Make your changes and save the file without leaving the hex edit mode.

Edit: Since UltraEdit v14.10.0 there is an "Open As" functionality for Unicode and binary files to open any file in a specified mode.

[FUBARinSFO]

Mofi:

Very nice. I never would have gotten that in a million years.

Having tried it, though, I realize this is asking UE to commit an unnatural act. I'll have to find an upgrade to debug.com if I want to do any serious hex editing.

Thanks again.

-- Roy Zider

[MrBillG]

Hi Roy

You had me searching my memory banks!
About 7 years ago I ran across a program that sounds just like what you are looking for!

I finally remembered I emailed a friend

The File Editor Professional - Version 1.3 - http://home.att.net/~special_projects/T ... sional.htm

But the link has a bad case of "Link Rot".
What was cool about this program was it was debug with a GUI on front end!

Not to leave you without any thing, I ran across

X-Ways Forensics released WinHex 13.9 on Mar 23, 2007

http://www.winhex.com/

Hope this helps

[FUBARinSFO]

MrBillG:

Thanks - I've got WinHex, but its file management is pretty poor. It likes operating pretty close to the bare metal, and is difficult to use as a hex editor of text. I'll get onto this at some point and find what's current.