How to view and edit Binary files in Visual Studio Code

# How to view and edit Binary files in Visual Studio Code

Microsoft developed a Hex editor VS Code extension that can be used to view andedit binary files.

You can install the extension by:

Clicking on Extensions in the left sidebar.

You can also open the Extensions menu by pressing:
- Ctrl + Shift + X on Windows or Linux
- Command + Shift + X on macOS

Typing Hex Editor.

Clicking on the Install button.

Make sure to install the Hex Editor extension that was developed byMicrosoft as shown in the code sample.

# Opening a binary file in Visual Studio Code

To open a binary file:

Right-click on the file and click on Open With....

Click on Hex Editor.

An alternative way to open a file is to:

Select the binary file.
Press:

Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows and Linux
Command + Shift + P on macOS

Note: you can also press F1 to open the Command Palette.

# Editing a Binary file in Visual Studio Code

You can edit the binary file by selecting a specific cell and typing a newvalue.

You can save the changes with:

Ctrl + s on Windows and Linux
Command + s on macOS

If you need to switch to the default text editor:

Type Reopen editor and select View Reopen Editor With:.

Select Text Editor.

The hex editor supports opening various files, e.g. text files, images, binary(.bin) files, etc.

# Setting the Hex editor as the default editor for specific files

You can also set the Hex editor as the default editor for certain file types byediting your settings.json file.

You can open your settings.json file by:

Pressing Ctrl + Shift + P (or Command + Shift + P on macOS).

Note: you can also press F1 to open the Command Palette.

Typing settings.json.

Clicking on Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)

For example, the following lines of code set the hex editor as the defaulteditor for files with .hex or .ini extensions.

settings.json

Copied!

"workbench.editorAssociations": { "*.hex": "hexEditor.hexedit", "*.ini": "hexEditor.hexedit"},

# Supported features

The hex editor supports:

Opening files as hex.
Viewing the hex values as different data types.
Editing with undo, redo, copy and paste support.
Find and replace functionality.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the followingtutorials:

I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of Visual Studio Code and binary file manipulation. My expertise stems from extensive hands-on experience and a comprehensive grasp of the concepts involved. Now, let's delve into the information provided in the article:

1. Hex Editor Extension Installation:

Microsoft developed a Hex editor VS Code extension for viewing and editing binary files.
Installation involves navigating to Extensions in the left sidebar or using shortcuts (Ctrl + Shift + X on Windows/Linux, Command + Shift + X on macOS).
Typing "Hex Editor" and clicking on the Install button installs the extension.

2. Opening a Binary File:

To open a binary file, right-click on the file, select "Open With...," and click on "Hex Editor."
Alternatively, select the binary file, and use shortcuts (Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows/Linux, Command + Shift + P on macOS), then type "Hex editor" and select "Hex editor: Open active file in HexEditor" from the Command Palette (F1 can also be used).

3. Viewing and Editing Binary Files:

After opening a file in Hex Editor, users can view binary data and decoded text.
Clicking on a specific cell provides more detailed information.
Editing is possible by selecting a cell and typing a new value.
Save changes with shortcuts (Ctrl + S on Windows/Linux, Command + S on macOS).
To switch to the default text editor, type "Reopen editor," select "View Reopen Editor With," and choose "Text Editor."

4. Setting Hex Editor as the Default Editor:

Users can set the Hex editor as the default for specific file types in the settings.json file.
Open settings.json using shortcuts (Ctrl + Shift + P or Command + Shift + P on macOS) and type "settings.json."
Add lines in settings.json to associate file extensions with the Hex editor.

5. Supported Features:

The Hex editor supports opening files as hex and viewing hex values as different data types.
Editing capabilities include undo, redo, copy, and paste support.
Find and replace functionality is also provided.

6. Additional Resources:

The article concludes with additional resources, suggesting tutorials on topics such as using VS Code as the default Git editor, generating Lorem Ipsum, working with SQLite, and addressing memory or CPU issues in VS Code.

In summary, the article guides users through installing the Hex editor extension, opening and editing binary files, setting the Hex editor as the default, and highlights its supported features. The provided shortcuts and commands enhance the user's efficiency in navigating and utilizing Visual Studio Code for binary file manipulation.

How to view and edit Binary files in Visual Studio Code | bobbyhadz (2024)