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I'm working on a java project and i have to read some files like these: - EntryID.data - EntryID.index - KeyText.data - KeyText.index ...

I think these files are used in a dictionary project but i can't find a any document about this. How can i read them or know the format of them ? Sorry for my english =.=

Thanks alot!

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  • Umm ... if you don't know where the files come from and you don't what they contain, why do you need to read them? Commented Dec 21, 2010 at 8:44

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This looks like files from a database management system. One file to store the data, another one to store at least one index to speed up queries.

I'd start with a hex editor and look at the file. Sometimes, the content binaries gives a hint.

Another idea: look at the classpath and inspect property and resource files. Maybe you'll find a database driver or some config files with jdbc connect strings.

Google told me, that all four files are used by Apple's Dictionary.app. Have a look at this blog, this can point you in the correct direction.

Last note - reading undocumented binaries is a challenge. I usually start with 010 Editor to analyse the datastructure and develop a java based test tool to read the data. It's some sort of try and error evolutionary process.

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Thank you guys, i'have used Hex Editor to open it, i can read some meaningful string but i still cant get the file format. The keytext.data file contains definitions of English words in vietnamese, i cant understand the content of keytext.index file. I also read a lot topic about apple dic app but i cant find anything, i will try again. Thanks in advance !
It is a dictionary and you can expect some sort of key/value pairs: an english word and an translation in a different language. I doubt that you can find some sort of java lib that allows using the dictionary files - concentrate on parsing the required information from the file, maybe into a new datastructure.
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Well, this is kinda difficult. data could mean anything.

You could try the UNIX utility file or open the file with a hex editor and look for interesting strings (the utility strings is helpful for that too).

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Some information is in info.plist.
KeyText.data is sometimes compressed using zlib. 78 9C is well-known zlib-header so you can decompress when you find it. Size of decompressed entry comes before compressed entry.
Size of entry comes before entry of array.

C# library is in https://github.com/kurema/MacDictionaryGeneral. But *.index is too difficult to understand and implement. info.plist says *.index is trie index which is not enough information to understand fully.

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