You have a binary file that makes no sense in a text editor. Maybe it's a proprietary data format, a corrupted download, or a raw disk sector. You need to see the bytes, change a few of them, and work out what the structure is. Hex Workshop from BreakPoint Software is a hex editor for Windows built for that job.
Quick facts
- Current version: 6.8.0
- Platforms: Windows 2003, XP and later, in 32-bit and 64-bit
- Price: $89.95 for a single license. Quantity discounts start at 2 licenses.
- Other licenses: Academic $39.95, site license $4,000.00, single-license upgrade $34.95
- Installer size: about 17.4 MB
Key features
Edit binary data like a document
You can cut, copy, paste, insert, fill and delete bytes the way you would in a word processor. You can also jump to a file or sector location, find and replace data, and run arithmetic, bitwise and logical operations on it.
Read files by their structure, not just raw bytes
The structure viewer lets you define how a binary file is laid out. You then view and edit the data in its native types. Smart bookmarks help you keep track of the fields you care about. Version 6.8 added integrated editors for structures, color maps and expressions, with syntax coloring. The structure editor also shows in-line error messages, which help when a structure definition won't parse.
Compare two files byte by byte
An integrated binary file compare shows where two versions of a file differ. This is useful when a build output or a config blob changed and you don't know why.
See patterns with charts and distributions
Character distributions and a data visualizer turn raw bytes into charts. They help you spot encrypted, compressed or text-like regions at a glance.
Generate checksums and export your work
You can generate checksums and digests for a file. You can export data to RTF or HTML for documentation. The tool also works as a sector editor for disks and as a base converter and hex calculator.
Who it's for
It suits developers, reverse engineers, QA staff and support engineers who regularly open binary formats, protocol dumps or disk sectors. BreakPoint built its tools for software professionals. An academic license is offered for educational and non-commercial use.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Editing, structure viewing, comparison, checksums and sector access are in a single program.
- The price is a one-time license, and the first year of upgrades is included with a v6 purchase.
- There is a discounted academic license and quantity pricing.
- It comes in 32-bit and 64-bit builds.
Cons
- Windows only.
- At $89.95 it costs more than free hex editors, and upgrades after the first year cost extra.
- Defining structures takes some setup before the structure viewer pays off.
FAQs
Does Hex Workshop run on 64-bit Windows?
Yes. The download is listed for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures on Windows 2003, XP and later.
Do I get upgrades after buying?
Customers on Hex Workshop v6 or later receive one year of maintenance covering all upgrades with their purchase.
Can it edit disk sectors?
Yes. It is described as a hex and sector editor, and you can jump to file or sector locations.
Can I use it to compare two files?
Yes. It includes an integrated binary file comparison.
Is there a discount for students or teams?
There is an academic license for educational and non-commercial use. Multi-license pricing drops as quantity rises, and a site license covers unlimited usage at one location.
System requirements
- Windows 2003, XP, or later
- 32-bit or 64-bit
- About 17.4 MB for the installer