Editing Hex editor (section)

==Template systems==
[[File:Physics-Editor-For-Doukutsu-Monogatari.png|thumb|An example of a simple template-based hex editor]]

Some hex editors offer a template system that can present the sequence of bytes of a [[binary file]] in a structured way, covering part or all of the desired file format. Usually the [[GUI]] for a template is a separate tool window next to the main hex editor. Some [[cheat engine]] systems consist only of such a template GUI.

Typically, a template is represented as a list of labeled text boxes, such that individual values of a file can be easily edited in the appropriate format (e.g., as string, color, or decimal number). Without template support, it is necessary to find the right offset in a file where the value that is to be changed is stored. Also, raw hex editing may require conversion from hexadecimal to decimal, catering for [[endianness|byte order]], or other data type conversion peculiarities.

Templates can be stored as files, thereby exchanged by users, and are often shared publicly over the manufacturer's website. Most if not all hex editors define their own template file format; there is no trend to support a standard or even compatibility between the various formats out in the wild.