About COFF (Windows CE 5.0)
The Windows CE compilers produce files in Common Object File Format (COFF). COFF file headers consist of a MS-DOS stub, file signature, COFF Header, and Optional Header.
An object file contains only the COFF Header, but an image file contains all the headers described above. The most important of these headers is the COFF header.
The following information is stored in the COFF header.
| Offset | Size | Field | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | Machine | Number identifying type of target machine. |
| 2 | 2 | Number of Sections | Number of sections; indicates size of the Section Table which immediately follows the headers. |
| 4 | 4 | Time/Date Stamp | Time and date the file was created. |
| 8 | 4 | Pointer to Symbol Table | Offset, within the COFF file, of the symbol table. |
| 12 | 4 | Number of Symbols | Number of entries in the symbol table.
This data can be used in locating the string table, which immediately follows the symbol table. |
| 16 | 2 | Optional Header Size | Size of the optional header, which is included for executable files but not object files.
An object file should have a value of 0 here. |
| 18 | 2 | Characteristics | Flags indicating attributes of the file. |
For more information about COFF, see the Microsoft Portable Executable and Common Object File Format Specification, December 4, 2001.
You can use the DUMPBIN tool to view COFF contents. For information, see DUMPBIN Tool.
See Also
Windows CE Compiler Overview | DUMPBIN Tool
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