METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND ACCESSING INFORMATION IN BINARY FILES

An embodiment of a method for generating a binary file includes receiving information defining an entity that forms a portion of loadable diagnostics information, generating metadata defining a location within a binary file where the entity is to be located, and generating the binary file to include the metadata and the entity stored at the location. Additional embodiments include an aircraft diagnostic system and a method for the diagnostics system to access information within a binary file. The diagnostics system includes data storage and an accessor module. The data storage is configured to store the binary file, which includes metadata and an entity stored at a location within the binary file, where the metadata defines the location of the entity. The accessor module is configured to evaluate the metadata to make a determination of the location, and to access the entity within the binary file based on the determination.