Word files start with a Header Section which starts with the following codes:

Offset Size Data Description

0000 ID 37 00 00 10 UID1: Header Section layout

0004 ID 6D 00 00 10 UID2: File kind

0008 ID 7F 00 00 10 UID3: Application ID

000C L FE 9F 08 55 UID4: Checksum of UID1, UID2 and UID 3

0010 Section Table Offset Section

0014

The Section Table Section may contain the following sections, usual in the given order.

Identifier Section Always found

CD 00 00 10 Offset of the Password Section No

43 02 00 10 Offset of Word Status Section Yes

04 01 00 10 Offset of the Word Styles Section Yes

05 01 00 10 Offset of the Page Layout Section Yes

06 01 00 10 Offset of the Text Section Yes

43 01 00 10 Offset of the Text Layout Section No

89 00 00 10 Offset of the Application ID Section Yes

The Password Section is only found in encrypted documents. Only the Text Section is actually encrypted if it is found.

If a Text Layout Section is not present, all text defaults to style Normal with no futher layout.