[Feature] Sector/Page Based Navigation #2166
Description
What feature would you like to see?
It would be nice to navigate the hex code based on sectors (or pages, blocks, clumps, clusters, etc.).
The current page size feature is a good start, but it is not feasible for working effectively with multiple pages.
I acknowledge that this is currently possible using the pattern mechanics, but it is not as satisfying as having a dedicated navigation overlay.
I would like the following features:
- Configuration of page size (already implemented but currently limited to a single-page scope).
- Visual feedback within the hex editor for page breaks (perhaps a simple background line with the current page number).
- A navigation button to jump to the previous, next, or a specific page (possibly with assignable shortcuts).
Additionally, some optional configurations could be integrated into the current settings:
- Configurable page sizes (potentially multiple sizes with different colors and an optional labels, e.g. page, sector, cluster, block, node, etc.).
- Toggle to set the page reference point as the start of the file or a specific offset.
- Toggle to either display a single page (as currently implemented by setting the page size) or show page breaks (displaying the full dump with dividing lines or similar visual markers).
- Option to show or hide page numbers as an overlay.
- Toolbar navigation options (e.g. an input field displaying the current page with a "previous" and "next" buttons).
How will this feature be useful to you and others?
Many data structures are aligned to specific page sizes, often forming structures such as lists or trees with fixed sizes and repeating patterns.
Navigating these structures efficiently would be greatly enhanced by visual support.
This is particularly useful for working with unknown or undocumented data structures, which are not yet covered by the otherwise well-functioning pattern mechanics.
Such a feature would be beneficial across various fields, from file system and memory analysis to reverse engineering and network packet analysis.
I imagine the forensics community would greatly appreciate the ability to navigate in this way.
Personally, I would love to see this feature implemented in an academic setting, especially for teaching students about data structures in forensics.
Request Type
- I can provide a PoC for this feature or am willing to work on it myself and submit a PR
Additional context?
This may be closely related to #2146.