Microsoft Word DOC File Format - Complete

Technical Specification
Document Information
Format Name: Microsoft Word Binary File Format (.doc)
Specification Version: MS-DOC 12.4 (August 2025)
Applicable Versions: Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002 (XP), and 2003
File Extension: .doc
MIME Type: application/msword
File Signature: D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (OLE2 Compound File)

1. Overview
The Microsoft Word DOC file format is a proprietary binary file format that stores word
processing documents. The format is based on the OLE2 Compound File Binary Format (CFBF),
which provides a file system-like structure within a single file.

1.1 Format Foundation

Base Technology: OLE2 Compound Document Format
Structure: Multi-stream hierarchical storage system
Data Organization: Streams and storages within compound document
Maximum File Size: ~2.1 GB (0x7FFFFFFF bytes per stream)

2. File Structure

2.1 OLE2 Compound Document Structure

2.1.1 File Header

The DOC file begins with the standard OLE2 compound file header:
File Signature: D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (8 bytes)
Minor Version: 0x003E (2 bytes)
Major Version: 0x003E or 0x0004 (2 bytes)
Byte Order: 0xFFFE (2 bytes)
Sector Size: 0x0009 (512 bytes) or 0x000C (4096 bytes)
 Mini Sector Size: 0x0006 (64 bytes)

2.1.2 Directory Structure

Root Entry: Parent container for all streams and storages
Directory Stream: Index of all streams and storages
Sector Allocation Tables: Define sector positions within file

2.2 Core Streams

2.2.1 WordDocument Stream (Required)

Purpose: Main document content and File Information Block (FIB)
Location: FIB starts at offset 0
Size Limit: Maximum 0x7FFFFFFF bytes
Content: Document text, formatting references, and structure information

2.2.2 Table Stream (Required - Either 1Table or 0Table)

Selection: Determined by fWhichTblStm flag in FIB
0Table Stream: Used when fWhichTblStm = 0
1Table Stream: Used when fWhichTblStm = 1
Purpose: Contains formatting data and document structure information
Size Limit: Maximum 0x7FFFFFFF bytes
Encryption: For encrypted documents, begins with EncryptionHeader at offset 0

2.2.3 Data Stream (Optional)

Purpose: Additional document data referenced from FIB
Structure: No predefined structure
Size Limit: Maximum 0x7FFFFFFF bytes if present
Presence: Only exists if referenced from other file components

3. File Information Block (FIB)

3.1 FIB Overview

The FIB is a variable-length master record that begins every WordDocument stream at offset 0.
It contains:
Document identification information
File pointers to various document portions
 Formatting and structure references
Version and compatibility information

3.2 FIB Structure Layout

FIB Structure:
┌─────────────────┐
│ FibBase (32) │ Fixed-size base portion
├─────────────────┤
│ csw (2) │ Count of 16-bit values in fibRgW
├─────────────────┤
│ fibRgW (28) │ FibRgW97 structure
├─────────────────┤
│ cslw (2) │ Count of 32-bit values in fibRgLw
├─────────────────┤
│ fibRgLw (88) │ FibRgLw97 structure
├─────────────────┤
│ cbRgFcLcb (2) │ Count of 64-bit values in fibRgFcLcbBlob
├─────────────────┤
│ fibRgFcLcbBlob │ Variable-size FibRgFcLcb structure
├─────────────────┤
│ cswNew (2) │ Count of 16-bit values in fibRgCswNew
├─────────────────┤
│ fibRgCswNew │ Optional variable-size structure
└─────────────────┘

3.3 FibBase Structure (32 bytes)

3.3.1 Field Definitions

Offset Size Field Description

0 2 wIdent Word Binary File identifier (MUST be 0xA5EC)

2 2 nFib File format version number (SHOULD be 0x00C1)

4 2 unused Undefined value (MUST be ignored)

6 2 lid Install language ID (LID)

8 2 pnNext Offset to AutoText FIB (×512 bytes)

10 2 flags1 Various boolean flags

12 2 nFibBack Compatibility version (SHOULD be 0x00BF)

14 4 lKey Encryption/obfuscation key

18 1 envr Environment (MUST be 0)

19 1 flags2 Additional boolean flags

20 2 reserved3 Reserved (MUST be 0)

22 2 reserved4 Reserved (MUST be 0)

 Offset Size Field Description

24 4 reserved5 Undefined (MUST be ignored)

28 4 reserved6 Undefined (MUST be ignored)

3.3.2 Flags1 Bit Fields (Offset 10-11)

Bit Field Description

0 fDot Document template flag

1 fGlsy AutoText-only document flag

2 fComplex Incremental save operation flag

3 fHasPic Pictures in document flag

4-7 cQuickSaves Quick save count (4 bits)

8 fEncrypted Document encrypted flag

9 fWhichTblStm Table stream selection (0=0Table, 1=1Table)

10 fReadOnlyRecommended Read-only mode recommended flag

11 fWriteReservation Write-reservation password flag

12 fExtChar Extended character flag (MUST be 1)

13 fLoadOverride Language override flag

14 fFarEast East Asian language flag

15 fObfuscated XOR obfuscation flag

3.3.3 Flags2 Bit Fields (Offset 19)

Bit Field Description

0 fMac Mac compatibility (MUST be 0)

1 fEmptySpecial Empty special (SHOULD be 0)

2 fLoadOverridePage Page property override flag

3 reserved1 Reserved bit

4 reserved2 Reserved bit

5-7 fSpare0 Spare bits (3 bits)

3.4 Variable Sections

3.4.1 Section Size Specifications
nFib Value cbRgFcLcb cswNew

0x00C1 0x005D 0

0x00D9 0x006C 0x0002

0x0101 0x0088 0x0002

0x010C 0x00A4 0x0002

0x0112 0x00B7 0x0005

4. Data Structures

4.1 Character Position (CP)

4.1.1 Definition
A Character Position (CP) is an unsigned 32-bit integer representing a zero-based index for
characters in the document.

4.1.2 Properties
Data Type: Unsigned 32-bit integer
Range: 0 to 0x7FFFFFFF (2,147,483,647)
Purpose: Index characters, object anchors, and control characters
Note: Consecutive CPs may not be at adjacent file locations

4.1.3 Content Types

Main document text
Footnote text
Header/footer text
Object anchors
Control characters (paragraph marks, etc.)

4.2 PLC (Plex) Structure

4.2.1 Overview
The PLC structure is an array format used throughout DOC files for organizing character
positions with associated data.
4.2.2 Structure Layout

PLC Structure:
┌─────────────────┐
│ CP[0] │ ─┐
├─────────────────┤ │
│ CP[1] │ │ Array of CPs
├─────────────────┤ │ (n+1 elements)
│ ... │ │
├─────────────────┤ │
│ CP[n] │ ─┘
├─────────────────┤
│ Data[0] │ ─┐
├─────────────────┤ │
│ Data[1] │ │ Array of data elements
├─────────────────┤ │ (n elements)
│ ... │ │
├─────────────────┤ │
│ Data[n-1] │ ─┘
└─────────────────┘

4.2.3 Constraints
Number of CPs MUST be one more than data elements
CPs MUST appear in ascending order
All data elements MUST be the same size
Size calculation: n = (cbPlc - 4) / (cbData + 4)

5. Document Content Organization

5.1 Text Storage

5.1.1 Location
Document text begins at position specified by [Link] in the WordDocument stream.

5.1.2 Content Types

Main document body text
Footnotes and endnotes
Headers and footers
Comments and annotations
Control characters (paragraph marks, section breaks)
Object anchors for embedded elements
5.2 Formatting Information

5.2.1 FKP Structures

Formatted Disk Pages (FKPs) contain formatting information:
CHPs: Character property formatting
PAPs: Paragraph property formatting
LVCs: List property formatting

5.2.2 Organization
FKPs follow the document text
Different FKP types are interleaved (not grouped)
Each FKP contains multiple formatting records

5.3 Section Formatting

SEPXs (Section Property eXtensions) contain section-level formatting:
Page setup information
Headers and footers references
Column layout specifications
Page numbering settings

6. Encryption and Security

6.1 Encryption Methods

6.1.1 XOR Obfuscation

Activation: When fEncrypted=1 and fObfuscated=1
Key Location: lKey field in FibBase
Method: Simple XOR obfuscation algorithm
Purpose: Basic content protection

6.1.2 Standard Encryption

Activation: When fEncrypted=1 and fObfuscated=0
Header Location: Beginning of Table stream
Size: Specified by lKey field in FibBase
Method: Standard encryption algorithms
6.2 Password Protection
Write Reservation: fWriteReservation flag
Read-Only Recommendation: fReadOnlyRecommended flag
Document Protection: Various document restriction settings

7. Version History and Compatibility

7.1 Format Versions

7.1.1 Version Evolution

Word 1.0-2.0: Early proprietary format (discontinued)
Word 6.0-95: Modified binary format
Word 97-2003: OLE2-based format (current specification)
Word 2007+: DOCX default with DOC compatibility

7.1.2 nFib Version Codes

0x00C1: Word 97 format
0x00D9: Word 2000 format
0x0101: Word 2002 format
0x010C: Word 2003 format
0x0112: Enhanced Word 2003 format

7.2 Compatibility Considerations

7.2.1 Language Support

East Asian language handling varies by version
Spanish, German, French language recording rules
Vietnamese, Thai, Hindi support in later versions

7.2.2 Feature Support

AutoText attachment capabilities
Template functionality
Embedded object support
Macro support and security
8. Implementation Guidelines

8.1 Reading DOC Files

8.1.1 Basic Steps

1. Validate OLE2 compound file structure
2. Locate and read WordDocument stream
3. Parse FIB structure starting at offset 0
4. Determine Table stream (0Table or 1Table)
5. Read document text from fcMin position
6. Parse formatting information using FIB pointers

8.1.2 Error Handling

Validate all structure sizes and boundaries
Check for encryption before processing
Handle version differences appropriately
Verify stream existence before reading

8.2 Writing DOC Files

8.2.1 Structure Creation

1. Create OLE2 compound document container
2. Write WordDocument stream with proper FIB
3. Create appropriate Table stream
4. Write document text and formatting data
5. Update all file pointers in FIB
6. Finalize compound document structure

8.2.2 Compatibility Requirements

Set appropriate nFib version number
Include required structure elements
Maintain proper stream size limits
Handle language and encoding correctly
9. Technical Specifications Summary

9.1 File Limits

Maximum file size: ~2.1 GB (theoretical)
Maximum stream size: 0x7FFFFFFF bytes each
Maximum text length: 0x7FFFFFFF characters
Sector size: 512 or 4096 bytes

9.2 Data Types

CP: Unsigned 32-bit integer (character position)
FC: File position (32-bit unsigned integer)
LCB: Length in bytes (32-bit unsigned integer)
LID: Language identifier (16-bit unsigned integer)

9.3 Required Streams

WordDocument: Main document content (required)
0Table or 1Table: Formatting data (required)
Data: Additional document data (optional)

9.4 Optional Components

Summary Information: Document properties
Document Summary Information: Extended properties
Object Storage: Embedded OLE objects
VBA Storage: Macro code and data

10. References and Resources

10.1 Official Documentation

Microsoft Open Specifications: [MS-DOC] Word (.doc) Binary File Format
Version 12.4: Published August 19, 2025
License: Microsoft Open Specification Promise
10.2 Related Specifications
[MS-CFB]: Compound File Binary File Format
[MS-OLEDS]: OLE1.0 and OLE2.0 Formats
[MS-OFFCRYPTO]: Office Document Cryptography Structure

10.3 Implementation Tools

Microsoft Word 97-2003: Reference implementation
Open Source Libraries: wvWare, Apache POI, LibreOffice
Reverse Engineering: Historical community efforts

This specification document represents the complete technical details of the Microsoft Word
DOC binary file format as documented in the official Microsoft specifications and related
technical resources.