# Write Structoffset As YAML

> Write struct member offset analysis results as YAML file beside the binary using IDA Pro MCP. Use this skill after identifying a struct member offset and optionally generating a signature for it to persist the results in a standardized YAML format.

- Skill: `hlnd2t/write-structoffset-as-yaml` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add hlnd2t/write-structoffset-as-yaml`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/hlnd2t/write-structoffset-as-yaml/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: HLND2T (https://skillmd.com/u/hlnd2t)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/hlnd2t/write-structoffset-as-yaml

---


# Write Struct Offset as YAML

Persist a single struct member offset analysis result to a YAML file beside the binary using IDA Pro MCP.

## Prerequisites

Before using this skill, you should have:
1. Identified the struct name and member name
2. Determined the member offset (and optionally size)
3. Generated a unique signature using `/generate-signature-for-structoffset`

## Required Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| `struct_name` | Name of the struct/class | `CBaseEntity` |
| `member_name` | Name of the struct member | `m_skeletonInstance` |
| `offset` | Hex offset of the member from struct start | `0x278` |

## Optional Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| `size` | Size of the member in bytes (use `None` to omit) | `8` |
| `offset_sig` | Unique byte signature locating an instruction that contains the offset (use `None` to omit) | `8B 93 E0 04 00 00` |
| `offset_sig_disp` | Byte displacement from signature start to the target instruction. `0` or `None` means signature starts at the target instruction. Non-zero means backward expansion was used by `/generate-signature-for-structoffset`. (use `None` to omit) | `8` |

## Method

```python
mcp__ida-pro-mcp__py_eval code="""
import idaapi
import os
import yaml

# === REQUIRED: Replace these values ===
struct_name = "<struct_name>"           # e.g., "CBaseEntity"
member_name = "<member_name>"           # e.g., "m_skeletonInstance"
offset = <offset>                       # e.g., 0x278
# ======================================

# === OPTIONAL: Set to None to omit from output ===
size = <size>                           # e.g., 8 or None
offset_sig = <offset_sig>              # e.g., "8B 93 E0 04 00 00" or None
offset_sig_disp = <offset_sig_disp>    # e.g., 8 or None (0 also omitted)
# =================================================

# Get binary path and determine platform
input_file = idaapi.get_input_file_path()
dir_path = os.environ.get('CS2VIBE_ARTIFACT_DIR') or os.path.dirname(input_file)

if input_file.endswith('.dll'):
    platform = 'windows'
else:
    platform = 'linux'

# Build data dictionary conditionally
data = {}

data['struct_name'] = struct_name
data['member_name'] = member_name
data['offset'] = hex(offset)

if size is not None and size > 0:
    data['size'] = size

if offset_sig is not None:
    data['offset_sig'] = offset_sig

if offset_sig_disp is not None and offset_sig_disp > 0:
    data['offset_sig_disp'] = offset_sig_disp

yaml_path = os.path.join(dir_path, f"{struct_name}_{member_name}.{platform}.yaml")
with open(yaml_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    yaml.dump(data, f, default_flow_style=False, sort_keys=False, allow_unicode=True)
print(f"Written to: {yaml_path}")
"""
```

## Output File Naming Convention

The output YAML filename follows this pattern:
- `<struct_name>_<member_name>.<platform>.yaml`

Examples:
- `server.dll` → `CBaseEntity_m_skeletonInstance.windows.yaml`
- `libserver.so` / `libserver.so` → `CBaseEntity_m_skeletonInstance.linux.yaml`

## Output YAML Format

Full output (with `size`, `offset_sig`, and `offset_sig_disp` provided):
```yaml
struct_name: CBaseEntity
member_name: m_skeletonInstance
offset: 0x278
size: 8
offset_sig: FF 50 ?? 48 85 C0 74 ?? 48 8B 80 A0 03 00 00 48 83 C4 28 C3
offset_sig_disp: 8
```

Output without backward expansion (`offset_sig_disp` is 0 or omitted):
```yaml
struct_name: CBaseEntity
member_name: m_skeletonInstance
offset: 0x278
size: 8
offset_sig: 8B 93 78 02 00 00
```

Minimal output (with `size=None`, `offset_sig=None`):
```yaml
struct_name: CBaseEntity
member_name: m_skeletonInstance
offset: 0x278
```

Each field:
- `struct_name` - Name of the struct/class
- `member_name` - Name of the struct member
- `offset` - Hex offset from struct start
- `size` (optional) - Size in bytes
- `offset_sig` (optional) - Unique byte signature of an instruction containing the offset (e.g., `8B 93 E0 04 00 00` for `mov edx, [rbx+4E0h]`)
- `offset_sig_disp` (optional) - Byte displacement from signature start to the target instruction. Only present when non-zero (backward expansion was used). Runtime: scan for `offset_sig`, then add `offset_sig_disp` to get the target instruction address.

## Platform Detection

The skill automatically detects the platform based on file extension:
- `.dll` → Windows
- `.so` → Linux

## Example Usage

### With all parameters

```python
struct_name = "CBaseEntity"
member_name = "m_skeletonInstance"
offset = 0x278
size = 8
offset_sig = "8B 93 78 02 00 00"
offset_sig_disp = None
```

### With backward-expanded signature

```python
struct_name = "CSkeletonInstance"
member_name = "m_animationController"
offset = 0x3A0
size = 8
offset_sig = "FF 50 40 48 85 C0 74 0C 48 8B 80 A0 03 00 00 48 83 C4 28 C3"
offset_sig_disp = 8
```

### Without optional parameters

```python
struct_name = "CBaseEntity"
member_name = "m_skeletonInstance"
offset = 0x278
size = None
offset_sig = None
offset_sig_disp = None
```

### With only size

```python
struct_name = "CBaseEntity"
member_name = "m_iHealth"
offset = 0x408
size = 4
offset_sig = None
```

### With only signature

```python
struct_name = "CBaseEntity"
member_name = "m_nActualMoveType"
offset = 0x4E0
size = None
offset_sig = "8B 93 E0 04 00 00"
```

## Trusted finalization

This writer produces a semantic YAML payload at the caller-provided expected artifact path. It does not own final field ordering, scalar spelling, encoding, or line endings. After runtime validation, the trusted analyzer rewrites every successful preprocessor or Agent output through the Source2 central canonicalizer; that canonical rewrite is the only byte-level trust boundary.

## Notes

- All offsets are written in hexadecimal format with lowercase `0x` prefix
- The YAML file is written to the same directory as the input binary
- When `size` is `None` or `0`, the `size` field is omitted from the output entirely
- When `offset_sig` is `None`, the `offset_sig` field is omitted from the output entirely
- When `offset_sig_disp` is `None` or `0`, the `offset_sig_disp` field is omitted from the output entirely (signature starts at the target instruction)
- `offset_sig` should be a signature generated by `/generate-signature-for-structoffset`
- `offset_sig_disp` is the byte displacement from signature start to the target instruction, only needed when backward expansion was used