Abstract: To analyze data fields in an unstructured data set or a data set where the structure is unknown, masks can be constructed and used to determine locations of the individual fields within each data set entry. The locations can be indicated as offsets within a data set entry. An offset indicates where a data field begins. A set of masks can be constructed for at least some of the entries in a data set (e.g., a file). The masks can include a mask for padding (e.g., spaces, tabs, zeroes, etc.), and each expected type of data (e.g., alphabetic character, numeric character, and symbol). Each type of mask can be aggregated across data set entries and then analyzed to identify individual field locations. With the information about field locations, the data set can be analyzed.

Abstract: To analyze data fields in an unstructured data set or a data set where the structure is unknown, masks can be constructed and used to determine locations of the individual fields within each data set entry. The locations can be indicated as offsets within a data set entry. An offset indicates where a data field begins. A set of masks can be constructed for at least some of the entries in a data set (e.g., a file). The masks can include a mask for padding (e.g., spaces, tabs, zeroes, etc.), and each expected type of data (e.g., alphabetic character, numeric character, and symbol). Each type of mask can be aggregated across data set entries and then analyzed to identify individual field locations. With the information about field locations, the data set can be analyzed.