sigparse.cpp

8/25/10 Update: All sample code for this topic is now also available on the MSDN Code Gallery SigParse page.

All source code is provided as is, with no warranties intended or implied. Use at your own risk.

 /*

Sig ::= MethodDefSig | MethodRefSig | StandAloneMethodSig | FieldSig | PropertySig | LocalVarSig

MethodDefSig ::= [[HASTHIS] [EXPLICITTHIS]] (DEFAULT|VARARG|GENERIC GenParamCount) ParamCount RetType Param*

MethodRefSig ::= [[HASTHIS] [EXPLICITTHIS]] VARARG ParamCount RetType Param* [SENTINEL Param+]

StandAloneMethodSig ::=  [[HASTHIS] [EXPLICITTHIS]] (DEFAULT|VARARG|C|STDCALL|THISCALL|FASTCALL) 
                    ParamCount RetType Param* [SENTINEL Param+]

FieldSig ::= FIELD CustomMod* Type

PropertySig ::= PROPERTY [HASTHIS] ParamCount CustomMod* Type Param*

LocalVarSig ::= LOCAL_SIG Count (TYPEDBYREF | ([CustomMod] [Constraint])* [BYREF] Type)+ 


-------------

CustomMod ::= ( CMOD_OPT | CMOD_REQD ) ( TypeDefEncoded | TypeRefEncoded )

Constraint ::= #define ELEMENT_TYPE_PINNED

Param ::= CustomMod* ( TYPEDBYREF | [BYREF] Type )

RetType ::= CustomMod* ( VOID | TYPEDBYREF | [BYREF] Type )

Type ::= ( BOOLEAN | CHAR | I1 | U1 | U2 | U2 | I4 | U4 | I8 | U8 | R4 | R8 | I | U |
                | VALUETYPE TypeDefOrRefEncoded
                | CLASS TypeDefOrRefEncoded
                | STRING 
                | OBJECT
                | PTR CustomMod* VOID
                | PTR CustomMod* Type
                | FNPTR MethodDefSig
                | FNPTR MethodRefSig
                | ARRAY Type ArrayShape
                | SZARRAY CustomMod* Type
                | GENERICINST (CLASS | VALUETYPE) TypeDefOrRefEncoded GenArgCount Type*
                | VAR Number
                | MVAR Number

ArrayShape ::= Rank NumSizes Size* NumLoBounds LoBound*

TypeDefOrRefEncoded ::= TypeDefEncoded | TypeRefEncoded
TypeDefEncoded ::= 32-bit-3-part-encoding-for-typedefs-and-typerefs
TypeRefEncoded ::= 32-bit-3-part-encoding-for-typedefs-and-typerefs

ParamCount ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
GenArgCount ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
Count ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
Rank ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
NumSizes ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
Size ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
NumLoBounds ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
LoBounds ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer
Number ::= 29-bit-encoded-integer

*/

#define ELEMENT_TYPE_END 0x00 //Marks end of a list
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_VOID 0x01
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_BOOLEAN 0x02
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_CHAR 0x03
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_I1 0x04
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_U1 0x05
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_I2 0x06
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_U2 0x07
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_I4 0x08
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_U4 0x09
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_I8 0x0a
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_U8 0x0b
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_R4 0x0c
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_R8 0x0d
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_STRING 0x0e
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_PTR 0x0f // Followed by type
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_BYREF 0x10 // Followed by type
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_VALUETYPE 0x11 // Followed by TypeDef or TypeRef token
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_CLASS 0x12 // Followed by TypeDef or TypeRef token
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_VAR 0x13 // Generic parameter in a generic type definition, represented as number
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_ARRAY 0x14 // type rank boundsCount bound1 … loCount lo1 …
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_GENERICINST 0x15 // Generic type instantiation. Followed by type type-arg-count type-1 ... type-n
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_TYPEDBYREF 0x16
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_I 0x18 // System.IntPtr
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_U 0x19 // System.UIntPtr
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_FNPTR 0x1b // Followed by full method signature
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_OBJECT 0x1c // System.Object
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_SZARRAY 0x1d // Single-dim array with 0 lower bound

#define ELEMENT_TYPE_MVAR 0x1e // Generic parameter in a generic method definition,represented as number
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_REQD 0x1f // Required modifier : followed by a TypeDef or TypeRef token
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_OPT 0x20 // Optional modifier : followed by a TypeDef or TypeRef token
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_INTERNAL 0x21 // Implemented within the CLI
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_MODIFIER 0x40 // Or’d with following element types
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_SENTINEL 0x41 // Sentinel for vararg method signature
#define ELEMENT_TYPE_PINNED 0x45 // Denotes a local variable that points at a pinned object

#define SIG_METHOD_DEFAULT  0x0 // default calling convention
#define SIG_METHOD_C  0x1       // C calling convention
#define SIG_METHOD_STDCALL  0x2 // Stdcall calling convention
#define SIG_METHOD_THISCALL 0x3 // thiscall  calling convention
#define SIG_METHOD_FASTCALL 0x4 // fastcall calling convention
#define SIG_METHOD_VARARG  0x5  // vararg calling convention
#define SIG_FIELD 0x6           // encodes a field
#define SIG_LOCAL_SIG 0x7       // used for the .locals directive
#define SIG_PROPERTY 0x8        // used to encode a property


#define SIG_GENERIC 0x10 // used to indicate that the method has one or more generic parameters.
#define SIG_HASTHIS 0x20  // used to encode the keyword instance in the calling convention
#define SIG_EXPLICITTHIS  0x40 // used to encode the keyword explicit in the calling convention

#define SIG_INDEX_TYPE_TYPEDEF 0    // ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded returns this as the out index type for typedefs
#define SIG_INDEX_TYPE_TYPEREF 1    // ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded returns this as the out index type for typerefs
#define SIG_INDEX_TYPE_TYPESPEC 2  // ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded returns this as the out index type for typespecs


typedef unsigned char sig_byte;
typedef unsigned char sig_elem_type;
typedef unsigned char sig_index_type;
typedef unsigned int sig_index;
typedef unsigned int sig_count;
typedef unsigned int sig_mem_number;

class SigParser
{
private:
    sig_byte *pbBase;
    sig_byte *pbCur;
    sig_byte *pbEnd;

public:    
    bool Parse(sig_byte *blob, sig_count len);

private:
    bool ParseByte(sig_byte *pbOut);
    bool ParseNumber(sig_count *pOut);
    bool ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded(sig_index_type *pOutIndexType, sig_index *pOutIndex);

    bool ParseMethod(sig_elem_type);
    bool ParseField(sig_elem_type);
    bool ParseProperty(sig_elem_type);
    bool ParseLocals(sig_elem_type);
    bool ParseLocal();
    bool ParseOptionalCustomMods();
    bool ParseOptionalCustomModsOrConstraint();
    bool ParseCustomMod();
    bool ParseRetType();
    bool ParseType();
    bool ParseParam();
    bool ParseArrayShape();
    
protected:

    // subtype these methods to create your parser side-effects

    //----------------------------------------------------
    
    // a method with given elem_type
    virtual void NotifyBeginMethod(sig_elem_type elem_type)  {}
    virtual void NotifyEndMethod()  {}

    // total parameters for the method
    virtual void NotifyParamCount(sig_count) {}

    // starting a return type
    virtual void NotifyBeginRetType() {}
    virtual void NotifyEndRetType() {}

    // starting a parameter
    virtual void NotifyBeginParam() {}
    virtual void NotifyEndParam() {}

    // sentinel indication the location of the "..." in the method signature
    virtual void NotifySentinal() {}

    // number of generic parameters in this method signature (if any)
    virtual void NotifyGenericParamCount(sig_count) {}

    //----------------------------------------------------

    // a field with given elem_type
    virtual void NotifyBeginField(sig_elem_type elem_type)  {}
    virtual void NotifyEndField()  {}

    //----------------------------------------------------

    // a block of locals with given elem_type (always just LOCAL_SIG for now)
    virtual void NotifyBeginLocals(sig_elem_type elem_type)  {}
    virtual void NotifyEndLocals()  {}

    // count of locals with a block
    virtual void NotifyLocalsCount(sig_count) {}

    // starting a new local within a local block
    virtual void NotifyBeginLocal()  {}
    virtual void NotifyEndLocal()  {}

    // the only constraint available to locals at the moment is ELEMENT_TYPE_PINNED
    virtual void NotifyConstraint(sig_elem_type elem_type) {}


    //----------------------------------------------------

    // a property with given element type
    virtual void NotifyBeginProperty(sig_elem_type elem_type)  {}
    virtual void NotifyEndProperty()  {}

    //----------------------------------------------------

    // starting array shape information for array types
    virtual void NotifyBeginArrayShape() {}
    virtual void NotifyEndArrayShape() {}

    // array rank (total number of dimensions)
    virtual void NotifyRank(sig_count) {}

    // number of dimensions with specified sizes followed by the size of each
    virtual void NotifyNumSizes(sig_count) {}
    virtual void NotifySize(sig_count) {}

    // BUG BUG lower bounds can be negative, how can this be encoded?
    // number of dimensions with specified lower bounds followed by lower bound of each 
    virtual void NotifyNumLoBounds(sig_count) {}  
    virtual void NotifyLoBound(sig_count) {}

    //----------------------------------------------------


    // starting a normal type (occurs in many contexts such as param, field, local, etc)
    virtual void NotifyBeginType() {};
    virtual void NotifyEndType() {};
    
    virtual void NotifyTypedByref() {}

    // the type has the 'byref' modifier on it -- this normally proceeds the type definition in the context
    // the type is used, so for instance a parameter might have the byref modifier on it
    // so this happens before the BeginType in that context
    virtual void NotifyByref() {}

    // the type is "VOID" (this has limited uses, function returns and void pointer)
    virtual void NotifyVoid() {}

    // the type has the indicated custom modifiers (which can be optional or required)
    virtual void NotifyCustomMod(sig_elem_type cmod, sig_index_type indexType, sig_index index) {}

    // the type is a simple type, the elem_type defines it fully
    virtual void NotifyTypeSimple(sig_elem_type  elem_type) {}

    // the type is specified by the given index of the given index type (normally a type index in the type metadata)
    // this callback is normally qualified by other ones such as NotifyTypeClass or NotifyTypeValueType
    virtual void NotifyTypeDefOrRef(sig_index_type  indexType, int index) {}

    // the type is an instance of a generic
    // elem_type indicates value_type or class
    // indexType and index indicate the metadata for the type in question
    // number indicates the number of type specifications for the generic types that will follow
    virtual void NotifyTypeGenericInst(sig_elem_type elem_type, sig_index_type indexType, sig_index index, sig_mem_number number) {}

    // the type is the type of the nth generic type parameter for the class
    virtual void NotifyTypeGenericTypeVariable(sig_mem_number number) {}  

    // the type is the type of the nth generic type parameter for the member
    virtual void NotifyTypeGenericMemberVariable(sig_mem_number number) {}  

    // the type will be a value type
    virtual void NotifyTypeValueType() {}

    // the type will be a class
    virtual void NotifyTypeClass() {}

    // the type is a pointer to a type (nested type notifications follow)
    virtual void NotifyTypePointer() {}

    // the type is a function pointer, followed by the type of the function
    virtual void NotifyTypeFunctionPointer() {}

    // the type is an array, this is followed by the array shape, see above, as well as modifiers and element type
    virtual void NotifyTypeArray() {}
    
    // the type is a simple zero-based array, this has no shape but does have custom modifiers and element type
    virtual void NotifyTypeSzArray() {}
};

//----------------------------------------------------


bool SigParser::Parse(sig_byte *pb, sig_count cbBuffer)
{
    pbBase = pb;
    pbCur = pb;
    pbEnd = pbBase + cbBuffer;

    sig_elem_type elem_type;

    if (!ParseByte(&elem_type))
        return false;

    switch (elem_type & 0xf)
    {
    case SIG_METHOD_DEFAULT:  // default calling convention
    case SIG_METHOD_C:    // C calling convention
    case SIG_METHOD_STDCALL: // Stdcall calling convention
    case SIG_METHOD_THISCALL: // thiscall  calling convention
    case SIG_METHOD_FASTCALL: // fastcall calling convention
    case SIG_METHOD_VARARG:   // vararg calling convention
            return ParseMethod(elem_type);
            break;
            
    case SIG_FIELD:           // encodes a field
            return ParseField(elem_type);
            break;
            
    case SIG_LOCAL_SIG:       // used for the .locals directive
            return ParseLocals(elem_type);
            break;
            
    case SIG_PROPERTY:        // used to encode a property
            return ParseProperty(elem_type);
            break;
            
    default:
            // unknown signature
            break;
    }

    return false;
}


bool SigParser::ParseByte(sig_byte *pbOut)
{
    if (pbCur < pbEnd)
    {
        *pbOut = *pbCur;
        pbCur++;
        return true;
    }
    
    return false;
}


bool SigParser::ParseMethod(sig_elem_type elem_type)
{
    // MethodDefSig ::= [[HASTHIS] [EXPLICITTHIS]] (DEFAULT|VARARG|GENERIC GenParamCount)
    //                    ParamCount RetType Param* [SENTINEL Param+]

    NotifyBeginMethod(elem_type);

    sig_count gen_param_count;
    sig_count param_count;

    if (elem_type & SIG_GENERIC)
    {
        if (!ParseNumber(&gen_param_count))
                return false;
        
        NotifyGenericParamCount(gen_param_count);        
    }

    if (!ParseNumber(¶m_count))
        return false;
    
    NotifyParamCount(param_count);

    if (!ParseRetType())
        return false;

    bool fEncounteredSentinal = false;

    for (sig_count i = 0; i < param_count; i++)
    {
        if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
            return false;
        
        if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_SENTINEL)
        {
                if (fEncounteredSentinal)
                    return false;

                fEncounteredSentinal = true;
                NotifySentinal();
                pbCur++;
        }
        
        if (!ParseParam())
            return false;
    }

    NotifyEndMethod();

    return true;
}


bool SigParser::ParseField(sig_elem_type elem_type)
{
    // FieldSig ::= FIELD CustomMod* Type

    NotifyBeginField(elem_type);
    
    if (!ParseOptionalCustomMods())
        return false;

    if (!ParseType())
        return false;

    NotifyEndField();

    return true;
}


bool SigParser::ParseProperty(sig_elem_type elem_type)
{
    // PropertySig ::= PROPERTY [HASTHIS] ParamCount CustomMod* Type Param*

    NotifyBeginProperty(elem_type);

    sig_count param_count;

    if (!ParseNumber(&param_count))
        return false;
    
    NotifyParamCount(param_count);
    
    if (!ParseOptionalCustomMods())
        return false;

    if (!ParseType())
        return false;

    for (sig_count i = 0; i < param_count; i++)
    {
        if (!ParseParam())
            return false;
    }

    NotifyEndProperty();

    return true;
}


bool SigParser::ParseLocals(sig_elem_type elem_type)
{
    //   LocalVarSig ::= LOCAL_SIG Count (TYPEDBYREF | ([CustomMod] [Constraint])* [BYREF] Type)+ 

    NotifyBeginLocals(elem_type);

    sig_count local_count;
    
    if (!ParseNumber(&local_count))
        return false;
    
    NotifyLocalsCount(local_count);
    
    for (sig_count i = 0; i < local_count; i++)
    {
        if (!ParseLocal())
            return false;
    }

    NotifyEndLocals();

    return true;
}


bool SigParser::ParseLocal()
{
    //TYPEDBYREF | ([CustomMod] [Constraint])* [BYREF] Type
    NotifyBeginLocal();

    if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
        return false;

    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_TYPEDBYREF)
    {
        NotifyTypedByref();
        pbCur++;
        goto Success;
    }

    if (!ParseOptionalCustomModsOrConstraint())
        return false;

    if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
        return false;

    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_BYREF)
    {
        NotifyByref();
        pbCur++;
    }

    if (!ParseType())
        return false;

Success:
    NotifyEndLocal();
    return true;
}


bool SigParser::ParseOptionalCustomModsOrConstraint()
{  
    for (;;)
    {
        if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
            return true;
        
        switch (*pbCur)
        {
        case ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_OPT:
        case ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_REQD:
            if (!ParseCustomMod())
                return false;
            break;
            
        case ELEMENT_TYPE_PINNED:
            NotifyConstraint(*pbCur);
            pbCur++;
            break;

        default:
            return true;
        }
    }

    return false;
}


bool SigParser::ParseOptionalCustomMods()
{
    for (;;)
    {
        if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
            return true;

        switch (*pbCur)
        {
        case ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_OPT:
        case ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_REQD:
            if (!ParseCustomMod())
                return false;
            break;       

        default:
            return true;
        }
    }

    return false;
}



bool SigParser::ParseCustomMod()
{
    sig_elem_type cmod = 0;
    sig_index index;
    sig_index_type indexType;

    if (!ParseByte(&cmod))
        return false;

    if (cmod == ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_OPT || cmod == ELEMENT_TYPE_CMOD_REQD)
    {
        if (!ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded(&indexType, &index))
            return false;

        NotifyCustomMod(cmod, indexType, index);
        return true;
    }
    
    return false;
}


bool SigParser::ParseParam()
{
    // Param ::= CustomMod* ( TYPEDBYREF | [BYREF] Type )

    NotifyBeginParam();

    if (!ParseOptionalCustomMods())
        return false;

    if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
        return false;
    
    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_TYPEDBYREF)
    {
        NotifyTypedByref();
        pbCur++;
        goto Success;
    }

    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_BYREF)
    {
        NotifyByref();
        pbCur++;
    }

    if (!ParseType())
        return false;
        
Success:
    NotifyEndParam();
    return true;
}


bool SigParser::ParseRetType()
{
    // RetType ::= CustomMod* ( VOID | TYPEDBYREF | [BYREF] Type )

    NotifyBeginRetType();

    if (!ParseOptionalCustomMods())
        return false;

    if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
        return false;

    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_TYPEDBYREF)
    {
        NotifyTypedByref();
        pbCur++;
        goto Success;
    }

    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_VOID)
    {
        NotifyVoid();
        pbCur++;
        goto Success;
    }

    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_BYREF)
    {
        NotifyByref();
        pbCur++;
    }

    if (!ParseType())
        return false;

Success:        
    NotifyEndRetType();
    return true;
}

bool SigParser::ParseArrayShape()
{
    sig_count rank;
    sig_count numsizes;
    sig_count size;
    
    // ArrayShape ::= Rank NumSizes Size* NumLoBounds LoBound*
    NotifyBeginArrayShape();
    if (!ParseNumber(&rank))
        return false;

    NotifyRank(rank);

    if (!ParseNumber(&numsizes))
        return false;

    NotifyNumSizes(numsizes);

    for (sig_count i = 0; i < numsizes; i++)
    {
        if (!ParseNumber(&size))
            return false;

        NotifySize(size);
    }

    if (!ParseNumber(&numsizes))
        return false;

    NotifyNumLoBounds(numsizes);

    for (sig_count i = 0; i < numsizes; i++)
    {
        if (!ParseNumber(&size))
            return false;

        NotifyLoBound(size);
    }
    
    NotifyEndArrayShape();
    return true;    
}

bool SigParser::ParseType()
{
    /*
    Type ::= ( BOOLEAN | CHAR | I1 | U1 | U2 | U2 | I4 | U4 | I8 | U8 | R4 | R8 | I | U |
                    | VALUETYPE TypeDefOrRefEncoded
                    | CLASS TypeDefOrRefEncoded
                    | STRING 
                    | OBJECT
                    | PTR CustomMod* VOID
                    | PTR CustomMod* Type
                    | FNPTR MethodDefSig
                    | FNPTR MethodRefSig
                    | ARRAY Type ArrayShape
                    | SZARRAY CustomMod* Type
                    | GENERICINST (CLASS | VALUETYPE) TypeDefOrRefEncoded GenArgCount Type *
                    | VAR Number
                    | MVAR Number

    */

    NotifyBeginType();

    sig_elem_type elem_type;
    sig_index index;
    sig_mem_number number;
    sig_index_type indexType;

    if (!ParseByte(&elem_type))
        return false;

    switch (elem_type)
    {
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_BOOLEAN:
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_CHAR:
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_I1:
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_U1: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_U2: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_I2: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_I4: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_U4: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_I8: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_U8: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_R4: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_R8: 
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_I:
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_U:
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_STRING:
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_OBJECT:
        // simple types
        NotifyTypeSimple(elem_type);
        break;
        
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_PTR:
        // PTR CustomMod* VOID
        // PTR CustomMod* Type

        NotifyTypePointer();

        if (!ParseOptionalCustomMods())
            return false;

        if (pbCur >= pbEnd)
            return false;
        
    if (*pbCur == ELEMENT_TYPE_VOID)
        {
            pbCur++;
            NotifyVoid();
            break;
        }

        if (!ParseType())
            return false;
    
        break;
        
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_CLASS: 
        // CLASS TypeDefOrRefEncoded
        NotifyTypeClass();
        
        if (!ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded(&indexType, &index))
            return false;
        
        NotifyTypeDefOrRef(indexType, index);      
        break;

    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_VALUETYPE: 
        //VALUETYPE TypeDefOrRefEncoded
        NotifyTypeValueType();

        if (!ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded(&indexType, &index))
            return false;
        
        NotifyTypeDefOrRef(indexType, index);      
        break;
                    
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_FNPTR:
        // FNPTR MethodDefSig
        // FNPTR MethodRefSig
        NotifyTypeFunctionPointer();
        
        if (!ParseByte(&elem_type))
            return false;
        
        if (!ParseMethod(elem_type))
            return false;
        
        break;
        
    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_ARRAY:
        // ARRAY Type ArrayShape
        NotifyTypeArray();

        if (!ParseType())
            return false;

        if (!ParseArrayShape())
            return false;
        break;

    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_SZARRAY:
        // SZARRAY CustomMod* Type

        NotifyTypeSzArray();

        if (!ParseOptionalCustomMods())
            return false;

        if (!ParseType())
            return false;

        break;

    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_GENERICINST:
        // GENERICINST (CLASS | VALUETYPE) TypeDefOrRefEncoded GenArgCount Type *

        if (!ParseByte(&elem_type))
            return false;

        if (elem_type != ELEMENT_TYPE_CLASS && elem_type != ELEMENT_TYPE_VALUETYPE)
            return false;

        if (!ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded(&indexType, &index))
            return false;
      
        if (!ParseNumber(&number))
            return false;

        NotifyTypeGenericInst(elem_type, indexType, index, number);

        {
            for (sig_mem_number i=0; i < number; i++)
            {
                if (!ParseType())
                    return false;
            }
        }
       
        break;

    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_VAR:
        // VAR Number
        if (!ParseNumber(&number))
            return false;
        NotifyTypeGenericTypeVariable(number);
        break;

    case  ELEMENT_TYPE_MVAR:
        // MVAR Number
        if (!ParseNumber(&number))
            return false;
        NotifyTypeGenericMemberVariable(number);
        break;
    }

    NotifyEndType();
    
    return true;
}

bool SigParser::ParseTypeDefOrRefEncoded(sig_index_type *pIndexTypeOut, sig_index *pIndexOut)
{
    // parse an encoded typedef or typeref

    sig_count encoded  = 0;

    if (!ParseNumber(&encoded))
        return false;

    *pIndexTypeOut = (sig_index_type) (encoded & 0x3);
    *pIndexOut = (encoded >> 2);
    return true;
}

bool SigParser::ParseNumber(sig_count *pOut)
{
    // parse the variable length number format (0-4 bytes)

    sig_byte b1 = 0, b2 = 0, b3 = 0, b4 = 0;

    // at least one byte in the encoding, read that
        
    if (!ParseByte(&b1))
        return false;

    if (b1 == 0xff)
    {
        // special encoding of 'NULL'
        // not sure what this means as a number, don't expect to see it except for string lengths
        // which we don't encounter anyway so calling it an error
        return false;
    }

    // early out on 1 byte encoding
    if ( (b1 & 0x80) == 0)
    {
        *pOut = (int)b1;
        return true;
    }

    // now at least 2 bytes in the encoding, read 2nd byte
    if (!ParseByte(&b2))
        return false;

    // early out on 2 byte encoding
    if ( (b1 & 0x40) == 0)
    {
        *pOut = (((b1 & 0x3f) << 8) | b2);
        return true;
    }

    // must be a 4 byte encoding

    if ( (b1 & 0x20) != 0)        
    {
        // 4 byte encoding has this bit clear -- error if not
        return false;
    } 

    if (!ParseByte(&b3))
        return false;
    
    if (!ParseByte(&b4))
        return false;

    *pOut = ((b1 & 0x1f)<<24) | (b2<<16) | (b3<<8) | b4;
    return true;
}