BFSHA (File Format)

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BFSHA (Binary caFe SHader Archive) is a shader file format used on the Nintendo Switch. It is an archive of shaders, and can store multiple shaders, plus its shader variations, allowing usage of generic uber shaders. It is used for rendering BFRES files, and therefore usually stored as an external into an BFRES.

File Format

Header

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Char[8]	File magic. Always FSHA in ASCII, or 46 53 48 41 20 20 20 20.
0x08	UInt32	Version Number.
0x0C	UInt16	Byte-order-mark. FE FF for big endian, FF FE for little endian.
0x0E	Byte	Alignment shift. 2 raised by this value is the alignment required by this file when loaded into memory.
0x0F	Byte	Target address size. Size of a pointer in bits. Never set and there remains 0.
0x10	UInt32	File name offset. Points directly to the string, and not to the length unlike all other strings.
0x14	UInt16	A flag which is only used on runtime. One bit sets wether the file is relocated.
0x16	UInt16	Offset to the first section.
0x18	UInt32	Relocation table offset.
0x1C	UInt32	Size of the file in bytes.
0x20	Int64	Shader archive offset.
0x28	Int64	String table offset.
0x30	UInt32	Size of string table in bytes.
0x34	Byte[4]	Padding.

String Table

The string table is a table where all strings are stored. Each string has first the length written, which is a 16-bit integer, and then the string is stored as a null-terminated string. The string length does not include the null byte, and the 16-bit string length value is always aligned by 2. The string sorting algorithm is unknown.

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Char[4]	Section magic. Always _STR in ASCII.
0x04	UInt32	Next section offset.
0x08	UInt32	Size of this section in bytes.
0x0C	Byte[4]	Reserved.
0x10	Int32	Number of strings stored in the string table. The first string is always an empty string ("") and is not included in this count.

Dictionary

A dictionary (sometimes known as DICT) is a common structure used in many Nintendo formats such as BFRES and BNTX. It is used for fast name look-up, in order to find a specific array item by its name. It starts with the following structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Char[4]	Section magic. Always _DIC in ASCII. Note that in BFRES this magic is set to 00 00 00 00, most likely due to an export error.
0x04	Int32	Number of entries. This does not include the root entry.

After, the entries are specified. The root entry follows first, then all other entries are stored. Each entry has the following structure:

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int32	Ref bit.
0x04	UInt16[2]	Child node indices. First the left node, then the right node.
0x08	Int64	Key offset, which points to the key name this entry stores.

Relocation Table

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Char[4]	Section magic. Always _RLT in ASCII.
0x04	UInt32	Table offset. The offset where this table starts.
0x08	Int32	Number of sections.
0x0C	Byte[4]	Padding.

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Section pointer, set on runtime.
0x08	UInt32	Section offset.
0x0C	UInt32	Section size.
0x10	UInt32	Entry ID.
0x14	UInt32	Number of entries.

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	UInt32	Entry offset.
0x04	UInt16	Array count.
0x06	Byte	Offset count.
0x07	Byte	Padding size.

Shader Archive

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Shader archive name offset.
0x08	Int64	Original path offset.
0x10	Int64	Shading model array offset.
0x18	Int64	Shading model dictionary offset.
0x20	Int64	User pointer, set on runtime.
0x28	Int64	Callback pointer, set on runtime.
0x30	Int64	Work memory pointer, set on runtime.
0x38	UInt16	Number of shading models.
0x3A	UInt16	Flag. xxxx xxxx ABCD ExFG. A: Shader archive initialized. B: Intermediate shader source is available. C: Shader offline DL. D: Force variation. The option is forced to be changed. E: Binary shader source is available. F: Binary shader source. G: Has shader source.
0x3C	Byte[4]	Paddding.

Shading Model

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Shading model name offset.
0x08	Int64	Static shader option array offset.
0x10	Int64	Static shader option dictionary offset.
0x18	Int64	Dynamic shader option array offset.
0x20	Int64	Dynamic shader option dictionary offset.
0x28	Int64	Attribute variable array offset.
0x30	Int64	Attribute variable dictionary offset.
0x38	Int64	Sampler variable array offset.
0x40	Int64	Sampler variable dictionary offset.
0x48	Int64	Uniform block variable array offset.
0x50	Int64	Uniform block variable dictionary offset.
0x58	Int64	Uniform variable array offset.
0x60	Int64	Shader program array offset.
0x68	Int64	Key table offset. Points to an array of UInt32s. The count is the same as the number of shader programs.
0x70	Int64	Owning shader archive offset.
0x78	Int64	Shader info offset.
0x80	Int64	BNSH offset.
0x88	Int64	Mutex type offset, set on runtime.
0x90	Int64	User pointer, set on runtime.
0x98	Int64	Call back parameter pointer, set on runtime.
0xA0	Int32	Number of uniform variables.
0xA4	Int32	Default program index.
0xA8	UInt16	Number of static shader options.
0xAA	UInt16	Number of dynamic shader options.
0xAC	UInt16	Number of shader programs.
0xAE	UInt16	Max geometry shader ring buffer output. Maximum number of vertex data output from the geometry shader to the ring buffer.
0xB0	Byte	Static key length.
0xB1	Byte	Dynamic key length.
0xB2	Byte	Number of attribute variables.
0xB3	Byte	Number of sampler variables.
0xB4	Byte	Number of uniform block variables.
0xB5	Byte	Max vertex shader ring buffer output. Maximum number of vertex data output from the vertex shader to the ring buffer.
0xB6	Byte[4]	System block indices. Specifies block indices for material, shape, skeleton and shader options.
0xBA	Byte[6]	Padding.

Shader Option

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Name offset. Points to the name of this shader option.
0x08	Int64	Choice dictionary offset.
0x10	Int64	Choice value array offset. Points to an array of UInt32s.
0x18	Byte	Number of choices.
0x19	Byte	Default index.
0x1A	UInt16	Branch offset. Offset into the uniform block variable.
0x1C	Byte	Flag. xxxx xxAB. A: Branch. B: Static.
0x1D	Byte	Key offset. 0 for static option, static key length for dynamic option.
0x1E	Byte	Index.
0x1F	Byte	Shift.
0x20	Int32	Mask.
0x24	Byte[4]	Padding.

Attribute Variable

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Byte	Shading model index.
0x01	Byte	Shader location.

Sampler Variable

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Alt name offset.
0x08	Byte	Index. Index into the shader.
0x09	Byte[7]	Padding.

Uniform Block Variable

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Uniform variable array offset.
0x08	Int64	Uniform variable dictionary offset.
0x10	Int64	Default value offset. Only exists for type material.
0x18	Byte	Shading model index.
0x19	Byte	Type. ID Name 0x00 None 0x01 Material 0x02 Shape 0x03 Skeleton 0x04 Shader option
0x1A	UInt16	Size of this uniform block in bytes.
0x1C	UInt16	Number of uniform variables.
0x1E	Byte[2]	Padding.

Uniform Variable

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Conversion function name offest.
0x08	Int32	Index into the shader.
0x0C	UInt16	Data offset, relative to the start of the owning uniform block variable.
0x0E	Byte	Owning uniform block variable index.
0x0F	Byte	Padding.

Shader Program

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Sampler table offset. Points to an array of Int32s.
0x08	Int64	Uniform block table. Points to an array of Int32s.
0x10	Int64	Shader variation offset.
0x18	Int64	Owning shading model offset.
0x20	UInt32	Attribute active flag.
0x24	UInt16	Flag. xxxx xxxx xxx'A BCDE. A: Intermediate language. B: Source. C: Binary. D: Initialized. E: Update required.
0x26	UInt16	Number of samplers.
0x28	UInt16	Number of uniform blocks.
0x2A	Byte[6]	Padding.

Shader Info

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Int64	Sampler table offset.
0x08	Int64	Uniform block table offset.
0x10	Int64	Streamout offset.
0x18	UInt32	Number of streamouts.
0x1C	Byte[4]	Padding.

Version List

Version	Found in
3.0.1	1-2-Switch ARMS Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (S00018080-R00018076-A00000000 Prototype) Nintendo Switch System BIOS (1.0.0) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch)
5.0.0	Nintendo Switch System BIOS (2.1.0 – 2.3.0)
7.0.0	Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo Switch) Game Builder Garage Mario Tennis Aces New Super Mario Bros U. Deluxe Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 02: Robot Kit Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 04: VR Kit Nintendo Switch System BIOS (3.0.0 – 5.1.0) Pikmin 3 Deluxe Splatoon 2 Super Mario Party Super Mario Odyssey Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido (Nintendo Switch)
7.0.2	Nintendo Switch System BIOS (6.0.0 – 6.2.0)
7.0.3	Tetris 99
8.0.0	Animal Crossing: New Horizons Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics Dr Kawashima's Brain Training for Nintendo Switch Everybody 1-2-Switch! F-ZERO 99 Kirby's Dream Buffet Kirby and the Forgotten Land Kirby Fighters 2 Mario Golf: Super Rush Mario Party Superstars Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! Nintendo Switch Sports Nintendo Switch System BIOS (7.0.0 – 8.1.0) PAC-MAN 99 Paper Mario: The Origami King Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch) Ring Fit Adventure Super Kirby Clash Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Super Mario 3D All-Stars Super Mario Maker 2 The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening WarioWare: Get It Together! WarioWare: Move It!
9.0.0	Splatoon 3 Super Mario Bros. Wonder The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Tools

The following tools can handle BFSHA files:

• (none)