class CFPropertyList::Binary

def read_binary_object(fname,fd)
  # first: read the marker byte
  buff = fd.read(1)
  object_length = buff.unpack("C*")
  object_length = object_length[0]  & 0xF
  buff = buff.unpack("H*")
  object_type = buff[0][0].chr
  if(object_type != "0" && object_length == 15) then
    object_length = read_binary_object(fname,fd)
    object_length = object_length.value
  end
  retval = nil
  case object_type
  when '0' then # null, false, true, fillbyte
    retval = read_binary_null_type(object_length)
  when '1' then # integer
    retval = read_binary_int(fname,fd,object_length)
  when '2' then # real
    retval = read_binary_real(fname,fd,object_length)
  when '3' then # date
    retval = read_binary_date(fname,fd,object_length)
  when '4' then # data
    retval = read_binary_data(fname,fd,object_length)
  when '5' then # byte string, usually utf8 encoded
    retval = read_binary_string(fname,fd,object_length)
  when '6' then # unicode string (utf16be)
    retval = read_binary_unicode_string(fname,fd,object_length)
  when 'a' then # array
    retval = read_binary_array(fname,fd,object_length)
  when 'd' then # dictionary
    retval = read_binary_dict(fname,fd,object_length)
  end
  return retval
end