The lab I work in collects EEG data into binary files and use a particular program to view and analyze it, so I've been tasked to convert the data so another similar analysis program can accept it. The data itself(microvolt values) is stored in the same way for both programs, multiplexed(ie record 0 stores the first value for all the channels, and record 1 stores the next value for all the channels, etc), but have slightly different header data that describes things like how many channels, experiment name, etc.

I'm rather new to programming, and so I'm looking for information as how to get started. Like ways to read and write binary data, change an existing file, handling c structures. I know I learn best by doing, but I know picking up a few rather dense books on C wont help.