diff --git a/src/dict/aard.cc b/src/dict/aard.cc
index 466c151c..cf5cef74 100644
--- a/src/dict/aard.cc
+++ b/src/dict/aard.cc
@@ -67,31 +67,23 @@ struct AAR_header
   char indexItemFormat[ 4 ];
   char keyLengthFormat[ 2 ];
   char articleLengthFormat[ 2 ];
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( AAR_header ) == 1 );
 
 struct IndexElement
 {
   quint32 wordOffset;
   quint32 articleOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IndexElement ) == 1 );
 
 struct IndexElement64
 {
   quint32 wordOffset;
   quint64 articleOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IndexElement64 ) == 1 );
+
 
 enum {
   Signature            = 0x58524141, // AARX on little-endian, XRAA on big-endian
@@ -109,12 +101,8 @@ struct IdxHeader
   quint32 articleCount;
   quint32 langFrom; // Source language
   quint32 langTo;   // Target language
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
-
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
 #pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
diff --git a/src/dict/bgl.cc b/src/dict/bgl.cc
index a0784beb..182b704f 100644
--- a/src/dict/bgl.cc
+++ b/src/dict/bgl.cc
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ enum {
   CurrentFormatVersion = 19 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
+
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;      // First comes the signature, BGLX
@@ -77,11 +79,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t iconSize;           // Size of the icon in the chunks' storage, 0 = no icon
   uint32_t descriptionAddress; // Address of the dictionary description in the chunks' storage
   uint32_t descriptionSize;    // Size of the description in the chunks' storage, 0 = no description
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/dictdfiles.cc b/src/dict/dictdfiles.cc
index 169dc6d0..2199d8a1 100644
--- a/src/dict/dictdfiles.cc
+++ b/src/dict/dictdfiles.cc
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ enum {
   CurrentFormatVersion = 5 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion + Folding::Version
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
+
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, DCDX
@@ -65,11 +67,10 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t indexRootOffset;
   uint32_t langFrom; // Source language
   uint32_t langTo;   // Target language
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
+
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/dsl.cc b/src/dict/dsl.cc
index 8a2512a0..777ba07a 100644
--- a/src/dict/dsl.cc
+++ b/src/dict/dsl.cc
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ enum {
   CurrentFtsIndexVersion   = 7
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
+
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, DSLX
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t zipSupportVersion;     // Zip support version -- narrows down reindexing
                                   // when it changes only for dictionaries with the
                                   // zip files
-  int dslEncoding;                // Which encoding is used for the file indexed
+  uint32_t dslEncoding;           // Which encoding is used for the file indexed
   uint32_t chunksOffset;          // The offset to chunks' storage
   uint32_t hasAbrv;               // Non-zero means file has abrvs at abrvAddress
   uint32_t abrvAddress;           // Address of abrv map in the chunked storage
@@ -109,11 +111,10 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t zipIndexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo of the zip
                                      // resource index.
   uint32_t zipIndexRootOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
+
 
 struct InsidedCard
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/epwing.cc b/src/dict/epwing.cc
index e9613fbf..f32df6bd 100644
--- a/src/dict/epwing.cc
+++ b/src/dict/epwing.cc
@@ -60,13 +60,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   quint32 nameSize;
   quint32 langFrom; // Source language
   quint32 langTo;   // Target language
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
-
-#pragma pack( pop )
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+  #pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/gls.cc b/src/dict/gls.cc
index c9376c0c..fec36478 100644
--- a/src/dict/gls.cc
+++ b/src/dict/gls.cc
@@ -304,6 +304,8 @@ enum {
   CurrentFtsIndexVersion   = 1
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
+
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, GLSX
@@ -311,7 +313,7 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t zipSupportVersion;     // Zip support version -- narrows down reindexing
                                   // when it changes only for dictionaries with the
                                   // zip files
-  int glsEncoding;                // Which encoding is used for the file indexed
+  uint32_t glsEncoding;           // Which encoding is used for the file indexed
   uint32_t chunksOffset;          // The offset to chunks' storage
   uint32_t indexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo
   uint32_t indexRootOffset;
@@ -324,11 +326,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t zipIndexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo of the zip
                                      // resource index.
   uint32_t zipIndexRootOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile, bool hasZipFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/lsa.cc b/src/dict/lsa.cc
index 9c56a422..d08677ab 100644
--- a/src/dict/lsa.cc
+++ b/src/dict/lsa.cc
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ enum {
   CurrentFormatVersion = 5
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
+
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, BGLX
@@ -57,11 +59,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t vorbisOffset;          // Offset of the vorbis file which contains all snds
   uint32_t indexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo
   uint32_t indexRootOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/mdx.cc b/src/dict/mdx.cc
index 75938d92..4da80272 100644
--- a/src/dict/mdx.cc
+++ b/src/dict/mdx.cc
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ enum {
 
 DEF_EX( exCorruptDictionary, "dictionary file was tampered or corrupted", std::exception )
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
+
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;     // First comes the signature, MDIC
@@ -92,11 +94,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
 
   uint32_t mddIndexInfosOffset; // address of IndexInfos for resource files (.mdd)
   uint32_t mddIndexInfosCount;  // count of IndexInfos for resource files
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 // A helper method to read resources from .mdd file
 class IndexedMdd: public BtreeIndexing::BtreeIndex
diff --git a/src/dict/sdict.cc b/src/dict/sdict.cc
index fc98684f..7ed85312 100644
--- a/src/dict/sdict.cc
+++ b/src/dict/sdict.cc
@@ -68,22 +68,16 @@ struct DCT_header
   uint32_t shortIndexOffset;
   uint32_t fullIndexOffset;
   uint32_t articlesOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( DCT_header ) == 1 );
 
 struct IndexElement
 {
   uint16_t nextWord;
   uint16_t previousWord;
   uint32_t articleOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IndexElement ) == 1 );
 
 enum {
   Signature            = 0x43494453, // SDIC on little-endian, CIDS on big-endian
@@ -102,12 +96,8 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t compressionType; // Data compression in file. 0 - no compression, 1 - zip, 2 - bzip2
   uint32_t langFrom;        // Source language
   uint32_t langTo;          // Target language
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
-
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
 #pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
diff --git a/src/dict/slob.cc b/src/dict/slob.cc
index afc9e528..31f0ddf7 100644
--- a/src/dict/slob.cc
+++ b/src/dict/slob.cc
@@ -62,13 +62,13 @@ DEF_EX_STR( exNoCodecFound, "No text codec found", Dictionary::Ex )
 DEF_EX( exUserAbort, "User abort", Dictionary::Ex )
 DEF_EX( exNoResource, "No resource found", Dictionary::Ex )
 
-  #pragma pack( push, 1 )
 
 enum {
   Signature            = 0x58424C53, // SLBX on little-endian, XBLS on big-endian
   CurrentFormatVersion = 2 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion + Folding::Version
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   quint32 signature;             // First comes the signature, SLBX
@@ -81,13 +81,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   quint32 articleCount;
   quint32 langFrom; // Source language
   quint32 langTo;   // Target language
-}
-  #ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-  #endif
-;
-
-  #pragma pack( pop )
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 const char SLOB_MAGIC[ 8 ] = { 0x21, 0x2d, 0x31, 0x53, 0x4c, 0x4f, 0x42, 0x1f };
 
diff --git a/src/dict/sounddir.cc b/src/dict/sounddir.cc
index b2001b34..c3aaff5c 100644
--- a/src/dict/sounddir.cc
+++ b/src/dict/sounddir.cc
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ enum {
   CurrentFormatVersion = 1 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion + Folding::Version
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, SDRX
@@ -44,11 +45,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t chunksOffset;          // The offset to chunks' storage
   uint32_t indexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo
   uint32_t indexRootOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/stardict.cc b/src/dict/stardict.cc
index b9346ca3..5cbf7e89 100644
--- a/src/dict/stardict.cc
+++ b/src/dict/stardict.cc
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ enum {
   CurrentFormatVersion = 9 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion + Folding::Version
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, SIDX
@@ -110,10 +111,10 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t zipIndexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo of the zip
                                      // resource index.
   uint32_t zipIndexRootOffset;
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
+
 ;
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
diff --git a/src/dict/xdxf.cc b/src/dict/xdxf.cc
index bdb1f9b1..faec2da5 100644
--- a/src/dict/xdxf.cc
+++ b/src/dict/xdxf.cc
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ enum ArticleFormat {
   Logical = 2
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, XDXF
@@ -118,11 +119,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
                                      // resource index.
   uint32_t zipIndexRootOffset;
   uint32_t revisionNumber; // Format revision
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {
diff --git a/src/dict/zim.cc b/src/dict/zim.cc
index 89a1a3d3..1bd1ef38 100644
--- a/src/dict/zim.cc
+++ b/src/dict/zim.cc
@@ -66,13 +66,12 @@ DEF_EX( exUserAbort, "User abort", Dictionary::Ex )
 using ZimFile = zim::Archive;
 
 
-  #pragma pack( push, 1 )
-
 enum {
   Signature            = 0x584D495A, // ZIMX on little-endian, XMIZ on big-endian
   CurrentFormatVersion = 4 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion + Folding::Version
 };
 
+  #pragma pack( push, 1 )
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   quint32 signature;             // First comes the signature, ZIMX
@@ -87,12 +86,8 @@ struct IdxHeader
   quint32 descriptionPtr;
   quint32 langFrom; // Source language
   quint32 langTo;   // Target language
-}
-  #ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-  #endif
-;
-
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
   #pragma pack( pop )
 
 // Some supporting functions
diff --git a/src/dict/zipsounds.cc b/src/dict/zipsounds.cc
index 4fbe9d8e..320c074d 100644
--- a/src/dict/zipsounds.cc
+++ b/src/dict/zipsounds.cc
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ enum {
   CurrentFormatVersion = 6 + BtreeIndexing::FormatVersion
 };
 
+#pragma pack( push, 1 )
 struct IdxHeader
 {
   uint32_t signature;             // First comes the signature, ZIPS
@@ -53,11 +54,9 @@ struct IdxHeader
   uint32_t indexBtreeMaxElements; // Two fields from IndexInfo
   uint32_t indexRootOffset;
   uint32_t chunksOffset; // The offset to chunks' storage
-}
-#ifndef _MSC_VER
-__attribute__( ( packed ) )
-#endif
-;
+};
+static_assert( alignof( IdxHeader ) == 1 );
+#pragma pack( pop )
 
 bool indexIsOldOrBad( string const & indexFile )
 {