Dissecting a specific layer (the application layer)

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Hi,

For a project, I need to be able to dissect an application stream, of 
say, http. So I have e.g. the http-request (*not* the headers of the 
underlying protocols), and I would like to be able to dissect this 
request into a tree (which I imagine the dissect_http function would 
create). This requires a different entry in the dissection mechanism 
(different than providing a fully headered packet using a capture file 
as is normally done).

I can imagine this is done before, but I can't find it. If not, would 
this be possible in your opinion? Or can someone give me a hint how to 
start. The problem is that the complexity of (t)ethereal makes it 
difficult to now where to start. Maybe a very simple example of a 
program which dissects a packet (then i could be able to find out how to 
hack it into my preference). Tethereal is already quite complex for me...

Mike