XBM Files

These are some examples of XBM files. The XBM file is a bitmap format used by X Windows, commonly for storing icons.

XBM File Characteristics:

• text
• black and white
• 2D
• No compression
• 1 image

Reference:

1. John Miano,
   Compressed Image File Formats,
   Addison Wesley, 1999.
2. Adrian Nye,
   Xlib Programming Manual,
   O'Reilly, 1988.
3. Robert Schiefler, James Gettys,
   The X Window System,
   Digital Press, 1990.

Programs to view an XBM file include:

• bitmap is an X Window program that can display an XBM file.
• Explorer, the Microsoft browser, can display an XBM file.
• FireFox, the Mozilla browser, can display an XBM file.
• GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, can view an XBM file.
• Netscape can display an XBM file.
• xv can display an XBM file.

Routines to create a XBM file:

• The X Window program

              bitmap -size 40x40
            

  will open a 40 by 40 pixel X Window in which the user can click to turn bits on and off. The result can then be saved to an XBM file.
• The X Window routine XCreateBitmapFromData() can create an XBM file.

Routines to read an XBM file:

• The X-Window routine XReadBitmapFile() can read an XBM file.

Routines to write an XBM file:

• The X Window routine XWriteBitmapFile() can write an XBM file.
• MATHEMATICA includes an Export[filename,object] command that can save a graphics object as an XBM file.

Programs to convert an XBM file to another format:

• bmtoa is an X Window program which converts an XBM format to a simple ASCII representation.
• convert is a program available from ImageMagick, and can convert an XBM file to BMP, CGM, EPS, FIG, FITS, GIF, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF or XPM format.
• GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, can read an XBM file and save a copy in another format.
• xv can display an XBM file and then save it in another format.

Programs to convert a file to XBM format:

• atobm is an X Window program which converts a simple ASCII file of 1's and 0's to an XBM file.
• convert is a program available from ImageMagick, and can convert a BMP, CGM, EPS, FIG, FITS, GIF, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, or XPM file to XBM format.
• fig2dev can convert a FIG file to an XBM file by a command like

              fig2dev -L xbm input.fig > output.xbm
            

• GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, can read a graphics file and save a copy in the XBM format.

Sample Files:

CIRCLES is a 16x16 image of two circles.

• circles.xbm, the XBM file;
• circles.png, a PNG image of the XBM file;

CROSS is a 12x12 image of a cross.

• cross.xbm, the XBM file;
• cross.png, a PNG image of the XBM file;

FRACTURE is a 500x500 image of a grid of atoms, representing a material that is to be fractured.

• fracture.xbm, the XBM file;
• fracture.png, a PNG image of the XBM file;

LETTER_A is a 25x25 image of the letter A.

• letter_a.xbm, the XBM file;
• letter_a.png, a PNG image of the XBM file;

PUMPKIN is a 206x187 image of a pumpkin.

• pumpkin.xbm, the XBM file;
• pumpkin.png, a PNG image of the XBM file;

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