Format: BLX editor blocks

Format: BLX editor blocks

The .blx file is a format seen paired with .map files in a level folder.

Previously it was thought that these were an older type of .map format, but that's not the case. These files exist, solely to be used in DDI's level editor as icons for the respective .map file type, and each block value's representation in the map. It's theorized that this also contains default values and block value limits.

Unlike the .map files, however, .blx files are the predecessor to an older BLK (.blk) format seen in TestLevels (the structure remains mostly the same, but .blk contains much more redundant info and string tags.)

File format

Byte Order: Little Endian

BLX Header

Off/Len	Type	Value	Description
0,4	char[4]	"BLK "	File signature
4,4	uint32	Count	Number of icons
8,4	uint32	Width	Icons pixel width
c,4	uint32	Height	Icons pixel height
10,4	uint32	Unknown1	Number of block "types" (inc amount)
14,4	uint32	Unknown2	Number of "values" per block "type" (limit for inc 1's)?
18,*N	Icon[N]	Icons	Table of icons

BLX Icon

Type	Value	Description
uint16[w*h]	Pixels	Pixels stored in true 16-bit colour, lines are not vertically flipped.

channel: RRRR RGGG GGGB BBBB
    bit: 31                0