XBM (X Bit Map) files

XBM is a simple monochrome text based bitmap format that is primarily intended for storage of cursor and icon bitmaps for use in the X graphics user interface. XBM is a native file format of The X Window System and is used for storing cursor and icon bitmaps that are used in the X GUI. The data is formatted and stored as a C language file and can directly be compiled into a software program.

Since none of the bitmap data is represented as binary numers, the format lends itself to environments where values outside the ASCII printable range would be a problem. For example, XBM images can be imbedded into HTML documents directly rather than linked in with the SRC tag.

Microsoft decided to prevent XBM inline image generation with XP Service Pack 2 so if you can't see them, you will have to set this registry key to get them back:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security]
"BlockXBM"=dword:00000000

HTML Bitmap Graphics Dynamic Inline Image generation. Sample XBM Script. VBScript Image Class - Create and manipulate bmp and pcx files.

Dynamic Inline Image generation

• Inline Dynamic Image test Checks to see if your browser can generate images dynamically using XBM and other formats.

• HTML / JavaScript Dynamic Inline page counter via XBM Image Generation

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

• [Chapter 16] 16.6 Other Image Techniques
• [Chapter 14] Documents and Their Contents Generating XBM Images with JavaScript

See also:

• http://www.terra.es/personal8/japus12/xbm.html XBM picture generation with a PIC embedded web server
• http://www.x.org/ X windowing system