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Format

Maptech BSB Documentation File

Summary

Name
Maptech BSB Documentation File
Identifiers
PUID: fmt/1875
Format type
  • Text (Structured)
  • Dataset
Description
BSB (or BSB/KAP) is a file format used primarily for the storage and transmission of nautical charts. Although the format is commonly known as "BSB", the main file extension is actually .kap (or sometimes .cap), though .bsb files can also optionally be used. The main image data (as raster images) is found in .kap files, possibly with multiple images in separate files being part of a multi-page chart. The .bsb file, if present, has additional data pertaining to the chart as a whole. Additional metadata is contained in associated text files, generally stored with .bsb.txt and .kap.txt double extensions, or else names ending in "_bsb.txt" and "_kap.txt".
Note
https://web.archive.org/web/20161021191749/http://www.iho.int:80/iho_pubs/standard/S-64/RNC_Test_Data_Sets/BSB_TDS/BSB_Test_Dataset_Instructions_for_RNC.pdf
File extensions
bsb, kap
Source
The National Archives and Records Administration / The National Archives and Records Administration

Internal signatures

Maptech BSB Documentation File

Note
Three BOF sequences with an offset of 0-700 for the following tags 'VER/' 'NTM/' 'CED/'

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
700
Byte Sequence
4345442F
Endianness
None
Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
700
Byte Sequence
4E544D2F
Endianness
None
Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
700
Byte Sequence
5645522F
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V115

    Release date
    15 November 2023

    Maptech BSB Documentation FIle: Variable signatures modified to be BOF with offset 0-700. Submitted by Preservica and The National Archives and Records Administration.

  • Added in V114

    Release date
    22 August 2023

    Maptech BSB Documentation File: Signature researched and samples provided by The National Archives and Records Administration.

    Maptech BSB Documentation File: Full entry added. Submitted by The National Archives and Records Administration.