Pitney Bowes' MapInfo Sea Chart format magic bytes (.bsb)
.bsb file signature: 1F 9D | application/octet-stream
The BSB file format is a raster nautical chart format associated with Pitney Bowes MapInfo and NOAA's Raster Navigation Chart distribution. It is used in marine navigation software and electronic chart plotters to display coastline, depth, and harbor information. The format is longstanding and may be treated as legacy in some workflows, but it is generally considered safe when opened with compatible charting applications.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
1F 9D
Sources: Gary Kessler
All Known Signatures
3 signature variants are documented for .bsb files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 1F 9D | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 1F A0 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 21 0D 0A 43 52 52 2F 54 68 69 73 20 65 6C 65 63 74 72 6F 6E 69 63 20 63 68 61 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 6F 64 75 63 65 64 20 75 6E 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 68 6F 72 69 74 79 20 6F 66 20 55 53 41 2D 4E 4F 41 41 2F 4E 4F 53 2E 0D 0A | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Validation Code
How to validate .bsb files in Python
def is_bsb(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid BSB by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x1F, 0x9D])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(2) == signatureHow to validate .bsb files in Node.js
function isBSB(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x1F, 0x9D]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 2).equals(signature);
}How to validate .bsb files in Go
func IsBSB(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x1F, 0x9D}
if len(data) < 2 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:2], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/bsb
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/bsb
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .bsb file?
A .bsb file is a Pitney Bowes' MapInfo Sea Chart format. The BSB file format is a raster nautical chart format associated with Pitney Bowes MapInfo and NOAA's Raster Navigation Chart distribution. It is used in marine navigation software and electronic chart plotters to display coastline, depth, and harbor information. The format is longstanding and may be treated as legacy in some workflows, but it is generally considered safe when opened with compatible charting applications.
What are the magic bytes for .bsb files?
The magic bytes for Pitney Bowes' MapInfo Sea Chart format (.bsb) files are 1F 9D at byte offset 0. These bytes identify the file format more reliably than the extension alone.
How do I validate a .bsb file?
To validate a .bsb file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (1F 9D) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .bsb files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .bsb files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .bsb files?
Pitney Bowes' MapInfo Sea Chart format (.bsb) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.