File Formats: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:05, 8 September 2025

Supported File Formats in NextZXOS

NextZXOS can directly read and load the following file types: `.bas`, `.tap`, `.z80`, `.sna`, `.snx`, `.dot`, `.o`, `.p`. Many other file types are supported via external dot commands.

File Extension	Description	Notes
.z80	Spectrum snapshot file	More suitable for emulator compatibility than real hardware. Loadable via NextZXOS browser, SPECTRUM keyword, esxDOS NMI menu, and exDOS `.snapload` command.
.sna	Spectrum snapshot file	Supports 48K and 128K. Loadable via browser, SPECTRUM keyword, esxDOS NMI, and `.snapload`. Private data appended is ignored by NextZXOS but prevents loading via esxDOS. NextZXOS reconfigures system based on file type.
.snx	Spectrum snapshot file	Identical to 128K .sna, but leaves file handle 0 open. Program must close it. May contain private data. Not supported by esxDOS.
.o	ZX80 snapshot	—
.p	ZX81 snapshot	—
.nex	Next executable file	Takes over machine. Can coexist with NextZXOS if careful. Loadable via browser and `.nexload`. CSpect emulator supports loading. Not supported by esxDOS.
.dot	Dot command format	For programs that coexist with BASIC/NextZXOS and return safely.
.tap	Tape container format	Holds many files, emulator-compatible. Browser prompts for load mode: standard, USR0, or 48K.
.bas	BASIC program	Native SD card format for BASIC programs. First 128 bytes are standard +3DOS header.
.run	Loadable Directory	If a directory ends with .run and contains run.bas, browser runs the bas when directory is selected.
.scr	Standard Spectrum screenshot	256x192, 15 colours, 2 per cell. Headered files (7,040 bytes) or headerless (6,912 bytes). Both are supported.
.shc	Timex 8x1 Hi-colour screenshot	256x192, 15 colours.
.shr	Timex Hi-res screenshot	512x192, mono.
.slr	Low-res screenshot	128x96, 256 colours.
.sl2	Layer 2 screenshot	256x192, 256 colours. 128-byte +3DOS header + 49,152 bytes of pixel data. No palette data.
.pal	9-bit palette format	256 pairs of bytes in %RRRGGGBB, %P000000B format. Priority bit (P) causes pixel layering. Loadable via Screenshots menu (M1 or F9).
.npl	Extended palette format	First 512 bytes identical to .pal. Byte 513 is transparency index or mask. Created and loaded via WASPtools.
.nxi	Layer 2 screen format	49,152 bytes = screen data. 49,664 bytes = screen + palette. Used by PLOTIT, Dnext, zxnext_bmp_tools, and Jim Bagley’s tools.
.vid	Video format	Played via `.playvid`. Formats supported: 320x240 @ 16.7fps, 15.6kHz 256x240 @ 16.7fps, 31.1kHz 256x192 @ 25fps, 23kHz A tool for converting video files to .vid can be found here https://github.com/em00k/MakeVid-Release

Special Notes

The `.tzx` format is recognised by the browser, but files can only be loaded if a Raspberry Pi is installed in your Next. See the FAQ for details.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The NextZXOS can read and load these kind of files: bas, tap, nex, z80, sna, snx, dot, o, p
+== Supported File Formats in NextZXOS ==
-* .z80, .sna and .snx are spectrum snapshots, more suitable as emulator compatibility than a real format
+NextZXOS can directly read and load the following file types: `.bas`, `.tap`, `.z80`, `.sna`, `.snx`, `.dot`, `.o`, `.p`. Many other file types are supported via external dot commands.
-* .o is a zx80 snapshot
-* .p is a zx81 snapshot
+{| class="wikitable sortable"
-* [[NEX file format|.nex]] is good for a program that takes over the machine
+! File Extension !! Description !! Notes
-* .dot is good for dot commands and programs that can coexist with basic/nextzxos and can return to basic safely (i.e. counterpart to nex)
+|-
-* [[TAP file format|.tap]] is a simple container format that can hold many files, is compatible with emulators and supported by many tools.
+| .z80 || Spectrum snapshot file || More suitable for emulator compatibility than real hardware. Loadable via NextZXOS browser, SPECTRUM keyword, esxDOS NMI menu, and exDOS `.snapload` command.
-* .bas is the native SD-card format for BASIC programs (first 128 bytes of the file form standard +3DOS header).
+|-
+| .sna || Spectrum snapshot file || Supports 48K and 128K. Loadable via browser, SPECTRUM keyword, esxDOS NMI, and `.snapload`. Private data appended is ignored by NextZXOS but prevents loading via esxDOS. NextZXOS reconfigures system based on file type.
+|-
+| .snx || Spectrum snapshot file || Identical to 128K .sna, but leaves file handle 0 open. Program must close it. May contain private data. Not supported by esxDOS.
+|-
+| .o || ZX80 snapshot || —
+|-
+| .p || ZX81 snapshot || —
+|-
+| [[NEX_file_format|.nex]] || Next executable file || Takes over machine. Can coexist with NextZXOS if careful. Loadable via browser and `.nexload`. CSpect emulator supports loading. Not supported by esxDOS.
+|-
+| .dot || Dot command format || For programs that coexist with BASIC/NextZXOS and return safely.
+|-
+| .tap || Tape container format || Holds many files, emulator-compatible. Browser prompts for load mode: standard, USR0, or 48K.
+|-
+| .bas || BASIC program || Native SD card format for BASIC programs. First 128 bytes are standard +3DOS header.
+|-
+| .run || Loadable Directory || If a directory ends with .run and contains run.bas, browser runs the bas when directory is selected.
+|-
+| .scr || Standard Spectrum screenshot || 256x192, 15 colours, 2 per cell. Headered files (7,040 bytes) or headerless (6,912 bytes). Both are supported.
+|-
+| .shc || Timex 8x1 Hi-colour screenshot || 256x192, 15 colours.
+|-
+| .shr || Timex Hi-res screenshot || 512x192, mono.
+|-
+| .slr || Low-res screenshot || 128x96, 256 colours.
+|-
+| .sl2 || Layer 2 screenshot || 256x192, 256 colours. 128-byte +3DOS header + 49,152 bytes of pixel data. No palette data.
+|-
+| .pal || 9-bit palette format || 256 pairs of bytes in %RRRGGGBB, %P000000B format. Priority bit (P) causes pixel layering. Loadable via Screenshots menu (M1 or F9).
+|-
+| .npl || Extended palette format || First 512 bytes identical to .pal. Byte 513 is transparency index or mask. Created and loaded via WASPtools.
+|-
+| .nxi || Layer 2 screen format || 49,152 bytes = screen data. 49,664 bytes = screen + palette. Used by PLOTIT, Dnext, zxnext_bmp_tools, and Jim Bagley’s tools.
+|-
+| .vid || [[VID file format|Video format]] || Played via `.playvid`. Formats supported:
+* 320x240 @ 16.7fps, 15.6kHz
+* 256x240 @ 16.7fps, 31.1kHz
+* 256x192 @ 25fps, 23kHz
+A tool for converting video files to .vid can be found here https://github.com/em00k/MakeVid-Release
+|}
+=== Special Notes ===
+* The `.tzx` format is recognised by the browser, but files can only be loaded if a Raspberry Pi is installed in your Next. See the FAQ for details.