Z Level Index Format

LEVELS.DAT selects the files and initial settings for each level of Z.

File format

The file consists of 240-byte (0xf0) records with no global header. The inspected CD file has 51 records; record 0 is a test level. Numbers are little-endian. Names are fixed-width NUL-terminated byte strings.

Offset	Data type	Name	Description
0x00	char[20]	name	Display name.
0x14	char[13]	map	MAP filename.
0x21	char[13]	robots	Robot database filename.
0x2e	char[13]	cpuPlayer	CPU/territory filename.
0x3b	char[13]	wal2	Filename; parser name retained, purpose not fully documented.
0x48	char[13]	wal1	Filename; parser name retained.
0x55	BYTE[12]	roster	Starting roster copied by rosterInit.
0x61	char[13]	objects	Object filename.
0x6e	UINT8	selector	Selects a 26-byte executable table entry; also used in music selection.
0x6f	char[13]	mult	Multiplier filename.
0x7c	UINT32LE	value7c	Used by fort-position setup; complete meaning unresolved.
0x80	UINT32LE	value80	Used by fort-position setup; complete meaning unresolved.
0x84	char[13]	buildings	Building filename.
0x91	char[13]	bridges	Bridge filename.
0x9e	BYTE[82]	remainder	Not decoded by parseLevels; preserve.

Notes

The convenience parser reads 14 bytes for objects. The original loader copies 13; byte 0x6e is separately used as a selector. Do not overwrite that byte when changing the filename.

Source code

From re-z, the open-source browser port:

• src/formats/levels.js – record parser
• src/game/level.js – filename copies and rosterInit
• src/game/sound.js – selector use
• docs/re/NOTES.md – reverse-engineering notes and evidence status

Credits

This file format was reverse engineered by VorticonCmdr. If you find this information helpful in a project you're working on, please give credit where credit is due. (A link back to this wiki would be nice too!)