Z Panel Graphics Format
The HUD artwork of Z is packaged in HEADFX.PAC and SHEADFX.PAC. These DAT members are not level-data records.
File format
The enclosing archives use JMP2. Extract each member before interpreting it. Observed members include HEADBIT0–4, HEADBACK, NEWPANEL, BOTTOM and BOTTOM2; the SVGA archive contains SHEADBI0–4, SHEADBAK, NSNEWPAN, SBOTTOM and SBOTTO2.
The repository reproduces panel composition and screen transfers, but does not expose a standalone decoder with a complete disk-layout specification for every member. Sizes differ by member and mode; for example BOTTOM is 2832 bytes and SBOTTOM is 11328 bytes. These sizes alone do not establish image dimensions or a common header.
The composed SVGA panel buffers are 96 bytes per row for the right panel and 544 bytes per row for the bottom bar. Those runtime buffer dimensions must not be treated as universal member-file dimensions.
Notes
This is an identification and partial-format article. Preserve unexplained headers, offsets and data when experimenting. The generic RSC decoder is not verified for these DAT members.
Source code
From re-z, the open-source browser port:
- src/game/subsys/panel.js – panel composition
- src/render/panel.js – buffer transfer and display
- docs/evidence/playfield.md – panel verification
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!)