What is a .FZB file?
An FZB file is a type of data file specifically used by Fritzing, a software application designed for people interested in creating and designing electronic circuits, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) that often include Arduino components. The FZB file format is utilized to store collections of electronic parts, which are organized in what Fritzing refers to as "parts bins." These parts bins help users manage and access various electronic components easily within the Fritzing interface. Each bin can contain a variety of parts, and these parts are detailed in separate files with an .FZP extension. The information within an FZB file is formatted in XML, which is a standard way to encode data so that both humans and machines can read it.
Fritzing itself comes with several predefined parts bins. These are accessible from the Parts window on the right side of the Fritzing application. The two main predefined bins are labeled "CORE" and "MINE." The CORE bin includes a standard set of parts provided by Fritzing, while the MINE bin is for parts that users have created themselves. Additionally, when users import new parts saved as .FZPZ files, these parts appear in the "CONTRIB" bin. Users have the flexibility to create and import as many additional bins as needed, which helps in organizing parts according to different projects or preferences.
Each bin, stored as an FZB file, includes not only the list of parts but also metadata like the parts' names and their module IDs. It also links to a .PNG image file that serves as the icon for the bin.
For those looking to share or transfer their Fritzing parts bins, the bins can be exported as .FZBZ files. It's important to note that while FZB files are used within Fritzing for storing bin data, .FZBZ files are used for importing and exporting these bins between different Fritzing installations.
To open an FZB file, you can use Fritzing itself or any text editor because the content is in XML format. Common text editors that can open FZB files include Microsoft Visual Studio Code, Vim, GNU Emacs, and even simple ones like Microsoft Notepad or Apple TextEdit. Since GitHub Atom has been discontinued, it's advisable to use alternative text editors. Additionally, for users on Chrome OS, Google Chrome Text can also be used to view these files.
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