Monochrome map (.bit, .lev)

Monochrome map files (*.bit) were the first type of user-made maps which were allowed for network play, and, except for the seed-generated maps, the only type of maps allowed for on-line play before Deadcode added colour .PNG maps support. BIT maps store a 1920×696 blank-and-white bitmap, which represends the land mask (white = land, black = free space), as well as a few other map parameters, such as water level, terrain, etc. The map image is compressed in the Lead Tools proprietary format.

File format

The .bit file format consists of a 40-byte header, and the actual map data.

• 00-0B - undefined bytes (may take any values)

The following values are double words (4-byte integers):

• 0C - Unknown (should be 0)
• 10 - Map border - 0=on 1=off
• 14 - Number of objects (0 = 1 object, 1 = 2 objects, ..., 9 = 10 objects)
• 18 - Number of bridges (0 = 1 bridge, 1 = 2 bridges, ..., 9 = 10 bridges)
• 1C - Water level (valid values from 0 to 99)
• 20 - Soil type (-Beach, -Desert, etc.)
• 24 - Unknown (should be 0)

• 28 - Lead Tools bitmap image data (should start with "LTRI")

Software

In order to operate on such files, 3rd-party software must access the Lead Tools redistributable run-time libraries, shipped with Worms Armageddon.

Currently, programs that can operate with .bit files are Annelid's BIT Monkey and the Thumbnail Shell Extension.