BXML Editor
May 6, 2026 ยท View on GitHub
The BXML Editor page lets you open, inspect, edit, and export Binary XML (BXML) files - a compact binary encoding of XML data used extensively throughout ForzaTech for configuration, data tables, and scripting files.
What is BXML?
BXML is a binary-serialized form of XML. Rather than storing human-readable text, the game compiles XML documents into a tightly packed binary representation at build time for faster loading and smaller file size. The BXML Editor decodes this binary form back into a navigable XML tree and allows you to edit values and re-export.
BXML files in Forza often use a .xml file extension despite containing binary data - this is normal and expected. The editor detects the format automatically on load.
Opening a File
- Drag and drop a BXML or plain XML file onto the page.
- Use the Open button in the toolbar.
The editor auto-detects whether the file is binary BXML or plain text XML and loads accordingly.
Page Layout
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Left - XML Tree | Hierarchical tree of all elements in the document |
| Right - Node Detail | Attributes and children summary for the selected node |
| Bottom - Raw XML tab | Shows the document as formatted text XML; supports direct editing and Apply |
XML Tree
The tree displays every element in the document. Nodes are expanded to two levels by default; deeper levels can be expanded manually by clicking the arrow next to a node.
Each node shows:
- Element name - the XML tag name.
- Attribute count - indicated in the detail panel when selected.
- Child count - shown in the node detail panel.
Node Detail Panel
When a node is selected the right panel shows:
- All attributes for that element in a key/value table.
- The child element count (e.g. "3 child elements").
Editing Attributes
Double-click any attribute value in the table to edit it inline. Changes are reflected in the in-memory document immediately.
If a node has no attributes, a placeholder message indicates this.
Raw XML Tab
The Raw XML tab shows the current document serialized as formatted, human-readable XML text. You can:
- Refresh - re-render the current in-memory document to text.
- Edit the text directly in the text box.
- Apply - parse your edited text back into the in-memory document tree.
This is useful for making bulk changes or copying sections of the document to/from other tools.
Saving
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
Save (Ctrl + S) | Write back as binary BXML if the file was originally binary, or as text XML if the original was plain text |
| Save As BXML | Force export as binary BXML regardless of the original format |
| Save As XML | Force export as plain text XML |
The round-trip encoding preserves all attribute names and values exactly. Element ordering is preserved.
Tips
- When porting BXML files between game versions, open in the BXML Editor, make any version-specific attribute edits, then re-export as BXML.
- The Raw XML tab is the fastest way to find a specific attribute value - use
Ctrl + Fin the text box to search. - Files exported as plain XML can be edited in any text editor and then re-opened in the BXML Editor to convert back to binary.