WMZ to XBM Converter

WMZ to XBM online — seamless format conversion

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Works on Any Device

Cross-platform by design. The WMZ to XBM converter works identically on every operating system and device type.

Fast Conversion

No waiting around. The WMZ to XBM converter delivers results in seconds, even for complex source files.

Batch Processing

Upload several WMZ files simultaneously — Convertio processes each one and delivers separate XBM results.

How to convert WMZ to XBM

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose xbm or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xbm file right afterwards

About formats

WMZ is a compressed variant of the Windows Metafile (WMF) format, introduced by Microsoft with Office 2000 in 1999. A WMZ file is simply a WMF file compressed using the gzip algorithm (RFC 1952), reducing the file size for more efficient storage and embedding within Office documents, web pages, and other containers. The underlying WMF format stores vector graphics as a sequence of GDI (Graphics Device Interface) function calls — commands that draw lines, curves, polygons, text, and bitmaps — recorded in a device-independent format that can be replayed at any resolution. WMZ preserves this vector nature: when decompressed, the file produces a standard WMF that renders through the Windows GDI subsystem using the same drawing primitives as on-screen display, ensuring visual fidelity across different output devices and resolutions. WMZ files are commonly found embedded in Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), HTML email messages generated by Outlook, and web content produced by Office's Save as Web Page feature. The format is also used for clip art and template graphics distributed with Office installations. One advantage is space efficiency: gzip compression typically reduces WMF file sizes by 60-80%, meaningful when many small graphics are embedded in a single document or web page. The format's deep integration with the Microsoft Office ecosystem is another practical strength — WMZ graphics render natively in all Office applications without additional software, and can be extracted, decompressed, and converted using tools like LibreOffice, ImageMagick, Inkscape, and standard gzip utilities.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: 1999
XBM (X BitMap) is a monochrome (1-bit) image format defined as part of the X Window System, originating at MIT around 1987. XBM files are unique among image formats in being valid C source code: each file defines the image as a static array of unsigned char values containing the packed pixel data, preceded by #define statements specifying the image width, height, and optional hot-spot coordinates (for cursor images). The pixel data is stored in hexadecimal byte values within curly braces, with each bit representing one pixel (1 = foreground, 0 = background) and bits ordered LSB-first within each byte. This design was intentional — XBM images could be #included directly into X Window application source code and compiled into the binary, eliminating the need for external file loading and runtime format parsing. The format was used throughout the X11 ecosystem for cursor shapes, window icons, toolbar buttons, and other small UI elements. One advantage is the source-code nature of the format: XBM files can be edited with a text editor, diff'd and merged in version control, generated by shell scripts, and compiled directly into C programs without any image loading library — a level of toolchain integration that no binary image format can match. The format's role as part of the X Window standard ensures it is understood by every X11-aware toolkit and application. While limited to monochrome and no compression, XBM's simplicity makes it an excellent teaching format for understanding bitmap representations. XBM files are supported by all X11 applications, ImageMagick, GIMP, web browsers (as a legacy web format), and programming environments.
Developer: MIT X Consortium
Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert WMZ to XBM?

The WMZ format has limited viewer support. Converting to XBM ensures broad compatibility across devices.

How do I open XBM files?

Open XBM files with X Window apps, GIMP, text editors (C source). Most operating systems handle XBM natively or with built-in viewers.

What quality can I expect from XBM output?

The XBM format offers monochrome X11 icon stored as C code — Convertio ensures optimal encoding during the conversion process.

Does the conversion happen on my device?

Everything runs in the cloud. Your local hardware is never burdened by the WMZ to XBM conversion process.

Do I need to install anything?

Convertio is fully browser-based. No desktop software, plugins, or extensions are necessary for WMZ to XBM conversion.

How long does WMZ to XBM conversion take?

Typically just a few seconds. Processing time scales with file size, but the cloud infrastructure handles it fast.