CBD File

What are CBD files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CBD file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your CBD files.

What is a CBD file?

A .CBD file is a MapBrowser Vector Map Data file.

MapBrowser Vector Map Data is a compressed binary map database format used to store vector-based map data that MapBrowser or MapWriter software creates. It holds geographic feature information - points, lines, polygons - encoded in a compact form. The format serves to render raster map images from stored vector data, allowing map software to recreate the appearance of maps by translating vector shapes into visual tiles.

The files encode line graph data (DLG) in latitude‐longitude coordinates, with compression applied to reduce file size while retaining spatial detail. Software like MapBrowser or MapWriter reads these files, interpreting the stored vector features to display maps onscreen or generate map tiles. Creation of a file involves generating a database of spatial features, encoding their geometry and attributes, and writing it in this binary compressed form.

This format uses an internal signature to help identify it: files begin with the hexadecimal byte sequence 20 77 00 02 (in ASCII that corresponds to ".w"). That signature appears at the start of files created as MapBrowser/MapWriter vector map data, and helps distinguish them from other file types.

How to open CBD files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CBD file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CBD file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested six different CBD openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 31, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of CBD files. Remember, different programs may use CBD files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about CBD file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.