All about VBB Files

The VBB file type is primarily associated with MATLAB.

VBB	File extension: VBB
	File type:	data container

What is a VBB file?

VBB files mostly belong to MATLAB. The VBB file is not a single uniform file type but a file extension used by different programs to store various kinds of data.
In one common use, MATLAB creates a VBB file as an annotation file. This file contains notes or data markers that work inside MATLAB. More details are available at the MathWorks documentation.
Another use is by Virtual Breadboard, which packages its schematic files as a ZIP archive using the same extension. These files store breadboard design information and can be opened with the Virtual Breadboard software. Visit Virtual Breadboard for extra information.
There is also a version that uses XML to save electronics layout information. This form is used with tools like Fritzing for breadboard design data; see more at Fritzing.
Lastly, some VBB files are labeled as a Virtual Black Box by Trimble Business Center. These files hold GNSS receiver data for geospatial processing. More details can be found at Trimble Business Center.
Key points to note:

If you have a MATLAB-generated VBB file, use MATLAB to open it.

If it is from Virtual Breadboard, open it with the Virtual Breadboard application.

For XML-based design files, Fritzing is the recommended tool.

If it is a Trimble Virtual Black Box file, use Trimble Business Center.

FilExt.com tip: Check the file header or properties to know which internal format it uses before choosing a program.

How to open a VBB file

You need a suitable software like MATLAB to open a VBB file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your VBB file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a VBB file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online VBB Text Viewer

Choose your .vbb file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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VBB format details:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open the file. The initial characters of a file are called signature, sometimes also referred to as "magic bytes". The signature can be used to infer the file format. File extension, signature and file format must match; otherwise errors will occur when the file is opened. So you need a detailed analysis of a file to find out the format and the associated program. Our evaluation of the VBB files looks like this:

The VBB file extension predominantly uses a uniform format. However, the following two file formats are common:

• 80% of all VBB files are based on the popular MATLAB file format. The MATLAB format is binary data container format and was developed by MathWorks MATLAB, an application used for mathematical computations such as analyzing data, developing algorithms, and building models. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. The files are on average 1 MB in size and range from 450 KB to 1 MB. The file type was primarily used more than 10 years ago. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. nFrame and MATLAB 5.0 MAT-file, Platform: PCWIN, Created on: Wed May 13 17:11:19 2009. Examples of file names are V000.vbb or V001.vbb. Files like these are about labels, inria, training, original, video and cama.
• 9% of all VBB files are based on the zip format, the VBB file contains a number of compressed files. Primarily 5 to 5 files are included. File names are e.g. Breadboard.VBB, NewTemplate.SIM, NewTemplate.VSM, NewTemplate.md and NewTemplate.vbb. If you'd like to see the images and files included, just rename the file extension to .zip and double-click. The average file size is 4 KB with most files being between 3 KB and 5 KB in size. The keywords NewTemplate.VSM, IM.IM, QH.-*J, U2PR(N, URRP and u*JMLI are typical for these files. Files like these are sometimes connected to breadboard.

All other VBB files (11%) have no uniform format, often, for example, XML. Often described as batch. You can get all the details of your VBB file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .vbb file to analyze" above.