Registry / serialization / load-bmfont

load-bmfont

JSON →
library1.4.2jsnpmunverified

The `load-bmfont` package offers a convenient solution for parsing and loading AngelCode BMFont files into a standardized JSON format. It's designed to operate seamlessly across both Node.js and web browser environments, handling file system reads via `fs` and HTTP requests through `phin` in Node, and utilizing `xhr` for browser-based asset fetching. Supporting ASCII (text), JSON, XML, and binary BMFont data, this library provides a robust foundation for applications requiring bitmap font rendering. Currently at version 1.4.2, it maintains a stable release cycle, primarily focused on reliability and compatibility, rather than frequent new feature introductions, as reflected by its `stable` badge. A key advantage is its consistent API, which abstracts away environmental differences, simplifying the integration of BMFonts regardless of the execution context. This allows developers to write portable code for loading font assets, a crucial aspect for cross-platform game development or graphics-intensive web applications.

serialization
npm install load-bmfont
github ↗package ↗
INSTALL
IMPORT
SIG · LOAD-BMFONT
L
load-bmfont
serializationjavascriptv1.4.2
Install
—
Import
—
Disk
—
Pass rate
0/ 6
Env Coverage0 / 6
glibc
18–22
musl
18–22
Install & Compatibility
Where this runs
tested against v? · npm install
Install × environment matrix
Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux
musl
node 18–226 runs
build_error
glibc
node 18–226 runs
build_error
Code
Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

load
✓ const load = require('load-bmfont');
✗ import load from 'load-bmfont';
The package is primarily designed for CommonJS. Direct ES module `import` syntax might require a bundler or specific configuration for compatibility, as it's not explicitly dual-bundled.
load
✓ load('path/to/font.fnt', function (err, font) { /* ... */ });
✗ load({ uri: 'path/to/font.fnt' });
The `load` function expects a callback as the second argument for asynchronous operations. Omitting the callback will prevent handling of loaded data or errors.
load (binary)
✓ load({ uri: 'path/to/font.bin', binary: true }, function (err, font) { /* ... */ });
When loading binary BMFont files (e.g., with a `.bin` extension), the `binary: true` option is crucial to ensure correct data interpretation, especially in browser environments where XHR might default to string-based parsing.

This quickstart demonstrates how to load both text-based and binary BMFont files using `load-bmfont`, showing the basic callback pattern and necessary `binary` option.

const loadBmfont = require('load-bmfont'); const path = require('path'); // This example assumes you have 'Arial-32.fnt' and 'Arial.bin' // in a 'fonts/' directory relative to your script. // In a browser, these would be fetched via HTTP. // Example 1: Loading an ASCII/XML/JSON BMFont file loadBmfont(path.join(__dirname, 'fonts', 'Arial-32.fnt'), function (err, font) { if (err) { console.error('Error loading Arial-32.fnt:', err); return; } console.log('--- Loaded Arial-32.fnt ---'); console.log('Font Face:', font.info.face); console.log('Line Height:', font.common.lineHeight); console.log('Number of characters:', font.chars.length); }); // Example 2: Loading a binary BMFont file, explicitly setting binary: true loadBmfont( { uri: path.join(__dirname, 'fonts', 'Arial.bin'), // Replace with actual path binary: true, }, function (err, font) { if (err) { console.error('Error loading Arial.bin (binary):', err); return; } console.log('\n--- Loaded Arial.bin (binary) ---'); console.log('Font Size:', font.info.size); console.log('Common scaleW:', font.common.scaleW); console.log('First Kerning (if exists):', font.kernings.length > 0 ? font.kernings[0] : 'N/A'); } );
Debug
Known issues
gotchaWhen loading binary BMFont files (typically with a `.bin` extension), the `binary: true` option in the configuration object is critical. Without it, the data might be incorrectly parsed as a UTF-8 string, leading to parsing errors or corrupted font data. This is particularly relevant in browser environments using XHR.
fix
Always pass `{ uri: '...', binary: true }` for binary font files to ensure correct data interpretation.
affects: >=1.0.0
gotchaThe `load-bmfont` library uses a traditional Node.js-style callback pattern for asynchronous operations. Developers working with modern JavaScript features like Promises or async/await will need to manually wrap the `load` function to integrate it into a promise-based workflow.
fix
Wrap the `load` function in a Promise: `const loadPromise = (uri, opts) => new Promise((resolve, reject) => load(uri, opts, (err, font) => err ? reject(err) : resolve(font)));`
affects: >=1.0.0
gotchaMalformed or non-standard BMFont files can lead to parsing errors. The library expects files to strictly adhere to the AngelCode BMFont specification. Issues like incorrect character counts, invalid XML/JSON structure, or unexpected binary data can cause failures.
fix
Ensure that your BMFont files are correctly generated and validate them using an appropriate tool if you encounter parsing issues. Refer to the AngelCode BMFont specification for format details.
affects: >=1.0.0
Errors
Common errors & fixes
Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'path/to/font.fnt'
The specified font file URI does not exist or is inaccessible in the Node.js file system context where the script is being executed.
fix
Verify that the `uri` path is correct and that the font file exists. Consider using absolute paths or `path.join(__dirname, '...')` for more robust path resolution in Node.js.
Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 404 (Not Found)
In a browser environment, the HTTP request to fetch the font file failed because the server could not find the specified resource at the given URI.
fix
Check the `uri` provided to `load-bmfont` in your browser code to ensure it points to a valid and accessible URL on your web server. Verify the server-side deployment and paths of your font assets.
error parsing font malformed file -- no element
The BMFont file you are attempting to load is syntactically incorrect or contains structural errors that prevent `load-bmfont` from parsing it according to the BMFont specification.
fix
Open the BMFont file in a text editor (if ASCII, XML, or JSON) and inspect for obvious errors. If it's a binary file, regenerate it from a reliable source. Ensure the file adheres to the AngelCode BMFont specification.
Upgrade
Version history
1.4.2latest on npm
Audit
Dependencies
phinrequiredUsed for making HTTP requests to fetch font files in Node.js environments.
xhrrequiredUsed for making HTTP requests to fetch font files in browser environments.
Agent activity
2 hits · last 30 days
node
2
Resources
githubhttps://github.com/Jam3/load-bmfont ↗
packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/load-bmfont ↗
load-bmfont — npm install load-bmfont · libregistry