Development resources/Example NBT Class

This Java class will read an NBT structure and return the topmost tag from an InputStream and let you write an NBT structure through the topmost tag to an OutputStream. A condensed documentation is at the bottom of the page.

Note: As of Minecraft weekly version 12w07a, there's a new tag with ID 11 - an "Int Array Tag." Minecraft worlds generated with 12w07a and later will use this tag.

import java.io.DataInputStream; import java.io.DataOutputStream; import java.io.IOException; import java.io.InputStream; import java.io.OutputStream; import java.util.zip.GZIPInputStream; import java.util.zip.GZIPOutputStream; /** * NBT IO class * * @see Online NBT specification */ public class Tag { private final Type type; private Type listType = null; private final String name; private Object value; /**     * Enum for the tag types. */    public enum Type { TAG_End, TAG_Byte, TAG_Short, TAG_Int, TAG_Long, TAG_Float, TAG_Double, TAG_Byte_Array, TAG_String, TAG_List, TAG_Compound }    /**      * Create a new TAG_List or TAG_Compound NBT tag. *     * @param type either TAG_List or TAG_Compound * @param name name for the new tag or null to create an unnamed tag. * @param value list of tags to add to the new tag. */    public Tag(Type type, String name, Tag[] value) { this(type, name, (Object) value); }    /**      * Create a new TAG_List with an empty list. Use {@link Tag#addTag(Tag)} to add tags later. *     * @param name name for this tag or null to create an unnamed tag. * @param listType type of the elements in this empty list. */    public Tag(String name, Type listType) { this(Type.TAG_List, name, listType); }    /**      * Create a new NBT tag. *     * @param type any value from the {@link Type} enum. * @param name name for the new tag or null to create an unnamed tag. * @param value an object that fits the tag type or a {@link Type} to create an empty TAG_List with this list type. */    public Tag(Type type, String name, Object value) { switch (type) { case TAG_End: if (value != null) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Byte: if (!(value instanceof Byte)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Short: if (!(value instanceof Short)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Int: if (!(value instanceof Integer)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Long: if (!(value instanceof Long)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Float: if (!(value instanceof Float)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Double: if (!(value instanceof Double)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Byte_Array: if (!(value instanceof byte[])) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_String: if (!(value instanceof String)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_List: if (value instanceof Type) { this.listType = (Type) value; value = new Tag[0]; } else { if (!(value instanceof Tag[])) throw new IllegalArgumentException; this.listType = (((Tag[]) value)[0]).getType; }            break; case TAG_Compound: if (!(value instanceof Tag[])) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; default: throw new IllegalArgumentException; }        this.type = type; this.name = name; this.value = value; }    public Type getType { return type; }    public String getName { return name; }    public Object getValue { return value; }    public void setValue(Object newValue) {        switch (type) { case TAG_End: if (value != null) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Byte: if (!(value instanceof Byte)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Short: if (!(value instanceof Short)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Int: if (!(value instanceof Integer)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Long: if (!(value instanceof Long)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Float: if (!(value instanceof Float)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Double: if (!(value instanceof Double)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_Byte_Array: if (!(value instanceof byte[])) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_String: if (!(value instanceof String)) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; case TAG_List: if (value instanceof Type) { this.listType = (Type) value; value = new Tag[0]; } else { if (!(value instanceof Tag[])) throw new IllegalArgumentException; this.listType = (((Tag[]) value)[0]).getType; }            break; case TAG_Compound: if (!(value instanceof Tag[])) throw new IllegalArgumentException; break; default: throw new IllegalArgumentException; }        value = newValue; }    public Type getListType { return listType; }    /**      * Add a tag to a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound. */    public void addTag(Tag tag) { if (type != Type.TAG_List && type != Type.TAG_Compound) throw new RuntimeException; Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) value; int index = subtags.length; //For TAG_Compund entries, we need to add the tag BEFORE the end, //or the new tag gets placed after the TAG_End, messing up the data. //TAG_End MUST be kept at the very end of the TAG_Compound. if(type == Type.TAG_Compound) index--; insertTag(tag, index); }    /**      * Add a tag to a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound at the specified index. */    public void insertTag(Tag tag, int index) { if (type != Type.TAG_List && type != Type.TAG_Compound) throw new RuntimeException; Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) value; if (subtags.length > 0) if (type == Type.TAG_List && tag.getType != getListType) throw new IllegalArgumentException; if (index > subtags.length) throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException; Tag[] newValue = new Tag[subtags.length + 1]; System.arraycopy(subtags, 0, newValue, 0, index); newValue[index] = tag; System.arraycopy(subtags, index, newValue, index + 1, subtags.length - index); value = newValue; }    /**      * Remove a tag from a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound at the specified index. *     * @return the removed tag */    public Tag removeTag(int index) { if (type != Type.TAG_List && type != Type.TAG_Compound) throw new RuntimeException; Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) value; Tag victim = subtags[index]; Tag[] newValue = new Tag[subtags.length - 1]; System.arraycopy(subtags, 0, newValue, 0, index); index++; System.arraycopy(subtags, index, newValue, index - 1, subtags.length - index); value = newValue; return victim; }    /**      * Remove a tag from a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound. If the tag is not a child of this tag then nested tags are searched. *     * @param tag tag to look for */    public void removeSubTag(Tag tag) { if (type != Type.TAG_List && type != Type.TAG_Compound) throw new RuntimeException; if (tag == null) return; Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) value; for (int i = 0; i < subtags.length; i++) { if (subtags[i] == tag) { removeTag(i); return; } else { if (subtags[i].type == Type.TAG_List || subtags[i].type == Type.TAG_Compound) { subtags[i].removeSubTag(tag); }            }         }     }     /**      * Find the first nested tag with specified name in a TAG_Compound. *     * @param name the name to look for. May be null to look for unnamed tags. * @return the first nested tag that has the specified name. */    public Tag findTagByName(String name) { return findNextTagByName(name, null); }    /**      * Find the first nested tag with specified name in a TAG_List or TAG_Compound after a tag with the same name. *     * @param name the name to look for. May be null to look for unnamed tags. * @param found the previously found tag with the same name. * @return the first nested tag that has the specified name after the previously found tag. */    public Tag findNextTagByName(String name, Tag found) { if (type != Type.TAG_List && type != Type.TAG_Compound) return null; Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) value; for (Tag subtag : subtags) { if ((subtag.name == null && name == null) || (subtag.name != null && subtag.name.equals(name))) { return subtag; } else { Tag newFound = subtag.findTagByName(name); if (newFound != null) if (newFound == found) continue; else return newFound; }        }         return null; }    /**      * Read a tag and its nested tags from an InputStream. *     * @param is stream to read from, like a FileInputStream * @return NBT tag or structure read from the InputStream * @throws IOException if there was no valid NBT structure in the InputStream or if another IOException occurred. */    public static Tag readFrom(InputStream is) throws IOException { DataInputStream dis = new DataInputStream(new GZIPInputStream(is)); byte type = dis.readByte; Tag tag = null; if (type == 0) { tag = new Tag(Type.TAG_End, null, null); } else { tag = new Tag(Type.values[type], dis.readUTF, readPayload(dis, type)); }        dis.close; return tag; }    private static Object readPayload(DataInputStream dis, byte type) throws IOException { switch (type) { case 0: return null; case 1: return dis.readByte; case 2: return dis.readShort; case 3: return dis.readInt; case 4: return dis.readLong; case 5: return dis.readFloat; case 6: return dis.readDouble; case 7: int length = dis.readInt; byte[] ba = new byte[length]; dis.readFully(ba); return ba; case 8: return dis.readUTF; case 9: byte lt = dis.readByte; int ll = dis.readInt; Tag[] lo = new Tag[ll]; for (int i = 0; i < ll; i++) { lo[i] = new Tag(Type.values[lt], null, readPayload(dis, lt)); }            if (lo.length == 0) return Type.values[lt]; else return lo; case 10: byte stt; Tag[] tags = new Tag[0]; do { stt = dis.readByte; String name = null; if (stt != 0) { name = dis.readUTF; }                Tag[] newTags = new Tag[tags.length + 1]; System.arraycopy(tags, 0, newTags, 0, tags.length); newTags[tags.length] = new Tag(Type.values[stt], name, readPayload(dis, stt)); tags = newTags; } while (stt != 0); return tags; }        return null; }    /**      * Read a tag and its nested tags from an InputStream. *     * @param os stream to write to, like a FileOutputStream * @throws IOException if this is not a valid NBT structure or if any IOException occurred. */    public void writeTo(OutputStream os) throws IOException { GZIPOutputStream gzos; DataOutputStream dos = new DataOutputStream(gzos = new GZIPOutputStream(os)); dos.writeByte(type.ordinal); if (type != Type.TAG_End) { dos.writeUTF(name); writePayload(dos); }        gzos.flush; gzos.close; }    private void writePayload(DataOutputStream dos) throws IOException { switch (type) { case TAG_End: break; case TAG_Byte: dos.writeByte((Byte) value); break; case TAG_Short: dos.writeShort((Short) value); break; case TAG_Int: dos.writeInt((Integer) value); break; case TAG_Long: dos.writeLong((Long) value); break; case TAG_Float: dos.writeFloat((Float) value); break; case TAG_Double: dos.writeDouble((Double) value); break; case TAG_Byte_Array: byte[] ba = (byte[]) value; dos.writeInt(ba.length); dos.write(ba); break; case TAG_String: dos.writeUTF((String) value); break; case TAG_List: Tag[] list = (Tag[]) value; dos.writeByte(getListType.ordinal); dos.writeInt(list.length); for (Tag tt : list) { tt.writePayload(dos); }            break; case TAG_Compound: Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) value; for (Tag st : subtags) { Tag subtag = st; Type type = subtag.getType; dos.writeByte(type.ordinal); if (type != Type.TAG_End) { dos.writeUTF(subtag.getName); subtag.writePayload(dos); }            }             break; }    }     /**      * Print the NBT structure to System.out */    public void print { print(this, 0); }    private String getTypeString(Type type) { switch (type) { case TAG_End: return "TAG_End"; case TAG_Byte: return "TAG_Byte"; case TAG_Short: return "TAG_Short"; case TAG_Int: return "TAG_Int"; case TAG_Long: return "TAG_Long"; case TAG_Float: return "TAG_Float"; case TAG_Double: return "TAG_Double"; case TAG_Byte_Array: return "TAG_Byte_Array"; case TAG_String: return "TAG_String"; case TAG_List: return "TAG_List"; case TAG_Compound: return "TAG_Compound"; }        return null; }    private void indent(int indent) { for (int i = 0; i < indent; i++) { System.out.print("  "); }    }     private void print(Tag t, int indent) { Type type = t.getType; if (type == Type.TAG_End) return; String name = t.getName; indent(indent); System.out.print(getTypeString(t.getType)); if (name != null) System.out.print("(\"" + t.getName + "\")"); if (type == Type.TAG_Byte_Array) { byte[] b = (byte[]) t.getValue; System.out.println(": [" + b.length + " bytes]"); } else if (type == Type.TAG_List) { Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) t.getValue; System.out.println(": " + subtags.length + " entries of type " + getTypeString(t.getListType)); for (Tag st : subtags) { print(st, indent + 1); }            indent(indent); System.out.println("}"); } else if (type == Type.TAG_Compound) { Tag[] subtags = (Tag[]) t.getValue; System.out.println(": " + (subtags.length - 1) + " entries"); indent(indent); System.out.println("{"); for (Tag st : subtags) { print(st, indent + 1); }            indent(indent); System.out.println("}"); } else { System.out.println(": " + t.getValue); }    } }

If you find bugs: fix this page.

If you dislike this code, maybe the JNBT project is for you. The class above is unrelated to JNBT.

Documentation
These are the functions and documentation from the class above, in a condensed form. Private functions are not included. The functions are broken up into four categories: Constructors, Data Values, Tag Manaipulation and IO Functions. Hopefully this documentation helps someone understand what is happening, and allows them to use the Tag class. It definitely helped me.

Constructors:
 * Tag(Type type,String name,Tag[] value)
 * Description: Create a new TAG_List or TAG_Compound NBT tag.
 * type: Either TAG_List or TAG_Compound.
 * name: Name for the new tag or null to create an unnamed tag.
 * value: List of tags to add to the new tag.


 * Tag(String name, Type listType)
 * Description: Create a new TAG_List with an empty list. Use {@link Tag#addTag(Tag)} to add tags later.
 * name: Name for this tag or null to create an unnamed tag.
 * listType: Type of the elements in this empty list.


 * Tag(Type type, String name, Object value)
 * Description: Create a new NBT tag.
 * type: Any value from the {@link Type} enum.
 * name: Name for the new tag or null to create an unnamed tag.
 * value: An object that fits the tag type or a {@link Type} to create an empty TAG_List with this list type.

Data Values:
 * getType
 * getName
 * getValue
 * getListType
 * setValue

Tag Manipulation:
 * addTag(Tag tag)
 * Description: Add a tag to a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound.


 * insertTag(Tag tag, int index)
 * Description: Add a tag to a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound at the specified index.


 * removeTag(int index)
 * Description: Remove a tag from a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound at the specified index.
 * Return: The removed tag.


 * removeSubTag(Tag tag)
 * Description: Remove a tag from a TAG_List or a TAG_Compound. If the tag is not a child of this tag then nested tags are searched.


 * findTagByName(String name)
 * Description: Find the first nested tag with specified name in a TAG_Compound.
 * name: The name to look for. May be null to look for unnamed tags.
 * Return: The first nested tag that has the specified name.


 * findNextTagByName(String name, Tag found)
 * Description: Find the first nested tag with specified name in a TAG_List or TAG_Compound after a tag with the same name.
 * name: The name to look for. May be null to look for unnamed tags.
 * found: the previously found tag with the same name.
 * Return: The first nested tag that has the specified name after the previously found tag.

IO Functions:
 * readFrom(InputStream is)
 * Description: Read a tag and its nested tags from an InputStream.
 * is: Stream to read from, like a FileInputStream.
 * Return: NBT tag or structure read from the InputStream.
 * Throws: IOException if there was no valid NBT structure in the InputStream or if another IOException occurred.


 * writeTo(OutputStream os)
 * Description: Write a tag and its nested tags to an OutputStream.
 * os: Stream to write to, like a FileOutputStream.
 * Throws: IOException if this is not a valid NBT structure or if any IOException occurred.


 * print
 * Description: Print the NBT structure to System.out.

Classe Java pour gérer le format NBT