RxData Editor: A Guide to Save Editors, NC Editor, TGA Editor, and Plist Editor Tools

An rxdata editor is a tool used to modify .rxdata files, the save file format used in games built with RPG Maker XP. Whether you are adjusting game variables, editing character stats, or recovering a corrupted save, an rxdata save editor opens and modifies these binary files without requiring programming knowledge. The broader category of specialized file editors also includes an nc editor — used to create and modify CNC machine toolpath files — a tga editor for editing Truevision TGA image files common in game development and 3D rendering pipelines, and a plist editor for modifying Apple property list files used in macOS and iOS applications. Each of these tools serves a specific file format that general-purpose editors cannot handle correctly.

This guide covers each editor type with enough detail to help you select and use the right tool for your specific file format.

RxData save editor: tools and usage

What rxdata files contain

An rxdata editor works with RPG Maker XP’s native file format, which stores serialized Ruby objects including game save data, map data, actor statistics, and item inventories. The most common use case for an rxdata save editor is modifying character stats, gold amounts, or item quantities in a game save — essentially a cheating or debugging tool that gives players or developers direct access to save data without playing through the game.

Several rxdata save editor tools exist: RPG Save Editor (a graphical Java application), PKHex-style save editing tools ported for RPG Maker games, and hex editors with custom scripts for parsing the rxdata format. The most accessible option for non-technical users is a graphical rxdata editor with a tree-view interface that displays the save data in a readable structure. For developers working directly in RPG Maker XP, the game’s built-in debug console provides an alternative path to save data modification without an external rxdata save editor.

Practical editing workflow

When using an rxdata save editor, back up the original save file before making any changes. The rxdata format is sensitive to corruption — an improperly modified value can break the entire save. Most rxdata editor tools display data in a nested tree structure; locate the relevant variable (character gold, item count, flag state) by browsing the tree, modify the value, and save. Test the modified save in the game before discarding the backup.

NC editor: CNC toolpath file editing

An nc editor — short for numerical control editor — is used to view and modify G-code and M-code files that drive CNC machines including mills, lathes, routers, and plasma cutters. G-code describes machine movements, speeds, and tool changes in a plain-text format, but the syntax is complex and machine-specific enough that a dedicated nc editor adds value over a plain text editor by providing syntax highlighting, line-number tracking, and often a tool path simulation preview.

Popular nc editor tools include CNCSimulator Pro (which combines editing with 3D simulation), Predator CNC Editor (a commercial editor used in industrial settings), and free alternatives like Gcode Viewer for quick validation. The choice of nc editor depends on whether you need simulation capability, machine-specific post-processor support, or simply a highlighted view of existing code for review and minor modification.

TGA editor: editing Truevision image files

A tga editor handles the .tga (Truevision TGA) image format, which has been used in game development, 3D rendering, and broadcast video production since the 1980s. TGA files support uncompressed and losslessly compressed image data with alpha channel transparency, making them a common intermediate format in pipelines where quality loss is unacceptable. The format’s simplicity and alpha channel support made it standard in early video game texture production and remains in use in some specialized pipelines today.

General image editors including GIMP (free) and Adobe Photoshop handle TGA files natively. For batch processing of TGA files — converting, resizing, or adjusting color profiles across hundreds of game textures — command-line tools like ImageMagick offer efficient tga editor functionality without a graphical interface. For simple viewing and minor edits, IrfanView (free, Windows) reads and writes TGA files reliably.

Plist editor: Apple property list files

A plist editor modifies Apple’s property list files — XML or binary format configuration files used throughout macOS and iOS applications, system preferences, and application bundles. Plists store key-value data including application settings, user preferences, game scores, and application state. The native macOS tool Xcode includes a built-in plist editor for developers; for users without Xcode, PlistEdit Pro (paid) and Apple’s free PlistBuddy command-line tool are the primary options.

A plist editor is commonly needed for modifying game save files in iOS games that store data in .plist format, adjusting application preferences that the application’s own settings interface does not expose, or editing configuration files during macOS system troubleshooting. Always back up plist files before editing — corrupted preference files can prevent applications from launching until the file is restored or deleted.