What is the SVB file format?
An .svb file is a STATISTICA Visual Basic macro - a plain-text script used to automate statistical analyses, data manipulation, graph creation, and report generation within STATISTICA (now TIBCO Statistica / Spotfire Statistica).
SVB files use standard Visual Basic 6.0/VBA syntax extended with the Statistica Object Model, a COM-based API containing over 14,000 domain-specific functions. Entry points are standard Sub or Function procedures. Because the files are plain text, they can be opened and edited in any text editor, though execution requires a licensed installation of Statistica.
Macros can be run from within Statistica's built-in IDE or from the Windows command line using the /runmacro switch. They can also be invoked from external applications - a VB.NET or C# program can call Statistica automation objects via COM to run a macro programmatically.
The format was introduced in the mid-1990s with StatSoft STATISTICA for Windows. StatSoft was acquired by TIBCO Software in 2014 and the product was later rebranded as Spotfire Statistica. Version 14.0.x reached end of life in June 2025; current support covers version 14.4.
.svb files are Windows-only. The .bas and .vb extensions share the same Visual Basic syntax but lack the Statistica-specific API bindings. File sizes typically range from 1 KB for simple scripts to several hundred kilobytes for complex automation suites.
Security & safety
RISK: MEDIUMPlain text file, not executable by itself - requires Statistica to run. However, as a script file it can automate arbitrary actions (file access, network calls, process execution) within Statistica's VB runtime. Do not run SVB macros from untrusted sources.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open SVB files
Windows3 apps
TIBCO Statistica / Spotfire Statistica
Paid Macros → Open Macro → select .svb file, then Run. Or use Edit to open in the built-in SVB editor.
Notepad++ (edit only)
Open-source Open the .svb file as plain text; set language to Visual Basic for syntax highlighting. Cannot execute without Statistica.
Visual Studio / VS Code (edit only)
Free Open as plain text or .vb file for syntax highlighting and editing. Execution requires Statistica COM object. Technical details
deep spec| File type | Plain-text Visual Basic macro script |
| MIME type | text/plain |
| Encoding | Windows-1252 (ANSI) in legacy versions; UTF-8 in modern Statistica releases |
| Syntax base | Visual Basic 6.0 / VBA syntax |
| API model | Statistica Object Model - COM-based API with over 14,000 domain-specific statistical functions |
| Entry points | Standard Sub or Function procedures (VB convention) |
| Execution methods | Statistica IDE (built-in editor/runner), or command-line /runmacro switch |
| COM interop | Can be invoked from external VB.NET, VBA, or C# applications via COM automation |
| Functional scope | Statistical analysis, data manipulation, graph creation, and report generation |
| Typical file size | 1 KB - 500 KB |
| Operating system | Windows only (Statistica is a Windows-only application) |
| Version tracking | No embedded version marker; API compatibility depends on the installed Statistica version |
| Developer/product history | StatSoft Inc. → TIBCO Software (acquired 2014) → Spotfire Statistica / TIBCO Data Science |
| Released | mid-1990s (StatSoft STATISTICA for Windows, early macro automation versions) |
| Latest version | Compatible with TIBCO Statistica 14.4 / Spotfire Statistica (2026) |
| Specification | docs.tibco.com |
SVB conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about SVB files.
