AW to PDB Converter

Free online AW to PDB conversion — Palm Doc ebook output

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Compact Ebook Output

PDB files are small and efficient. Your old AW documents become lightweight ebooks suitable for any compatible reader.

Secure Handling

AW files are deleted from servers right after processing. PDB output files are erased automatically within 24 hours.

Cross-Platform Reading

PDB ebooks open in Calibre, FBReader, and other apps across Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

How to convert AW to PDB

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose pdb or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your pdb file right afterwards

About formats

AW is the document format of Applix Words, the word processor component of the Applix office suite (later renamed Anyware Office) developed by Applix, Inc. for Unix and Linux workstations. The suite targeted enterprise Unix environments during the 1990s, providing word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and presentation capabilities on platforms like Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, and Linux where Microsoft Office was unavailable. AW files store formatted text documents with support for character and paragraph styling, page layout, tables, headers and footers, and embedded graphics. The format uses a proprietary binary structure optimized for the Applix application's internal document model. Applix Words gained particular visibility in the Linux community during the late 1990s when it was bundled with several commercial Linux distributions as their default word processor before OpenOffice.org became widely available. One advantage was native Unix platform support — Applix provided professional word processing capabilities on Unix workstations at a time when few commercial alternatives existed. The format's tight integration with other Applix suite components enabled cross-referencing between word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Applix was acquired by Cognos in 2003, and the office suite was discontinued. AW files are primarily encountered today in archived documents from Unix enterprise environments of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Developer: Applix, Inc.
Initial release: 1992
PDB (Palm Database) is a generic database container format created by Palm, Inc. for the Palm OS platform, first appearing with the original PalmPilot in March 1996. In the ebook context, PDB files most commonly use the PalmDOC or Plucker encoding to store readable text with basic formatting. The format consists of a 78-byte header identifying the database name, creation date, and record count, followed by a record index table and the data records themselves. PalmDOC-encoded PDB files use a simple LZ77-based compression scheme to pack plain text efficiently, while Plucker extends this with HTML rendering, image support, and hyperlink navigation. PDB ebooks powered a thriving mobile reading ecosystem years before dedicated e-readers existed — millions of Palm OS users carried entire libraries on devices like the Palm V, Tungsten, and Treo handhelds. A primary advantage is extreme simplicity: the flat record structure and minimal overhead mean PDB files parse instantly even on severely constrained hardware with limited memory and processing power. The open, well-documented structure is another strength, having spawned numerous reader applications across Palm OS, Windows, and later mobile platforms. Though the Palm platform is long discontinued, PDB ebooks remain accessible through conversion tools and readers like Calibre, and the format holds historical significance as one of the earliest practical mobile ebook solutions.
Developer: Palm, Inc.
Initial release: March 1996

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PDB ebook format?

PDB (Palm Database) is an ebook format from the Palm OS era. It is still supported by several cross-platform readers.

Why convert AW to PDB?

PDB is compact and readable on many lightweight ebook apps — a simple way to make old AW content portable.

What reads PDB ebook files?

Calibre, FBReader, and several mobile reading apps can open PDB ebooks on modern devices.

Is this conversion free?

Yes — AW to PDB conversion is free. Premium options exist for larger files and higher batch volumes.

Is PDB still relevant today?

PDB is a legacy format but remains supported by cross-platform readers. EPUB or MOBI may be better for most use cases.

Can I convert several AW files at once?

Yes. Batch upload is supported — convert multiple AW files to PDB in one session without repeating the process.