FTS to PDB Converter

Convert astronomical FTS images to PDB format online

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Secure Processing

Your FTS uploads are deleted right after conversion, and the resulting PDB output is removed from servers within 24 hours for full privacy.

Cross-Platform

The converter works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Convert FTS to PDB from whichever device you have at hand.

Effortless Conversion

Upload your FTS, pick PDB, and click Convert — the entire process takes just a few clicks with no technical expertise required.

How to convert FTS to PDB

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

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

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

About formats

FTS is a file extension for the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS), the standard data format used in astronomy since 1981 when it was defined by Don Wells, Eric Greisen, and R.H. Harten at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and subsequently endorsed by the International Astronomical Union in 1982. FITS was designed from the outset as a self-describing archival format: each file begins with one or more 2880-byte header blocks containing ASCII keyword-value pairs that describe the data's dimensions, coordinate system, observation parameters, and provenance, followed by data blocks in a variety of numeric types — 8/16/32/64-bit integers and 32/64-bit IEEE floating-point values. FITS supports multi-dimensional arrays (images, data cubes, hypercubes), binary tables for catalog data, and ASCII tables, with multiple Header/Data Units (HDUs) that can coexist in a single file. The format handles specialized astronomical data: spectral cubes, radio interferometry visibilities, multi-extension mosaic images from CCD arrays, and time-series photometry. One advantage is scientific rigor: FITS mandates that all metadata needed to interpret the data physically — coordinate transformations (WCS), photometric calibration, telescope and instrument parameters — travels with the file, eliminating the metadata-loss problem that plagues general-purpose image formats in scientific contexts. The format's longevity and institutional backing is another strength — virtually every observatory, space telescope (Hubble, James Webb, Chandra), and astronomical software package (DS9, IRAF, Astropy) uses FITS as its primary data format.

Developer: NASA / IAU

Initial release: 1981

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

Why convert FTS to PDB?

FTS requires niche software to open. Converting to PDB lets you share and view your astronomical images on virtually any platform.

What programs open PDB?

Most image viewers and editors handle PDB — Photoshop, GIMP, IrfanView, and built-in viewers on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Is the conversion instant?

Near-instant for typical images — the cloud-based processing handles FTS to PDB conversion quickly. Very large data may take a moment.

Does this work on mobile devices?

Yes — the converter runs in any web browser, so it works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops regardless of operating system.

Is batch FTS to PDB conversion supported?

Absolutely — queue multiple FTS images and convert them all to PDB in a single session. No need to process one at a time.

Related Conversions

FTS to JPG

FTS to PNG

FTS to BMP

FTS to PDF

FTS to JPEG

FTS to TIFF

FTS to AVIF

FTS to DOC

FTS to JP2

FTS to WBMP

FTS to GIF

FTS to TGA

FTS to SVG

FTS to PCX

FTS to ICO

FTS to CUR

FTS to PBM

FTS to PGM

FTS to PPM

FTS to WEBP

FTS to EXR

FTS to FAX

FTS to G3

FTS to HDR

FTS to HRZ

FTS to IPL

FTS to MAP

FTS to MNG

FTS to MTV

FTS to OTB

FTS to PAL

FTS to PALM

FTS to PAM

FTS to PCD

FTS to PCT

FTS to PDB

FTS to PFM

FTS to PICON

FTS to PICT

FTS to PNM

FTS to PSD

FTS to RAS

FTS to RGB

FTS to RGBA

FTS to RGBO

FTS to SGI

FTS to SUN

FTS to UYVY

FTS to VIFF

FTS to XBM

FTS to XPM

FTS to XV

FTS to XWD

FTS to YUV

FTS to JBG

FTS to JBIG

FTS to HEIC

FTS to HEIF

FTS to G4

FTS to RGF

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