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PCX to ABW Converter

Change PCX images into ABW format — free and online

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Cloud-Powered

The PCX to ABW conversion runs on cloud servers — your device stays unburdened while the processing happens remotely and efficiently.

Privacy Protected

Convertio removes uploaded PCX files right after processing and purges ABW results within 24 hours. Your data does not linger on servers.

Cross-Platform

Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Convert PCX to ABW from whichever device you have at hand — no restrictions.

How to convert PCX to ABW

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

PCX (PiCture eXchange) is a raster image format created by ZSoft Corporation in 1985 as the native format of their PC Paintbrush application, one of the first painting programs for IBM PC compatibles. The format uses a simple run-length encoding (RLE) compression scheme that works by replacing consecutive identical pixel values with a count-value pair, achieving modest compression on images with large areas of uniform color. A PCX file consists of a 128-byte header (specifying dimensions, color depth, palette information, DPI, and encoding method), the RLE-compressed pixel data organized in scan-line order, and an optional 256-color palette appended after the image data. The format evolved through several versions supporting increasing color depths: 1-bit monochrome, 4-bit (16 colors), 8-bit (256 colors), and 24-bit true color using multiple color planes. PCX became one of the most popular image formats during the DOS era, widely supported by paint programs, word processors, desktop publishers, and early games throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. One advantage was broad DOS-era software compatibility — PCX served as a practical interchange format when competing programs used proprietary raster formats. The simplicity of RLE decoding is another strength, requiring minimal CPU and memory resources ideal for the hardware of that period. While PNG, JPEG, and other modern formats have replaced PCX in contemporary use, the format remains encountered in legacy archives and retro computing contexts.
Developer: ZSoft Corporation
Initial release: 1985
ABW is the native document format of AbiWord, a free and open-source word processor originally developed by AbiSource in 1998 and later maintained as part of the GNOME Office suite. The format stores document content as well-formed XML, describing paragraphs, character formatting, page layout, headers and footers, tables, lists, footnotes, and embedded images in a human-readable structure. ABW files use a straightforward markup where document sections map to XML elements with attribute-based styling, making the format transparent and easy to parse programmatically. AbiWord was designed as a lightweight alternative to heavyweight office suites, running efficiently on older hardware and resource-constrained systems while still providing core word processing functionality. One advantage is the clean XML foundation — ABW files can be inspected, transformed, and generated using standard XML tools and scripting languages without requiring the AbiWord application itself. The lightweight nature of both the format and its parent application is another practical strength: AbiWord and its ABW format are commonly found on Linux distributions targeting older computers and educational deployments in developing countries through projects like OLPC. ABW files can be converted to mainstream formats like DOC, ODT, and PDF through AbiWord's built-in export or through document conversion tools.
Developer: AbiSource
Initial release: 1998

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PCX to ABW?

PCX was designed for 1980s PC software. Converting to ABW modernizes the file so it works with contemporary tools, browsers, and operating systems.

What programs open ABW files?

AbiWord word processor, and other applications that support AbiWord document format.

Are colors preserved during conversion?

Color data from the PCX file is mapped accurately into ABW. The conversion maintains the original color profile as closely as the target format allows.

Is the original resolution preserved?

Yes — the pixel dimensions of your PCX image are maintained in the ABW output. No downscaling or cropping happens during conversion.

What platforms are supported?

Any device with a web browser — Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS. No software installation is needed for the conversion.

Where can I upload PCX files from?

You can upload from your local device, Google Drive, Dropbox, or paste a direct URL. Convertio pulls the PCX file from any of these sources.