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PDB to AW Converter

PDB to AW — create readable documents online

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Server-Side Conversion

PDB to AW conversion happens in the cloud. Your computer or phone is not burdened by any processing work whatsoever.

Nothing to Install

No software downloads needed. The entire PDB to AW conversion happens in your browser tab, on any platform.

Reliable Output

Count on accurate results from your PDB to AW conversion. The converter faithfully reproduces your original content.

How to convert PDB to AW

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDB to AW?

PDB is a legacy Palm format with limited support. Converting to AW gives you Applix word processor format that works everywhere.

What programs open AW files?

AW files are supported by Applix Office, LibreOffice Writer. Pick whichever application suits your operating system and workflow.

Does this work on mobile?

The PDB to AW converter is browser-based and functions on all devices — mobile, tablet, and desktop alike.

Will my content be preserved in the AW output?

Yes — the PDB content is placed within the AW file, so recipients see your data when they open the document.

Can I edit the resulting AW file?

That depends on the AW format. Some document formats allow full editing, while others are more suited for viewing and sharing.

Is batch conversion to AW supported?

Upload multiple files at once and each PDB file will be converted to its own AW document independently.