PDB to FIG Converter

PDB to FIG conversion — vectorize your images online

Choose Files

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up

Batch Conversion

Convert multiple PDB files to FIG at once. Upload a batch and each file is processed independently — efficient and time-saving.

Browser-Based Tool

Everything happens in the browser. Open the page, upload PDB, get FIG — no desktop software or extensions involved.

Cloud Processing

The heavy lifting happens on our servers. Your device does not process anything — just upload PDB and download FIG.

How to convert PDB to FIG

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

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

Let the file convert and you can download your fig 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

FIG is the native file format of Xfig, a free vector graphics editor for the X Window System, originally written by Supoj Sutanthavibul at the University of Texas at Austin in 1985. The format uses a plain-text structure where each graphic object is described on one or more lines with numeric parameters specifying object type, coordinates, line properties, fill attributes, and depth ordering. FIG supports compound objects (groups), polylines, polygons, splines, arcs, ellipses, text strings, and imported bitmaps, each with configurable colors, line styles, arrow heads, and area fills. Files begin with a header line declaring the format version (currently 3.2), followed by a resolution specification and the object definitions. One advantage is exceptional simplicity — the entirely text-based format is trivially parsed, generated, and manipulated by scripts, making FIG popular as an intermediate format in automated diagram generation pipelines. The rich ecosystem of conversion tools is another strength: fig2dev exports FIG files to dozens of output formats including EPS, PDF, SVG, LaTeX picture environments, PSTricks, and TikZ. This made Xfig and FIG especially popular in academic and scientific communities, where authors generate publication-quality figures that integrate seamlessly with LaTeX documents. While graphical tools have evolved since the 1980s, FIG remains in use among researchers who value its scriptability, LaTeX integration, and well-documented format stability.

Developer: Supoj Sutanthavibul

Initial release: 1985

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDB to FIG?

FIG offers Unix vector drawing — converting from raster PDB gives you scalable output for print and design work.

What programs open FIG files?

You can open FIG files with Xfig, fig2dev, Inkscape with plugin. Most platforms have at least one compatible option available.

Can I edit the FIG file afterward?

The FIG format allows editing in compatible applications. You can adjust elements, change colors, and refine the design.

Does batch conversion to FIG work?

Batch processing is available. Upload several PDB files and produce individual FIG outputs for each one.

Will the output be truly scalable?

The FIG vector output can be resized without losing clarity — ideal for printing at any scale or using in design software.

Related Conversions

PDB to PDF

PDB to EPUB

PDB to MOBI

PDB to DOC

PDB to JPG

PDB to SVG

PDB to DOCX

PDB to TXT

PDB to FB2

PDB to GIF

PDB to XLS

PDB to PNG

PDB to RTF

PDB to CSV

PDB to XLSX

PDB to JPEG

PDB to DXF

PDB to PPT

PDB to PPTX

PDB to ODT

PDB to HTML

PDB to AI

PDB to PS

PDB to TIFF

PDB to PLT

PDB to AZW3

PDB to WBMP

PDB to BMP

PDB to WEBP

PDB to DDS

PDB to SNB

PDB to DOCM

PDB to PSD

PDB to JP2

PDB to LRF

PDB to PBM

PDB to RB

PDB to TCR

PDB to TGA

PDB to PCX

PDB to ICO

PDB to CUR

PDB to PGM

PDB to PPM

PDB to EXR

PDB to FAX

PDB to FTS

PDB to G3

PDB to HDR

PDB to HRZ

PDB to IPL

PDB to MAP

PDB to MNG

PDB to MTV

PDB to OTB

PDB to PAL

PDB to PALM

PDB to PAM

PDB to PCD

PDB to PCT

Specific converters

PSD to FIG

JPG to FIG

PNG to FIG

EPS to FIG

AI to FIG

SVG to FIG

JPEG to FIG

WEBP to FIG

CDR to FIG

GIF to FIG

BMP to FIG

DXF to FIG

JFIF to FIG

AVIF to FIG

PS to FIG

HEIC to FIG

PLT to FIG

WMF to FIG

TIFF to FIG

SK to FIG

XCF to FIG

ICO to FIG

CR2 to FIG

CUR to FIG

DCM to FIG

DDS to FIG

DNG to FIG

DST to FIG

PCX to FIG

EXP to FIG