PDB to RGBO Converter

Reliable online PDB to RGBO format transformation

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Nothing to Install

The PDB to RGBO converter runs in your web browser. No plugins, extensions, or desktop applications needed — just open and use.

Multi-File Upload

Handle multiple PDB files in one go. Each is converted to RGBO independently, and all downloads are available together.

Data Protection Built In

Your PDB files are erased as soon as conversion finishes. RGBO outputs are automatically removed within 24 hours.

How to convert PDB to RGBO

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your rgbo 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
RGBO is a raw pixel data format designation used by ImageMagick, the open-source image processing suite first released in 1990, representing images as a flat sequence of Red, Green, Blue, and Opacity (inverted alpha) sample values with no header, container, or compression. The RGBO channel ordering specifies that the fourth channel is opacity rather than alpha — where alpha represents transparency (0 = transparent, max = opaque), opacity represents the inverse (0 = opaque, max = transparent). This distinction matters in compositing pipelines where the mathematical convention for the fourth channel varies between systems: some compositing models work with alpha (transparency), while older conventions including portions of ImageMagick's internal processing historically used opacity. RGBO files contain raw sample data at a user-specified bit depth (8-bit, 16-bit, or floating-point per channel), with pixels stored in scanline order. Because there is no header, the image dimensions, bit depth, and endianness must be specified externally when reading the file — typically via ImageMagick command-line arguments. One advantage is direct compatibility with processing pipelines that use the opacity convention: RGBO eliminates the need for channel inversion when interfacing with systems that expect opacity rather than alpha, preventing subtle compositing errors that occur when transparency conventions are mixed. The format's raw-data nature provides another practical benefit — with no encoding overhead, RGBO data can be memory-mapped, processed with SIMD instructions, or piped between processes with minimal latency. RGBO is primarily used within ImageMagick processing chains and can be converted to any other format using ImageMagick's extensive format support.
Initial release: 1990

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDB to RGBO?

PDB is an obsolete Palm format. Converting to RGBO provides raw RGB with opacity and opens your content to modern viewers.

What programs open RGBO files?

You can open RGBO files with ImageMagick and Netpbm tools. Most platforms have at least one built-in or free option available.

Is the PDB to RGBO conversion instant?

Yes, for most files the conversion happens almost instantly. Larger PDB images may take a few extra seconds to process.

Do I need to create an account to convert?

No sign-up necessary. The converter works without an account for regular PDB to RGBO conversions.

Does the converter work on mobile devices?

It works on any device with a web browser — smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops all handle the conversion.

Will image dimensions change during conversion?

The original resolution is preserved. Your RGBO output has the same width and height as the source PDB file.