PDB to TCR Converter

PDB to TCR — create ebooks from your content online

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Fast Processing

PDB to TCR conversion is fast. Small files process almost instantly, and even larger images are done within moments.

Browser-Based Tool

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

Batch Conversion

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

How to convert PDB to TCR

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

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

Let the file convert and you can download your tcr 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

TCR (Text Compression for Reader) is a compressed plain-text ebook format developed by Barry Childress in the early 1990s for the Psion Series 3 family of palmtop computers. The format was created for Childress's Reader3 application, a text file viewer that needed to fit large books into the Psion's extremely limited storage — typically 128 KB to 2 MB of available memory. TCR uses a dictionary-based compression scheme derived from the earlier ZVR format by Ian Giddings, replacing repeated byte sequences with single-byte tokens that reference a header dictionary. This straightforward approach achieves compression ratios of roughly 40-60% on typical English prose while requiring minimal CPU resources for decompression. The Psion Series 3 ran on a 3.84 MHz NEC V30 processor with no floating-point unit, so TCR's low computational overhead was essential for smooth page-by-page reading. A key advantage is remarkable storage efficiency for its simplicity — users could carry dozens of novels on removable SSD cards that held only a few hundred kilobytes. The format found a dedicated user community among Psion enthusiasts who built libraries of compressed literature for portable reading years before smartphones existed. Though the Psion platform faded from the market in the early 2000s, TCR files can still be opened and converted by modern ebook tools, and the format stands as an early example of purpose-built mobile reading technology from the pre-smartphone era.

Developer: Barry Childress

Initial release: 1993

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDB to TCR?

PDB is tied to the defunct Palm ecosystem. Moving to TCR gives you compressed text for readers that works on today's e-readers.

What apps read TCR files?

You can open TCR files with Calibre, PalmReader, legacy PDA readers. Most platforms have at least one compatible option available.

Does the conversion preserve page layout?

Basic layout is retained during conversion. The TCR output is optimized for readability on e-reader screens.

Is batch conversion to TCR available?

Batch conversion is supported. Queue multiple PDB files and get separate TCR ebook outputs for each one.

Can I read the TCR file on my e-reader?

Yes — TCR files are designed for e-readers and compatible apps. Transfer the file to your device and start reading.

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

PDF to TCR

DOCX to TCR

JPG to TCR

EPUB to TCR

TXT to TCR

DOC to TCR

PNG to TCR

PPTX to TCR

HTML to TCR

FB2 to TCR

MOBI to TCR

XLSX to TCR

AZW3 to TCR

WEBP to TCR

GIF to TCR

JPEG to TCR

RTF to TCR

PPT to TCR

SNB to TCR

ODT to TCR

DXF to TCR

DJVU to TCR

EPS to TCR

PPS to TCR

BMP to TCR

CDR to TCR

AI to TCR

ICO to TCR

DST to TCR

LRF to TCR