PDB to XPM Converter

Switch from PDB to XPM format — online and effortless

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Instant Results

Your PDB to XPM conversion is done within moments. The pipeline is optimized for speed and minimal wait times.

Nothing to Install

The PDB to XPM 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 XPM independently, and all downloads are available together.

How to convert PDB to XPM

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

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

Let the file convert and you can download your xpm 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

XPM (X PixMap) is a color image format for the X Window System, developed by Arnaud Le Hors at GROUPE BULL beginning in 1989 as the color successor to the monochrome XBM format. Like XBM, XPM files are valid C source code — each file defines the image as a static array of character strings, where the header strings specify width, height, number of colors, and characters per pixel, the color definition strings map character codes to color values (supporting X11 color names, hexadecimal RGB, and symbolic color types like 'background' and 'foreground'), and the pixel strings encode each row as a sequence of character codes that index the color palette. This ASCII art representation makes XPM images human-readable: one can often see the image content directly in the text of the source file. The format went through three revisions: XPM1 (1989, compatible with X10), XPM2 (simplified syntax), and XPM3 (1991, the current version with the static char* syntax and extended color specification). XPM was the standard format for X Window application icons, splash screens, pixmap buttons, and themed UI elements throughout the 1990s and 2000s. One advantage is the combined benefits of being a valid C source file and a color image: XPM files can be compiled into applications, edited in any text editor, processed by text tools, and version-controlled, while supporting up to 256 colors with transparency (using the 'None' color keyword). The X11 ecosystem's reliance on XPM ensures broad tool support. XPM files are handled by all X11 toolkits, ImageMagick, GIMP, and web browsers (legacy support).

Developer: Arnaud Le Hors / GROUPE BULL

Initial release: 1989

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDB to XPM?

XPM offers X Window color pixmap — converting from the legacy PDB format gives your content modern compatibility.

What programs open XPM files?

For XPM files, try GIMP, ImageMagick, X Window applications. Cross-platform support means you can view them on any operating system.

Do I need to create an account to convert?

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

Will I lose image quality converting PDB to XPM?

Quality stays intact during conversion. The output XPM file faithfully represents what was stored in the original PDB image.

Can I convert multiple PDB files to XPM at once?

Yes — upload several PDB files simultaneously and convert them all to XPM in a single batch operation.

Is the PDB to XPM conversion instant?

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

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

PNG to XPM

DNG to XPM

JPG to XPM

JPEG to XPM

BMP to XPM

ICO to XPM

SVG to XPM

WEBP to XPM

GIF to XPM

PDF to XPM

XCF to XPM

DOCX to XPM

TXT to XPM

HTML to XPM

PSD to XPM

DOC to XPM

XPS to XPM

AVIF to XPM

JFIF to XPM

ODT to XPM

ARW to XPM

TGA to XPM

XLSX to XPM

EPS to XPM

TTF to XPM

TIFF to XPM

RGB to XPM

AI to XPM

CR2 to XPM

EXR to XPM