PDB to XWD Converter

Online PDB to XWD conversion — instant results

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Browser-Based Tool

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

Secure Conversion

File privacy is guaranteed — PDB uploads are removed after conversion, and XWD results are deleted within 24 hours.

Multi-File Upload

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

How to convert PDB to XWD

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xwd 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
XWD (X Window Dump) is a screen capture image format defined as part of the X Window System by the MIT X Consortium, dating to approximately 1987. The xwd command-line utility captures the contents of an X window or the entire screen and saves it as an XWD file — functionally equivalent to a screenshot utility but predating the concept by years. XWD files contain a detailed header specifying the X server's visual type, bit depth, byte order, bitmap unit and padding, the window's dimensions, border width, and color map information, followed by the raw pixel data exactly as represented in the X server's framebuffer. This means XWD files faithfully capture the exact pixel representation used by the display hardware — including server-specific byte ordering, padding, and color organization — making them primarily useful on the system where they were captured or on systems with compatible display configurations. The header also stores the window name string and the full color map entries for indexed-color visuals. XWD supports all X11 visual types: StaticGray, GrayScale, StaticColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, and DirectColor, at any bit depth supported by the X server. One advantage is exact framebuffer fidelity: XWD captures the window's pixel data in its native format without any color space conversion or compression, making it the definitive record of what the X server was actually displaying. The format's integration with the X11 command-line toolkit provides another practical benefit — xwd can capture specific windows by ID or name, be triggered remotely via SSH, and piped directly to format converters. XWD files are handled by ImageMagick, GIMP, xwud (the viewer companion to xwd), and xv.
Developer: MIT X Consortium
Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDB to XWD?

Moving from PDB to XWD gives you X Window screen capture — essential when you need your legacy Palm data in a widely supported format.

What programs open XWD files?

For XWD files, try xwud command, GIMP, ImageMagick. 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 XWD conversions.

Does the converter work on mobile devices?

Yes — the PDB to XWD converter is fully browser-based and works on phones, tablets, and desktop computers equally well.

Will image dimensions change during conversion?

Pixel dimensions remain the same unless you choose to resize. The XWD output matches the original PDB dimensions by default.

Is the conversion process secure?

All files are handled securely. PDB uploads are purged after processing, and resulting XWD files expire within 24 hours.