PICON to PDB Converter

Online PICON to PDB — from image to e-book instantly

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No Install Required

The entire PICON to PDB conversion happens in your browser. No plugins, no desktop apps — just upload, convert, and download.

Batch Processing

Upload multiple PICON files at once and convert them all to PDB in a single session — ideal when you have many legacy images to migrate.

E-Book Conversion

Transform PICON graphics into PDB e-book format — your images become accessible on Kindle, Kobo, and other reading devices.

How to convert PICON to PDB

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your pdb file right afterwards

About formats

PICON (Personal Icon) is a small-format image type used in the X Window System ecosystem, developed by Steve Kinzler at Indiana University around 1990 as part of the picons (personal icons) database project. Picons are small, typically 48x48 pixel, color images used as visual identifiers for people, organizations, domains, and Usenet newsgroups in Unix mail readers, news readers, and other communication tools. The picon format is essentially an XPM (X PixMap) image stored with specific naming conventions and directory structures that allow software to look up the appropriate icon based on email address, domain name, or newsgroup name. The picons database organized thousands of these small images in a hierarchical directory structure keyed by domain name components (e.g., faces/com/example/user.xpm), enabling mail clients like exmstrstrstr and faces to automatically display a sender's photo or organizational logo alongside their messages. The system predated the modern concept of contact photos and avatars by more than a decade. One advantage is the system's pioneering role in visual identity for electronic communication: picons introduced the idea that email and Usenet messages should display a visual representation of the sender — a concept that eventually became standard in every modern email client, messaging app, and social media platform. The XPM-based format ensures that picons are displayable on any system with X Window libraries. Picon images are supported by ImageMagick, GIMP, and X Window display utilities, and the historical picons database remains archived online at Indiana University.
Developer: Steve Kinzler
Initial release: 1990
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PICON to PDB?

Converting PICON to PDB packages your images for e-readers. PDB is a data container used on Palm OS devices, making it suitable for portable reading devices.

Which software can view PDB files?

PDB files can be opened with Calibre, Palm OS emulators, some e-reader apps. Most of these are available across Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Can I convert multiple PICON files to PDB at once?

Convertio supports batch mode — drag in multiple PICON files and they all convert to PDB together, which is much faster than one-by-one.

Does converting PICON to PDB affect quality?

Your image content stays intact during conversion. Any differences depend on PDB characteristics — such as color depth or compression method.

Does this converter work on mobile devices?

The converter is browser-based and fully responsive. Convert PICON to PDB from any device — desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

How long does PICON to PDB conversion take?

Usually just seconds. PICON files are typically small, so the upload, conversion, and download process finishes very quickly on Convertio.