XPM to RB Converter

Turn XPM images into RB e-reader format online

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No Install Required

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

Cross-Platform Access

Whether you are on a desktop, tablet, or phone — convert XPM to RB from any device with a modern web browser.

Simple Interface

Three steps to convert: upload your XPM, select RB, and download. The clean interface makes the process intuitive even for first-time users.

How to convert XPM to RB

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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).
Initial release: 1989
RB is the native ebook format of the Rocket eBook, one of the first commercially available dedicated e-reading devices, developed by NuvoMedia and released in October 1998. Founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning — who later co-founded Tesla Motors — NuvoMedia designed the Rocket eBook as a handheld device with a reflective LCD screen, capable of storing approximately ten books in its internal memory. The RB format packages HTML-based content along with embedded images, metadata, and a table of contents into a single binary container optimized for the device's limited hardware. Content was purchased and downloaded through NuvoMedia's RocketLibrarian desktop software. A notable advantage of the format was its early support for bookmarking, annotation, dictionary lookups, and adjustable font sizing — features now standard on modern e-readers but revolutionary in the late 1990s. The Rocket eBook demonstrated viable commercial demand for dedicated reading devices, paving the way for subsequent platforms from Sony, Amazon, and others. NuvoMedia was acquired by Gemstar-TV Guide International in 2000, which discontinued the device line in 2003. While RB files are largely a historical curiosity today, they can be converted to modern formats using ebook management tools, and the format remains significant as a pioneering chapter in the evolution of digital reading.
Developer: NuvoMedia
Initial release: 1998

Frequently Asked Questions

Why would I convert XPM to RB?

RB (early e-book reader format) lets you include XPM graphics in e-book collections, accessible on dedicated readers and mobile apps.

What apps support RB?

You can view RB with Calibre, RocketBook viewer. These tools cover all major desktop and mobile platforms.

Can I convert multiple XPM files to RB at once?

Yes — upload several XPM files in one session and Convertio processes them all into RB simultaneously, saving you time.

Does converting XPM to RB affect quality?

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

Is my XPM file safe when converting online?

Convertio takes privacy seriously — your XPM uploads are deleted after conversion and the RB results are cleared within 24 hours.

How long does XPM to RB conversion take?

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