TCR to OXPS Converter

Convert TCR ebook text to OXPS format — online free

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Open Standard Format

Turn TCR compressed text into OXPS — an open, standardized fixed-layout format that ensures your content is preserved with exact fidelity.

Automatic Cleanup

Your privacy matters. Uploaded TCR files are deleted after conversion, and OXPS results are removed from Convertio servers within 24 hours.

Browser-Only Workflow

Complete the entire TCR to OXPS conversion from any browser. No document software needed on your end — Convertio handles everything.

How to convert TCR to OXPS

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

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
OXPS (Open XPS) is a fixed-layout document format standardized as ECMA-388 in June 2009, representing an evolution of Microsoft's original XPS specification. The format packages fixed-layout pages, fonts, images, and metadata in a ZIP-based Open Packaging Conventions container — the same packaging framework used by DOCX, XLSX, and other Office Open XML formats. Each page is described using an XML markup language that specifies paths, glyphs, images, and canvas elements with precise coordinates, producing documents that render identically regardless of the viewing device or printer. OXPS incorporated several changes from the original XPS: the use of JPEG XR for high dynamic range images, support for the Open Packaging Conventions 2nd edition, and alignment with the Ecma standardization process. Windows 8 and later generate OXPS (rather than XPS) when printing to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer. One advantage is standards-based document fidelity — as an Ecma standard, OXPS provides a vendor-neutral, fully specified format for documents that must look identical everywhere they are rendered, essential for legal filings, regulatory submissions, and archival records. The fixed-layout model is another strength: unlike reflowable formats, OXPS documents preserve exact page composition including precise glyph positioning and vector graphics. Built-in support in Windows and the .NET framework provides native viewing and creation capabilities without third-party software.
Developer: Ecma International
Initial release: June 2009

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert TCR to OXPS?

OXPS is an open standard for fixed-layout documents. Converting TCR text to OXPS creates an archival-quality document with consistent formatting.

What programs read OXPS files?

Windows XPS Viewer and Microsoft Edge open OXPS natively. Some third-party document viewers on other platforms also support the format.

How is OXPS different from XPS?

OXPS is the updated, standardized version of XPS. It uses the same fixed-layout concept but follows the open ECMA-388 specification.

Is the document print-ready?

Yes. OXPS is a fixed-layout format designed for faithful reproduction — the document prints exactly as it appears on screen.

Does this conversion cost anything?

No, TCR to OXPS conversion is free on Convertio. Paid plans add batch uploads and priority processing for heavy users.