XBM to TCR Converter

Turn XBM images into TCR e-reader format online

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Cross-Platform Access

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

Browser-Based Tool

No software to download — convert XBM to TCR entirely in your web browser. Works on any device with an internet connection.

Batch Processing

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

How to convert XBM to TCR

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

XBM (X BitMap) is a monochrome (1-bit) image format defined as part of the X Window System, originating at MIT around 1987. XBM files are unique among image formats in being valid C source code: each file defines the image as a static array of unsigned char values containing the packed pixel data, preceded by #define statements specifying the image width, height, and optional hot-spot coordinates (for cursor images). The pixel data is stored in hexadecimal byte values within curly braces, with each bit representing one pixel (1 = foreground, 0 = background) and bits ordered LSB-first within each byte. This design was intentional — XBM images could be #included directly into X Window application source code and compiled into the binary, eliminating the need for external file loading and runtime format parsing. The format was used throughout the X11 ecosystem for cursor shapes, window icons, toolbar buttons, and other small UI elements. One advantage is the source-code nature of the format: XBM files can be edited with a text editor, diff'd and merged in version control, generated by shell scripts, and compiled directly into C programs without any image loading library — a level of toolchain integration that no binary image format can match. The format's role as part of the X Window standard ensures it is understood by every X11-aware toolkit and application. While limited to monochrome and no compression, XBM's simplicity makes it an excellent teaching format for understanding bitmap representations. XBM files are supported by all X11 applications, ImageMagick, GIMP, web browsers (as a legacy web format), and programming environments.
Developer: MIT X Consortium
Initial release: 1987
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reason to convert XBM to TCR?

TCR (compressed text format for Psion devices) lets you include XBM graphics in e-book collections, accessible on dedicated readers and mobile apps.

What apps support TCR?

You can view TCR with Calibre, Psion e-book readers. These tools cover all major desktop and mobile platforms.

Is my XBM file safe when converting online?

Your files are secure. Uploaded XBM images are erased immediately after processing, and TCR outputs are purged within 24 hours.

Is XBM to TCR conversion free?

You can convert XBM to TCR for free on Convertio. Premium plans are available if you need higher throughput or larger file allowances.

How long does XBM to TCR conversion take?

Conversion is nearly instant for most XBM files. Since these are small images, the entire process — upload to download — takes only moments.

What exactly is the XBM format?

The XBM format is a monochrome bitmap from the X Window System, rooted in X11/Unix. Modern software rarely supports it natively, making conversion essential.