XLS to PDB Converter

Export XLS spreadsheet data to PDB e-book format

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Portable Reading Format

Turn your XLS data into a PDB e-book — a compact format designed for quick unpacking and reading on handheld devices.

Processed Remotely

Conversion runs entirely on our servers. Upload XLS, get PDB back — your device handles nothing beyond the download.

Automatic Deletion

XLS uploads are purged immediately after conversion. PDB results are removed from servers within 24 hours for full privacy.

How to convert XLS 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

XLS is the binary spreadsheet format of Microsoft Excel, first introduced with Excel 1.0 for Macintosh in September 1985 and becoming the dominant spreadsheet format worldwide. The format stores workbooks as OLE2 compound document files using the Binary Interchange File Format (BIFF), organizing sheets, cells, formulas, formatting, charts, pivot tables, macros, and metadata across multiple internal streams. Each cell record encodes the cell's value (number, string, boolean, error, or formula), position, and formatting index, while shared string tables and style records reduce redundancy. The format evolved through BIFF versions (BIFF2 through BIFF8), with BIFF8 (Excel 97) establishing the structure used through Excel 2003. XLS supports up to 65,536 rows and 256 columns per sheet, a limit that drove the creation of XLSX. One advantage is universal spreadsheet compatibility — XLS files are recognized by every major spreadsheet application including LibreOffice Calc, Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, and dozens of programming libraries across all platforms. The format's mature feature set is another strength: XLS handles complex formulas, conditional formatting, data validation, named ranges, array formulas, external references, and VBA macros. Although XLSX replaced XLS as the default in Office 2007, the binary format persists in financial institutions, legacy reporting systems, and any environment where Excel 97-2003 compatibility is required.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: September 1985
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 XLS to PDB?

PDB is a Palm e-book format — converting XLS creates a portable document you can read on Palm devices and compatible e-book readers.

What opens PDB files?

Calibre, FBReader, PalmDOC-compatible readers, and various mobile reading apps can open PDB files on modern devices.

Is my spreadsheet data intact?

Cell content and basic structure from your XLS are included in the PDB output as readable text, though visual formatting is simplified.

Is the conversion free?

Yes — convertio.co offers free XLS to PDB conversion. Premium plans are available for users with higher-volume needs.

Does it work on mobile?

The conversion runs in any mobile browser. Upload your XLS from your phone and download the PDB file directly to your device.

XLS to PDB Quality Rating

4.6 (144 votes)
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