JATS to OPML Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
JATS is the NLM XML tag suite for scholarly journal articles — PubMed Central's entire archive is stored in JATS. Publishers submit in it and the tag set defines how research text is structured. Convert OPML outlines into Markdown or Word documents, or turn bullet lists back into an importable outline.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How JATS compares to OPML
| JATS | OPML | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Semantic XML elements | XML <outline> tree |
| Compatibility | PubMed Central, publishing pipelines | RSS readers, outliners, Pandoc |
| Best for | Journal articles, preprints | Subscriptions lists and mind maps |
How to convert JATS to OPML
- 1
Select your files
Select your JATS file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file is first converted to markdown (an interchange format that keeps headings, lists and paragraphs), then rebuilt into the target format.
- 3
Download results
Download the OPML — structure preserved, heavy layout simplified.
About the JATS format
JATS (Journal Article Tag Suite) is the XML standard the National Library of Medicine created for scholarly articles — PubMed Central, the biggest open repository of life-science papers, stores every article in JATS. Elements mark meaning: <abstract>, <kwd-group>, <ref-list>, <table-wrap>.
Publishers and preprint servers hand authors JATS XML, which is unreadable without tooling. Converting JATS to DOCX gives co-authors a track-changes-ready manuscript; converting to Markdown feeds it straight into static-site and preprint workflows.
+Strengths
- ✓The interchange standard of scholarly publishing
- ✓Rich semantic structure (citations, figures, keywords)
!Limitations
- −Verbose XML — unreadable without tooling
- −Journal-specific tag variants cause drift
About the OPML format
OPML (Outline Processor Markup) is XML for hierarchies: nested <outline> elements, each with text and optional attributes. It is the silent standard behind podcast and RSS subscription lists — every "export subscriptions" button produces one — and the interchange format for outliners like Workflowy, Dynalist and OmniOutliner.
An outline is already half a document: Pandoc turns OPML hierarchies into Markdown headings, Word outlines or HTML pages with the nesting preserved, and can write OPML back out so a bulleted plan becomes an importable tree in your outliner of choice.
+Strengths
- ✓Universal outline exchange between outliners
- ✓The RSS/podcast subscription standard
- ✓Trivially parseable XML
!Limitations
- −Hierarchies only — no rich text per node
- −Attribute conventions vary between apps
- −Rarely rendered directly for humans
Why convert JATS to OPML?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Verbose XML — unreadable without tooling OPML sidesteps that — Universal outline exchange between outliners If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this JATS to OPML converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for JATS to OPML?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Can I edit the OPML result afterwards?
That depends on the target: OPML is designed for what it does, and this converter reproduces its content faithfully rather than inventing editable structure. For heavy re-editing, work from a format built for editing and export the final version here.
Will the layout of my JATS file be preserved exactly?
This converter renders your JATS content into OPML with pages, proportions and images kept as close to the original as the target format allows. Use the preview before downloading to confirm it looks the way you expect.