Man page to OPML Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Unix Man Page (roff) and Outline Processor Markup exist for different jobs: Man pages are the roff-formatted manuals behind every Unix command: .TH headers, .SH sections and Bfont escapes — the oldest documentation format still in daily use. Convert OPML outlines into Markdown or Word documents, or turn bullet lists back into an importable outline.
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How Man page compares to OPML
| Man page | OPML | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | roff macros (.TH/.SH, \fB escapes) | XML <outline> tree |
| Types / schema | Plain text, troff grammar | XML, text + attributes |
| Compatibility | groff, mandoc, Pandoc | RSS readers, outliners, Pandoc |
| Best for | CLI reference manuals | Subscriptions lists and mind maps |
How to convert Man page to OPML
- 1
Select your files
Select your Man page 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 Man page format
The man page is Unix's oldest living document format: roff source with .TH title macros, .SH section headers and backslash font escapes like \fB, rendered by troff/groff into the terminal pages every developer reads with `man ls`. It predates most programming languages still in use — and it still ships with every Linux and macOS install.
Modern docs teams rarely author roff by hand anymore, but the format remains the entry gate for anything that must appear in the terminal. Pandoc converts man pages into Markdown, HTML or Word, freeing CLI documentation for the web — and can generate fresh roff from Markdown sources.
+Strengths
- ✓Universal on every Unix-like system
- ✓Compactly expresses structured manuals
- ✓Typesets beautifully to terminal and print
!Limitations
- −Cryptic macro syntax for newcomers
- −roff toolchain is archaic
- −Poor fit for rich media or web-first docs
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 Man page to OPML?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Cryptic macro syntax for newcomers 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 Man page 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 Man page 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.
Does the conversion work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, the conversion itself runs entirely inside your browser — you can even disconnect and keep converting. No file ever touches a server.