OPML to DBK Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Outline Processor Markup and DocBook (DBK) exist for different jobs: OPML is the outline-exchange XML: nested <outline> elements that carry subscription lists (podcast apps, RSS readers) and mind-map exports from Workflowy, Dynalist and OmniOutliner. Convert DBK exactly like DocBook: into Word, Markdown or HTML.
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 OPML compares to DBK
| OPML | DBK | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | XML <outline> tree | Semantic XML (<chapter>/<section>/<para>) |
| Types / schema | XML, text + attributes | XML, DTD/RelaxNG validated |
| Compatibility | RSS readers, outliners, Pandoc | XSL-FO, Pandoc, docbook-xsl |
| Best for | Subscriptions lists and mind maps | Books, manuals, enterprise documentation |
How to convert OPML to DBK
- 1
Select your files
Select your OPML 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 DBK — structure preserved, heavy layout simplified.
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
About the DBK format
DocBook is the XML schema that industrial technical publishing was built on. Instead of markup for appearance, it marks meaning: <chapter>, <section>, <para>, <figure>, <indexterm>. A single DocBook source renders to PDF via FO processors, HTML help systems, EPUB and printed books — O'Reilly, Red Hat and virtually every enterprise manual pipeline relied on it, and the man pages on your Linux box descend from the same lineage.
DocBook's rigor is its weight: authoring by hand is verbose, and moving content into lighter systems is a standing chore. Pandoc reads the element structure directly, so a book chapter becomes a Word manuscript or a Markdown docs page with sections, tables and code blocks intact — single-sourcing out, editing comfort in.
+Strengths
- ✓Semantic, presentation-free source of truth
- ✓One source renders to print, web and EPUB
- ✓Decades of enterprise tooling
!Limitations
- −Verbose XML — painful to hand-edit
- −Heavy processor toolchain (XSL-FO)
- −Overkill for anything shorter than a manual
Why convert OPML to DBK?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Hierarchies only — no rich text per node DBK works differently: Semantic, presentation-free source of truth If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this OPML to DBK 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 OPML to DBK?
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 DBK result afterwards?
That depends on the target: DBK 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.