TWiki to Ms Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
TWiki is the enterprise wiki markup of TWiki/Foswiki — ---+ headings, %VARIABLES% and inline tables — still running in many corporate intranets. Produce ms source when a document must run through classic troff/groff typesetting.
Because the whole conversion happens on your device, it is instant, unlimited and genuinely private — no accounts, no watermarks, no files on anyone's server. Multiple files are converted in one go.
How TWiki compares to Ms
| TWiki | Ms | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | TML plain-text (---+, %VAR%, | tables |) | roff ms macros (.TL/.NH/.DS) |
| Types / schema | UTF-8 text | Plain text, troff grammar |
| Compatibility | TWiki/Foswiki, Pandoc | groff -ms, heirloom-doctools |
| Best for | Intranet wiki migrations | Papers and memos via troff |
How to convert TWiki to Ms
- 1
Select your files
Select your TWiki 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 Ms — structure preserved, heavy layout simplified.
About the TWiki format
TWiki wrote the book on enterprise wikis in the 2000s — the ---+ heading syntax, %VARIABLES% macros and TML tables spread through corporate intranets and spawned the Foswiki fork. A generation of internal documentation lives in this markup, often on servers nobody dares upgrade.
Migrating those intranets is where TWiki conversion earns its keep: Pandoc reads TML headings, lists, tables and wiki links, and re-emits them as Markdown for Confluence-era platforms or as Word/HTML for frozen archives.
+Strengths
- ✓Purpose-built for structured intranet knowledge
- ✓Macro variables enable templated pages
- ✓Huge installed base in enterprises
!Limitations
- −Enterprise decline after the Foswiki split
- −Variables and plugins rarely survive conversion
- −Legacy tooling only
About the Ms format
The ms macros are the other great roff package: Bell Labs' general-purpose typesetting layer that produced papers, memos and books on Unix since the 1970s. Where man pages have one narrow shape, ms gives you .TL titles, .NH numbered headings, .DS display blocks — a full letterpress-grade document system in a few dozen macros.
ms remains the shortest path from plain text to a classically typeset PDF via groff. Generating ms from Markdown sources with Pandoc lets modern writing flow into that pipeline: the content is authored today, the typography comes from fifty years of Unix tradition.
+Strengths
- ✓Classic, reproducible print typography
- ✓Tiny macro set, no GUI needed
- ✓groff ships everywhere
!Limitations
- −Niche outside academic/Unix circles
- −No rich media
- −Learning curve comparable to LaTeX
Why convert TWiki to Ms?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: Enterprise decline after the Foswiki split Ms sidesteps that — Classic, reproducible print typography If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this TWiki to Ms 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 TWiki to Ms?
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.
Will the layout of my TWiki file be preserved exactly?
This converter renders your TWiki content into Ms 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.
Can I edit the Ms result afterwards?
That depends on the target: Ms 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.