Convert ODT to TEXT
Max file size 100mb.
ODT vs Plain Text Format Comparison
| Aspect | ODT (Source Format) | Plain Text (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
ODT
OpenDocument Text
Open standard document format developed by OASIS in 2005. Native format for LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice. Based on XML and stored as a ZIP archive. ISO standardized (ISO/IEC 26300) and completely vendor-neutral. Open Standard ISO Certified |
TXT
Plain Text File
The simplest document format containing only raw text characters without any formatting. Universal format readable by any text editor, operating system, or programming language. The most compatible file format in existence. Universal No Dependencies |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: ZIP archive with XML files
Encoding: UTF-8 (Unicode) Format: OASIS OpenDocument Format Compression: ZIP (DEFLATE) Extensions: .odt |
Structure: Raw character sequence
Encoding: UTF-8, ASCII, or other Format: Pure text characters only Compression: None Extensions: .txt, .text |
| Content Examples |
ODT stores rich content in XML: document.odt/ ├── content.xml │ <text:h style="Bold"> │ Title │ </text:h> │ <text:p style="Italic"> │ Formatted text │ </text:p> ├── styles.xml └── Pictures/ |
Plain text contains only characters: Title Formatted text (No bold, italic, fonts, colors, images, or any formatting - just pure text characters) |
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| Version History |
Introduced: 2005 (OASIS)
ISO Standard: ISO/IEC 26300 (2006) Current Version: ODF 1.3 (2020) Status: Active development |
Introduced: 1960s (earliest computers)
ASCII Standard: 1963 UTF-8: 1993 Status: Eternal standard |
| Software Support |
LibreOffice: Native (full support)
OpenOffice: Native (full support) Microsoft Word: Import/Export Google Docs: Full support |
Every OS: Built-in support
Every editor: Notepad, vim, nano, etc. Every language: Native file I/O Every device: Universal support |
Why Convert ODT to Plain Text?
Converting ODT documents to plain text extracts the pure textual content while removing all formatting, images, and structural elements. Plain text is the most universally compatible format in computing - it can be opened on any device, any operating system, and processed by any programming language without special libraries or dependencies.
Plain text files have existed since the earliest days of computing and will continue to be readable indefinitely. Unlike proprietary formats that may become obsolete, plain text is eternal. When you need content that will be readable in 50 years with 100% certainty, plain text is the answer. It's also the foundation of version control systems like Git, which can track changes at the character level.
For programmers and system administrators, plain text is essential. Configuration files, log files, scripts, and data exchange all rely on plain text. Converting ODT documentation to plain text makes it immediately usable in command-line tools, scripts, and automated workflows. Tools like grep, sed, awk, and countless others are designed specifically for plain text processing.
Plain text is also ideal for content that needs to be searched, indexed, or processed programmatically. Search engines, text analysis tools, and natural language processing systems all work best with plain text input. When you convert ODT to plain text, you're creating content that machines can easily understand and process.
Key Benefits of Converting ODT to Plain Text:
- Universal Compatibility: Opens on any device, OS, or application ever made
- Smallest File Size: No formatting overhead, just pure content
- Programming Ready: Direct input for scripts, tools, and applications
- Version Control: Perfect for Git - every character change is tracked
- Future Proof: Will be readable forever, unlike proprietary formats
- Text Processing: Works with grep, sed, awk, and all text tools
- Database Import: Easy to import into databases and spreadsheets
Practical Examples
Example 1: Content Extraction for Database
Input ODT file (products.odt):
Product Catalog Last Updated: January 2025 Product Name: Widget Pro Price: $29.99 Description: High-quality widget for professionals. Product Name: Widget Basic Price: $14.99 Description: Entry-level widget for beginners.
Output TEXT file (products.txt):
Product Catalog Last Updated: January 2025 Product Name: Widget Pro Price: $29.99 Description: High-quality widget for professionals. Product Name: Widget Basic Price: $14.99 Description: Entry-level widget for beginners. ✓ All formatting removed ✓ Ready for database import ✓ Easy to parse with scripts ✓ Can process with grep/awk
Example 2: README File Creation
Input ODT file (documentation.odt):
Project Documentation
Installation 1. Download the package 2. Run the installer 3. Configure settings Usage Run the command: ./myapp --start Copyright 2025 - All rights reserved
Output TEXT file (README.txt):
Project Documentation Installation 1. Download the package 2. Run the installer 3. Configure settings Usage Run the command: ./myapp --start Copyright 2025 - All rights reserved ✓ Clean text for repository ✓ No HTML/formatting artifacts ✓ Universal readability ✓ Git-friendly format
Example 3: Email Body Extraction
Input ODT file (newsletter.odt):
Monthly Newsletter
Dear Subscriber, This month we have exciting news about our products. | Event | Date | |------------|---------| | Webinar | Jan 15 | | Conference | Jan 20 | Best regards, The Team
Output TEXT file (newsletter.txt):
Monthly Newsletter Dear Subscriber, This month we have exciting news about our products. Event Date Webinar Jan 15 Conference Jan 20 Best regards, The Team ✓ Plain text email ready ✓ No HTML formatting issues ✓ Works in all email clients ✓ Accessible and clean
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is plain text format?
A: Plain text is the simplest file format containing only raw text characters without any formatting. It includes letters, numbers, punctuation, spaces, and line breaks - nothing else. No fonts, colors, images, or styling. Plain text files typically use .txt extension and can be opened by any text editor on any device.
Q: What formatting is lost when converting ODT to text?
A: All formatting is removed: bold, italic, underline, fonts, font sizes, colors, highlighting, headers, footers, page numbers, images, tables (structure only - text preserved), charts, diagrams, hyperlinks (text preserved, URL may be lost), comments, and track changes. Only the raw text characters remain.
Q: What encoding does the output text use?
A: Our converter outputs UTF-8 encoded text by default, which supports all Unicode characters including Cyrillic, Chinese, Arabic, emojis, and special symbols. UTF-8 is the most widely used encoding and is compatible with virtually all modern software and operating systems.
Q: How are tables converted to plain text?
A: Table structure is converted to space-separated or tab-separated text. Each cell's content is preserved, but visual grid lines and borders are removed. For better table preservation, consider converting to CSV or TSV format instead of plain text.
Q: What happens to images in the ODT document?
A: Images are completely removed during conversion to plain text since text files cannot contain binary image data. If images have alt text or captions, that text may be preserved. For documents where images are important, consider PDF or HTML format instead.
Q: Can I convert plain text back to ODT?
A: Yes, but you'll only recover the text - all original formatting is permanently lost. LibreOffice Writer can open .txt files and save them as .odt, but you'll need to manually reapply all formatting. Keep your original ODT file if you might need the formatted version later.
Q: What's the difference between .txt and .text extensions?
A: They're identical in function - both indicate plain text files. The .txt extension is more common on Windows, while .text is sometimes used on Unix/Linux systems. Our converter uses .txt by default as it's universally recognized. The content and encoding are the same regardless of extension.
Q: Why would I want to remove all formatting?
A: Plain text is essential for: programming (code input), data processing (scripts, databases), maximum compatibility (any device/OS), version control (Git tracks every character), content indexing (search engines), accessibility (screen readers), and long-term preservation (never becomes obsolete). It's the universal language of computers.