Convert ORG to BBCode

Why Convert ORG to BBCode?

Converting Org-mode documents to BBCode enables you to share formatted content on online forums and message boards. If you've written tutorials, guides, or documentation in Org-mode, converting to BBCode lets you post them with proper formatting on community forums.

BBCode is the standard markup for most traditional forum software like phpBB, vBulletin, SMF, and XenForo. By converting your Org-mode content, you can maintain bold, italic, code blocks, and lists in your forum posts without manually reformatting everything.

This conversion is particularly valuable for developers and technical writers who maintain documentation in Org-mode but need to share it on community forums, gaming communities, or support boards. Your code blocks and structured content will display correctly.

For community managers and content creators, converting Org-mode notes to BBCode streamlines the process of creating rich forum posts. Write your content in the powerful Org-mode environment, then convert for posting.

Key Benefits of Converting ORG to BBCode:

• Forum Compatible: Post formatted content on any BBCode forum
• Preserve Formatting: Keep bold, italic, code blocks, and lists
• Wide Support: Works with phpBB, vBulletin, SMF, XenForo
• Code Sharing: Share code snippets with proper formatting
• Tutorial Publishing: Post guides with structured sections
• Safe Markup: No XSS concerns with BBCode
• Easy Workflow: Write in Org, post to forums

Practical Examples

Example 1: Tutorial Post

Input ORG file (tutorial.org):

#+TITLE: Python Basics Tutorial

* Introduction

Welcome to this *beginner-friendly* tutorial!

* Variables

In Python, variables are easy to create:

#+BEGIN_SRC python
name = "John"
age = 25
#+END_SRC

- No type declarations needed
- Dynamic typing

Output BBCode (tutorial.bbcode):

[size=6][b]Python Basics Tutorial[/b][/size]

[size=5][b]Introduction[/b][/size]

Welcome to this [b]beginner-friendly[/b] tutorial!

[size=5][b]Variables[/b][/size]

In Python, variables are easy to create:

[code]
name = "John"
age = 25
[/code]

[list]
[*]No type declarations needed
[*]Dynamic typing
[/list]

Example 2: Game Guide

Input ORG file (guide.org):

* Boss Strategy Guide

** Preparation

Before the fight:
1. Stock up on /health potions/
2. Equip *fire resistance* armor
3. Bring a ~shield~

** Phase 1

#+BEGIN_QUOTE
"The dragon attacks from the left first."
-- Veteran Player
#+END_QUOTE

Output BBCode (guide.bbcode):

[size=5][b]Boss Strategy Guide[/b][/size]

[size=4][b]Preparation[/b][/size]

Before the fight:
[list=1]
[*]Stock up on [i]health potions[/i]
[*]Equip [b]fire resistance[/b] armor
[*]Bring a [code]shield[/code]
[/list]

[size=4][b]Phase 1[/b][/size]

[quote]
"The dragon attacks from the left first."
-- Veteran Player
[/quote]

Example 3: Support Forum Post

Input ORG file (issue.org):

* Bug Report: Login Issue

** Environment
- OS: Windows 11
- Browser: Chrome 120
- Version: 2.5.1

** Steps to Reproduce

1. Go to [[https://example.com/login][login page]]
2. Enter credentials
3. Click submit

** Error Message

#+BEGIN_SRC
Error 500: Internal Server Error
#+END_SRC

Output BBCode (issue.bbcode):

[size=5][b]Bug Report: Login Issue[/b][/size]

[size=4][b]Environment[/b][/size]
[list]
[*]OS: Windows 11
[*]Browser: Chrome 120
[*]Version: 2.5.1
[/list]

[size=4][b]Steps to Reproduce[/b][/size]

[list=1]
[*]Go to [url=https://example.com/login]login page[/url]
[*]Enter credentials
[*]Click submit
[/list]

[size=4][b]Error Message[/b][/size]

[code]
Error 500: Internal Server Error
[/code]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is BBCode?

A: BBCode (Bulletin Board Code) is a lightweight markup language used in online forums and message boards. It uses square bracket tags like [b]bold[/b] and [i]italic[/i] to format text. It was created for phpBB forums in 1998 and is now used by many forum platforms.

Q: Will BBCode work on all forums?

A: Most traditional forum software supports BBCode (phpBB, vBulletin, SMF, XenForo, MyBB). However, modern platforms like Discourse and Reddit use Markdown instead. Check your target forum's formatting options before converting.

Q: Are Org-mode tables converted to BBCode?

A: BBCode table support varies by forum. Some forums support [table] tags, while others don't. For maximum compatibility, tables may be converted to preformatted text or simplified list format depending on the target forum's capabilities.

Q: What happens to Org-mode TODO items?

A: TODO states are converted to regular text with status indicators. For example, "TODO Task name" might become "[TODO] Task name" in plain text, as BBCode doesn't have checkbox or task management features.

Q: How are code blocks handled?

A: Org-mode code blocks are converted to BBCode [code] tags. Note that language-specific syntax highlighting depends on the forum's BBCode implementation. Some forums support [code=python] syntax, while others only offer generic code formatting.

Q: Can I convert back from BBCode to Org-mode?

A: Converting BBCode back to Org-mode is possible but may require manual adjustments. BBCode has limited structure compared to Org-mode, so features like headers, metadata, and properties would need to be reconstructed.

Q: What about nested lists in Org-mode?

A: BBCode supports nested lists using [list] tags within [*] items. Your Org-mode nested lists will be converted to equivalent BBCode nested list structures, preserving the hierarchy.

Q: Are images and links preserved?

A: Yes, Org-mode links [[url][description]] are converted to BBCode [url=link]description[/url] format. Image links can be converted to [img] tags, though you may need to ensure the images are hosted on an accessible URL.