Convert ORG to TXT
Max file size 100mb.
ORG vs TXT Format Comparison
| Aspect | ORG (Source Format) | TXT (Target Format) |
|---|---|---|
| Format Overview |
ORG
Emacs Org-mode
Plain text markup format created for Emacs in 2003. Designed for note-taking, task management, project planning, and literate programming. Features hierarchical structure with collapsible sections, TODO states, scheduling, and code execution. Emacs Native Literate Programming |
TXT
Plain Text
The most fundamental text format, containing only raw characters without any formatting, markup, or special encoding. Readable by every text editor, operating system, and programming language. The universal baseline for text data. Universal No Dependencies |
| Technical Specifications |
Structure: Hierarchical outline with * headers
Encoding: UTF-8 Format: Plain text with markup Processor: Emacs Org-mode, Pandoc Extensions: .org |
Structure: Unstructured text
Encoding: UTF-8, ASCII, various Format: Raw text only Processor: Any application Extensions: .txt, .text |
| Syntax Examples |
Org-mode syntax: #+TITLE: Project Notes
#+AUTHOR: John Doe
* Introduction
This document covers *important* topics.
** Getting Started
- First step
- Second step
#+BEGIN_SRC python
print("Hello")
#+END_SRC
TODO Review the documentation
|
Plain text output: Project Notes
John Doe
Introduction
This document covers important topics.
Getting Started
- First step
- Second step
print("Hello")
TODO Review the documentation
|
| Content Support |
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| Advantages |
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| Disadvantages |
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| Common Uses |
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| Best For |
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| Version History |
Introduced: 2003 (Carsten Dominik)
Current Version: 9.6+ (2024) Status: Active development Primary Tool: GNU Emacs |
Introduced: 1960s (dawn of computing)
Standard: IANA text/plain Status: Eternal, universal Primary Tool: Any text editor |
| Software Support |
Emacs: Native support (Org-mode)
Vim/Neovim: org.nvim, vim-orgmode VS Code: Org Mode extension Other: Logseq, Obsidian (plugins) |
Windows: Notepad, all editors
macOS: TextEdit, all editors Linux: All text editors Mobile: All note apps |
Why Convert ORG to TXT?
Converting Org-mode documents to plain text is essential when you need the widest possible compatibility or want to extract just the content without any markup. While Org-mode provides powerful formatting and organization features, plain text files are the universal standard that works everywhere.
Plain text (TXT) is the most fundamental document format, readable by every operating system, programming language, and text editor ever created. Converting your Org files to TXT ensures your content remains accessible even decades into the future, without dependence on any specific software.
The conversion is particularly valuable when you need to share content with people who don't use Emacs or any markup-aware editors. Rather than expecting recipients to interpret Org-mode syntax, plain text presents clean, readable content that anyone can understand immediately.
TXT format is also ideal for pasting content into emails, chat applications, or form fields that don't support rich formatting. Converting to plain text removes all markup characters that might appear as visual noise in these contexts.
Key Benefits of Converting ORG to TXT:
- Universal Access: Opens on any device, any system
- No Dependencies: No special software required
- Clean Content: Just the text, no markup noise
- Email Ready: Paste directly into any application
- Future Proof: Will always be readable
- Minimal Size: Smallest possible file size
- Easy Processing: Simple to parse programmatically
Practical Examples
Example 1: Meeting Notes
Input ORG file (meeting.org):
#+TITLE: Team Meeting Notes #+DATE: 2024-01-15 * Attendees - Alice (Project Lead) - Bob (Developer) - Carol (Designer) * Agenda Items ** TODO Review Q4 metrics DEADLINE: <2024-01-20> The team discussed *quarterly performance*. ** DONE Update project timeline CLOSED: [2024-01-15 Mon 10:30] ** Action Items 1. Alice: Schedule client call 2. Bob: Fix authentication bug 3. Carol: Finalize mockups
Output TXT file (meeting.txt):
Team Meeting Notes 2024-01-15 Attendees - Alice (Project Lead) - Bob (Developer) - Carol (Designer) Agenda Items Review Q4 metrics Deadline: 2024-01-20 The team discussed quarterly performance. Update project timeline Completed: 2024-01-15 Action Items 1. Alice: Schedule client call 2. Bob: Fix authentication bug 3. Carol: Finalize mockups
Example 2: Code Documentation
Input ORG file (docs.org):
#+TITLE: API Documentation
* Authentication
Use the =/login= endpoint with your credentials.
#+BEGIN_SRC json
{
"username": "user",
"password": "pass"
}
#+END_SRC
** Response Codes
| Code | Meaning |
|------+--------------|
| 200 | Success |
| 401 | Unauthorized |
| 500 | Server Error |
See [[https://api.example.com][API Reference]] for details.
Output TXT file (docs.txt):
API Documentation
Authentication
Use the /login endpoint with your credentials.
{
"username": "user",
"password": "pass"
}
Response Codes
Code Meaning
200 Success
401 Unauthorized
500 Server Error
See API Reference (https://api.example.com) for details.
Example 3: Personal Notes
Input ORG file (notes.org):
#+TITLE: Book Notes #+AUTHOR: Jane Reader * Chapter 1 Summary :PROPERTIES: :BOOK: The Art of Learning :AUTHOR: Josh Waitzkin :END: Key concepts from this chapter: - /Beginner's mind/ is essential - Embrace the *learning process* - Focus on fundamentals first #+BEGIN_QUOTE "The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process." #+END_QUOTE
Output TXT file (notes.txt):
Book Notes Jane Reader Chapter 1 Summary Book: The Art of Learning Author: Josh Waitzkin Key concepts from this chapter: - Beginner's mind is essential - Embrace the learning process - Focus on fundamentals first "The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is plain text format?
A: Plain text (TXT) is the most basic text format containing only characters without any formatting, styling, or embedded media. It's universally readable by every computer system, editor, and programming language. TXT files contain just the raw text content.
Q: What happens to Org-mode formatting?
A: Org-mode markup characters like * for bold and / for italic are removed during conversion. The underlying text content is preserved, but without the visual emphasis. Headers lose their * prefixes but remain as plain text headings.
Q: How are links converted?
A: Org-mode links like [[url][description]] are converted to show both the description and URL in a readable format, such as "description (url)". This preserves the link information while remaining human-readable in plain text.
Q: What about TODO items and scheduling?
A: TODO keywords are preserved as plain text (e.g., "TODO Task name"). Deadline and scheduling information is converted to readable date formats. However, the interactive task management functionality is lost since TXT doesn't support it.
Q: Are tables preserved?
A: Org-mode tables are converted to aligned plain text tables. The data is preserved in a readable format, though the interactive editing and formula capabilities are lost. The tabular structure remains visually clear.
Q: What encoding is used?
A: The converter produces UTF-8 encoded plain text by default, which supports all Unicode characters including international text, symbols, and emoji. This ensures maximum compatibility with modern systems.
Q: Can I convert back to Org-mode?
A: Plain text files can be opened in Emacs and saved as .org files, but they won't have any Org-mode structure. You would need to manually add headings, formatting, and other Org-mode features. The conversion to TXT is essentially one-way for structure.
Q: Is this good for archival purposes?
A: Yes! Plain text is the most future-proof format for long-term archival. Unlike proprietary formats that may become unreadable, TXT files will always be accessible. Many archivists recommend plain text for permanent records.