Convert RTF to BBCode

Why Convert RTF to BBCode?

BBCode (Bulletin Board Code) is the standard markup language for internet forums and bulletin boards, designed to allow users to format posts safely without the security risks of HTML. Converting RTF documents to BBCode format enables you to post formatted content to phpBB, vBulletin, Simple Machines Forum, and other bulletin board systems while maintaining text styling, links, and basic formatting.

When you have formatted text, documentation, or announcements in RTF format, converting to BBCode allows you to share them on forums with proper formatting: [b]bold[/b], [i]italic[/i], [u]underline[/u], [color]colored text[/color], and [url]links[/url]. BBCode is ubiquitous in online communities, gaming forums, support forums, and discussion boards, making it essential for forum moderators, community managers, and active forum users.

This conversion is valuable for forum administrators, community managers, gamers, and anyone who participates in online forums. BBCode's square-bracket syntax is intuitive and safe—it prevents XSS attacks while allowing rich formatting. Most forum software converts BBCode to HTML on the server side, ensuring consistent rendering and security. The format is simpler than HTML but more powerful than plain text.

The resulting BBCode file contains plain text with square-bracket tags that forum software parses into formatted HTML. BBCode supports text styling ([b], [i], [u], [s]), colors ([color=red]), font sizes ([size=20]), lists ([list], [*]), quotes ([quote]), code blocks ([code]), images ([img]), URLs ([url]), and even embedded media like YouTube videos. Each forum platform may support different BBCode extensions.

Key Advantages of BBCode Format:

• Forum Standard: Universally supported across forum platforms
• Secure: Safe alternative to HTML, prevents XSS attacks
• Simple Syntax: Intuitive [tag]content[/tag] structure
• Rich Formatting: Bold, italic, colors, sizes, links, images
• User-Friendly: Non-technical users can format posts
• Quotes and Code: [quote] for citations, [code] for snippets
• Lists: [list] with [*] items for organized content
• Media Support: Embed images, videos, and external content

Practical Examples

Example 1: Converting Forum Post

Input RTF file (forum_post.rtf):

Game Update: Version 2.0
New Features:
- Enhanced graphics engine
- Multiplayer mode
- 50+ new levels

Important: Backup your saves before updating!

Download: https://example.com/download
Screenshot: https://example.com/image.png

Output BBCode file (forum_post.txt):

[b][size=18]Game Update: Version 2.0[/size][/b]

[b]New Features:[/b]
[list]
[*] Enhanced graphics engine
[*] Multiplayer mode
[*] 50+ new levels
[/list]

[color=red][b]Important:[/b] Backup your saves before updating![/color]

[b]Download:[/b] [url]https://example.com/download[/url]
[b]Screenshot:[/b] [img]https://example.com/image.png[/img]

Example 2: Converting Tutorial

Input RTF file (tutorial.rtf):

How to Install Mods
Step 1: Download the mod file
Visit the mod page and click Download.

Step 2: Extract files
Extract the ZIP to your game folder.

Step 3: Enable mod
Run the game and enable the mod in settings.

Code to add to config.ini:
[Mods]
enabled=true

Note: Some mods may conflict with each other.

Output BBCode file (tutorial.txt):

[size=16][b]How to Install Mods[/b][/size]

[b]Step 1: Download the mod file[/b]
Visit the mod page and click Download.

[b]Step 2: Extract files[/b]
Extract the ZIP to your game folder.

[b]Step 3: Enable mod[/b]
Run the game and enable the mod in settings.

[b]Code to add to config.ini:[/b]
[code]
[Mods]
enabled=true
[/code]

[i]Note: Some mods may conflict with each other.[/i]

Example 3: Converting Announcement

Input RTF file (announcement.rtf):

Server Maintenance Notice
Date: January 15, 2024
Duration: 2 hours (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM UTC)

What's being updated:
1. Security patches
2. Database optimization
3. New features deployment

Expected downtime: Approximately 2 hours

Please plan accordingly. Thank you for your patience!

Output BBCode file (announcement.txt):

[color=red][b][size=20]Server Maintenance Notice[/size][/b][/color]

[b]Date:[/b] January 15, 2024
[b]Duration:[/b] 2 hours (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM UTC)

[b]What's being updated:[/b]
[list=1]
[*] Security patches
[*] Database optimization
[*] New features deployment
[/list]

[color=orange][b]Expected downtime:[/b] Approximately 2 hours[/color]

Please plan accordingly. Thank you for your patience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is BBCode and why is it used?

BBCode (Bulletin Board Code) is a lightweight markup language used in internet forums to allow users to format posts safely. It uses square-bracket tags like [b]bold[/b] instead of HTML's angle brackets. BBCode prevents XSS (cross-site scripting) attacks while allowing rich formatting. It's the standard in phpBB, vBulletin, Simple Machines Forum, MyBB, and most forum platforms. Users can format text without knowing HTML or creating security vulnerabilities.

Q: What are the most common BBCode tags?

Text: [b]bold[/b], [i]italic[/i], [u]underline[/u], [s]strikethrough[/s]. Color/Size: [color=red]text[/color], [size=18]text[/size]. Links: [url]link[/url] or [url=link]text[/url]. Media: [img]url[/img], [youtube]id[/youtube]. Structure: [quote]text[/quote], [code]code[/code], [list][*]item[/list]. Alignment: [center], [left], [right]. Each forum may support additional custom tags like [spoiler], [table], or [video].

Q: How do I create lists in BBCode?

Unordered lists: [list][*]item1[*]item2[*]item3[/list]. Ordered (numbered) lists: [list=1][*]first[*]second[*]third[/list]. Alphabetic: [list=a] for lowercase letters, [list=A] for uppercase. Each [*] creates a new list item. No closing tag needed for [*]. Lists can be nested by placing [list] inside another list item. Some forums support [ul]/[ol] as alternatives to [list].

Q: Can I embed images and videos in BBCode?

Yes. Images: [img]https://example.com/image.png[/img]. Some forums support sizing: [img=300x200]url[/img] or [img width=300]url[/img]. Videos: Many forums have [youtube]video_id[/youtube] or [video]url[/video] tags. Some support [media] for various platforms. Image alignment: [img align=right]url[/img]. Always check your forum's BBCode reference, as media tag support varies. Some forums auto-embed YouTube/Vimeo URLs without tags.

Q: How do quotes and code blocks work in BBCode?

Basic quote: [quote]text[/quote]. Quote with attribution: [quote=username]text[/quote] or [quote="John Doe"]text[/quote]. Nested quotes work: [quote][quote]inner[/quote]outer[/quote]. Code blocks: [code]code here[/code] preserves formatting and uses monospace font. Some forums support [code=language] for syntax highlighting: [code=python]print("hello")[/code]. Inline code: [c]code[/c] or [icode]code[/icode] on some platforms.

Q: Can I use colors and custom fonts in BBCode?

Colors: [color=red]text[/color] using names (red, blue, green) or hex codes [color=#FF0000]text[/color]. Font sizes: [size=20]text[/size] (size in pixels or points, varies by forum). Font faces: [font=Arial]text[/font] (often restricted for readability). Background: [bgcolor=yellow]text[/bgcolor] on some forums. Combine: [color=blue][size=18][b]Big blue bold[/b][/size][/color]. Many forums limit font choices to prevent abuse.

Q: Are there BBCode editors or tools?

Most forums have built-in WYSIWYG editors with formatting buttons that insert BBCode. Online tools: BBCode Editor (sceditor.com), BBCode Preview (many sites). Browser extensions: BBCode helper extensions for Chrome/Firefox. Desktop: Some text editors have BBCode syntax highlighting. Testing: Use forum preview feature or online BBCode parsers. Many forums let you toggle between WYSIWYG and raw BBCode editing modes.

Q: What's the difference between BBCode and HTML?

BBCode uses [tag] while HTML uses <tag>. BBCode is safer—it's parsed server-side and converted to HTML, preventing XSS attacks. HTML allows malicious scripts; BBCode doesn't. BBCode is simpler and more limited than HTML. Forums use BBCode to let users format posts without security risks. BBCode is forum-specific; HTML is universal. Some BBCode features (like [youtube]) are forum extensions not in HTML. BBCode is designed for user-generated content safety.