Convert TEXT to Textile

Why Convert TEXT to Textile?

Converting TEXT files to Textile markup format enables you to create structured, formatted web content from plain text documents. Textile is a lightweight markup language that produces clean, semantic HTML while remaining highly readable in its source form. This conversion is particularly valuable when you need to publish content in systems that use Textile as their markup language, such as Redmine, Textpattern CMS, and various Ruby on Rails applications.

Textile was created by Dean Allen in 2002 as a "humane web text generator" that makes it easy to write formatted content without learning HTML. The syntax is concise and intuitive: headings use "h1." through "h6." prefixes, bold text uses asterisks, italic uses underscores, and lists use # or * markers. Textile also supports features that Markdown lacks, including inline CSS styling, CSS class attributes on elements, and footnotes, making it more expressive for web content creation.

The Redmine project management platform, used by thousands of organizations worldwide, uses Textile as its primary markup format for wiki pages, issue descriptions, and comments. Converting your text files to Textile ensures they can be directly pasted into Redmine with proper formatting, including headings, lists, code blocks, tables, and links. This streamlines documentation workflows for development teams using Redmine.

Textile generates exceptionally clean HTML output, producing semantic markup with proper heading hierarchy, paragraph tags, and list structures. Unlike some markup languages that produce generic div-based HTML, Textile creates meaningful HTML5 elements that benefit accessibility, SEO, and consistent styling. The format also supports raw HTML pass-through for situations where Textile's syntax is insufficient.

Key Benefits of Converting TEXT to Textile:

• Redmine Compatible: Direct use in Redmine wiki pages, issues, and comments
• Clean HTML Output: Generates semantic, well-structured HTML
• CSS Styling: Inline class and style attributes on any element
• Readable Source: Markup remains clear and human-readable
• Rich Formatting: Headings, lists, tables, links, images, and code blocks
• Footnotes: Built-in footnote support not available in Markdown
• CMS Integration: Works with Textpattern and other Textile-powered platforms

Practical Examples

Example 1: Redmine Wiki Page

Input TEXT file (wiki_page.text):

Development Setup Guide

Prerequisites
Git version 2.30 or higher
Node.js version 18 LTS
PostgreSQL 15

Installation Steps
1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies with npm install
3. Copy .env.example to .env
4. Run database migrations
5. Start the development server

Output Textile file (wiki_page.textile):

h1. Development Setup Guide

h2. Prerequisites

* Git version 2.30 or higher
* Node.js version 18 LTS
* PostgreSQL 15

h2. Installation Steps

# Clone the repository
# Install dependencies with @npm install@
# Copy @.env.example@ to @.env@
# Run database migrations
# Start the development server

Example 2: Project Release Notes

Input TEXT file (release_notes.text):

Release Notes - Version 3.2.0
March 9, 2026

New Features
Added dark mode support
Implemented bulk export functionality
New dashboard analytics widgets

Bug Fixes
Fixed login timeout issue on slow connections
Resolved PDF export character encoding problem
Corrected pagination on search results page

Output Textile file (release_notes.textile):

h1. Release Notes - Version 3.2.0

p(. _March 9, 2026_

h2. New Features

* Added dark mode support
* Implemented bulk export functionality
* New dashboard analytics widgets

h2. Bug Fixes

* Fixed login timeout issue on slow connections
* Resolved PDF export character encoding problem
* Corrected pagination on search results page

Example 3: API Documentation

Input TEXT file (api_docs.text):

User API Endpoints

GET /api/users
Returns a list of all users.
Requires authentication.

POST /api/users
Creates a new user account.
Required fields: name, email, password

Parameters:
name - string, required
email - string, required, must be unique
password - string, required, minimum 8 characters

Output Textile file (api_docs.textile):

h1. User API Endpoints

h2. GET /api/users

p. Returns a list of all users.
_Requires authentication._

h2. POST /api/users

p. Creates a new user account.
*Required fields:* name, email, password

h3. Parameters

|_. Name |_. Type |_. Description |
| name | string, required | User's full name |
| email | string, required | Must be unique |
| password | string, required | Minimum 8 characters |

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Textile markup?

A: Textile is a lightweight markup language created by Dean Allen in 2002 for generating HTML from human-readable text. It uses simple syntax like "h1." for headings, asterisks for bold, underscores for italic, and "#" for ordered lists. Textile generates clean, semantic HTML and is used by platforms like Redmine and Textpattern CMS.

Q: What is the TEXT format?

A: TEXT is a plain text file format using the .text extension. It stores only unformatted character data without any markup, styling, or structure. Similar to TXT files but with the .text extension, it is the most basic digital document format, readable by any application on any operating system.

Q: How is Textile different from Markdown?

A: Both are lightweight markup languages, but they differ in syntax and features. Textile uses "h1." for headings (Markdown uses #), asterisks for bold (Markdown uses double asterisks), and supports inline CSS class and style attributes that Markdown lacks. Textile also has built-in footnote syntax. Markdown has broader adoption, while Textile is more expressive for HTML styling.

Q: Can I use Textile in Redmine?

A: Yes, Textile is one of Redmine's primary markup formats. You can use Textile syntax in wiki pages, issue descriptions, comments, and news items. Redmine's Textile implementation supports headings, formatting, lists, tables, code blocks, links, images, and macros. The converted Textile file can be directly pasted into any Redmine text field.

Q: What platforms support Textile?

A: Textile is supported by Redmine (project management), Textpattern (CMS), and various Ruby on Rails applications. Libraries exist for multiple languages: RedCloth (Ruby), textile (Python), PHP Textile, and Java implementations. The Pandoc document converter also supports Textile as both an input and output format.

Q: Can Textile generate tables?

A: Yes. Textile has a powerful table syntax using pipe characters (|) to separate cells. Header cells use "|_." prefix. You can specify alignment (left, right, center), column spans, row spans, and CSS classes on individual cells or the entire table. This makes Textile tables more flexible than Markdown tables in many implementations.

Q: Can I include raw HTML in Textile?

A: Yes. Textile supports HTML pass-through, allowing you to embed raw HTML directly within Textile content. This is useful for complex layouts, embedded media, or HTML elements that Textile's syntax does not cover. HTML blocks are preserved as-is when the Textile is processed into the final HTML output.

Q: Is Textile still maintained?

A: Textile is a stable format with maintained implementations in several programming languages. While it has not seen major specification changes in recent years, the language is complete for its purpose. Redmine continues to support Textile as a primary markup option, ensuring ongoing relevance for project management workflows. For new projects, evaluate whether Textile or Markdown better fits your platform requirements.