Document tool

PML to EPUB Converter

Convert a Palm Markup Language (PML) book to EPUB online. Free, private, and processed entirely in memory.

PML EPUB
PrivConvert
Privacy-first conversion
No files stored
In-memory processing
Deleted instantly
No sign-up needed

Complete the security check to begin

About Converting PML to EPUB

PML is Palm Markup Language, the format behind Palm Digital Media and the eReader application — the line that started as Peanut Press in the late 1990s and became one of the first real commercial eBook stores. The software and the store are long gone, but PML files persist, often alongside the .pdb files that packaged them. Converting to EPUB puts that text somewhere current software can read it.

Unlike the binary reader formats of the same era, PML is refreshingly plain: it is text with backslash escape codes, where \\p marks a page break, \\x a chapter heading, and \\B or \\i switch bold and italic on and off. That means a PML file is genuinely human-readable if you open it in a text editor, and nothing about it is encrypted. What conversion adds is turning those codes into real structure — headings that a reader recognises, a working table of contents, and proper emphasis instead of stray backslashes throughout the text.

Common use cases

  • Converting books left over from Palm Digital Media, eReader or Peanut Press
  • Turning a hand-written or generated PML file into a distributable EPUB
  • Recovering readable text from files found alongside old Palm .pdb archives
  • Producing a properly structured book from markup that currently shows raw escape codes
  • Adding an old title to a modern library in a format every reader supports

Tips for best results

  • Because PML is plain text, a badly encoded file converts to something odd-looking rather than failing outright. If accented characters come out wrong, the file was probably saved in a legacy Windows code page rather than UTF-8.
  • Chapter markers matter. The \\x and \\c codes are what become headings and table-of-contents entries, so a file that uses none of them converts to one continuous chapter — correct, but unstructured.
  • PML has no DRM of any kind, so unlike Microsoft Reader or Sony files there is no protected variant to worry about. If you have the file, it will convert.
  • Images in PML are referenced by name rather than embedded. A PML on its own therefore converts to a text-only book, which is expected rather than a failure.

How to Convert PML to EPUB Online

Converting PML to EPUB with PrivConvert takes three quick steps and no software to install. What you gain with EPUB: reflowable text for any screen.

1
Upload your PML file

Drag and drop your file into the upload area, click to browse your device, or paste a URL to a file hosted online. You can upload files up to 250 MB and batch convert up to 20 files at once.

2
Automatic conversion

Once uploaded, the conversion from PML to EPUB starts automatically. The process runs entirely in an isolated environment - your data never leaves the secure pipeline.

3
Download your EPUB file

Your converted file is ready instantly. Click the download button to save it to your device. The file is deleted from memory immediately after download.

A more private way to convert PML files

Plenty of sites convert PML files. Very few promise never to keep them — PrivConvert does, and backs it up with how the service is built.

Nothing is stored

We never keep a copy. Once your EPUB is delivered, both the original and the result are gone — there is nothing left to leak or misuse.

Isolated sandbox

Every conversion runs in its own locked-down process with no network access, so files can never leak or interfere with one another.

No human ever sees it

Your files are handled entirely by automated code. No staff, partner or AI model ever reads, stores or trains on your data.

Zero data retention

Files are processed in volatile memory (RAM) and purged the instant your download is ready — nothing is ever written to disk, cached or backed up.

PML vs EPUB - Format Comparison

FeaturePMLEPUB
File extension.pml.epub
Supported by PrivConvertYes (as input)Yes (as output)
Privacy-safe conversionIn-memory, zero storage
Max file size250 MB per file
Batch supportUp to 20 files simultaneously

Built for people who value their privacy

From one-off files to daily batches, thousands of people rely on PrivConvert precisely because it keeps nothing once the job is done.

250 MB Max file size
450+ Conversion tools
0 sec File retention
100% Free to use

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert PML to EPUB?
Upload your .pml file above, complete the quick security check, and your EPUB is generated instantly. No software install and no sign-up required.
Is it free and private?
Yes. Every conversion is completely free and runs entirely in memory - your file is never written to disk and is deleted the moment your download is ready.
What does conversion actually add?
PML marks structure with backslash escape codes, which show up as literal backslashes in a text editor. Conversion turns them into real headings, emphasis and a working table of contents.
Is there a file size limit?
You can convert files up to 250 MB each, and batch-convert up to 20 files at once.
What actually is a PML file?
Plain text with backslash escape codes for structure and emphasis, used by Palm Digital Media and the eReader software. You can open one in any text editor and read it, which is not true of the binary formats of the same period.
Why convert it if I can already read it?
Because the escape codes appear as literal backslashes and the structure is invisible. Conversion turns them into real headings, emphasis and navigation, so a reader shows a properly formatted book rather than cluttered text.
Will chapter headings become a table of contents?
Yes, where the file uses the chapter codes. Files written without any structural markup convert to a single continuous chapter, since there is nothing in them to divide.
Do I need the matching .pdb file?
No. A PML file converts on its own. If you have a Palm .pdb instead, use the PDB converter, which reads that container directly.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. It is processed in memory inside an isolated sandbox with no network access and discarded as soon as the download is ready. Nothing is stored.

Further Reading