File Conversion Tools for Saving Time and Hassle

Do you make use of the various file format conversion utilities that are available on the web? If you don’t, these can be huge time-savers, especially if you learn to use their batch processing features. For example, I frequently like to write in Microsoft Word, but taking files directly from Word into, say, a precisely formatted blog can throw off formats. So I frequently write groups of files in Word, then batch convert them to HTML. In this post, I’ll round up several other useful file conversion utilities.

Do you want to take a series of PowerPoint presentations and put them on the web? Flash Utility offers a good application for converting batches of PowerPoint presentations to HTML.

If you work with graphics files of various formats all the time, as I do, XnView converts over 400 graphics file formats. It’s also freeware—highly recommended.

You may not be in the habit of using file conversion software simply because you haven’t found the time to download an application to do so. If so, you may appreciate Zamzar, a free online file conversion service. It lets you upload files in various formats, and then converts them. You can convert PDF documents to Word format, music and video files, and more. MediaConvert is a similar free service.

Finally, the W3C maintains a long list of free file conversion utilities worth investigating. These utilities can make web work easier and more efficient, so take a tour of what’s available.

Do you know of any useful file conversion applications?

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