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Convert ODT to TXT - Pure Text, Universal Compatibility

Extract plain text from OpenDocument files. Open anywhere, process anything.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Need Just the Text From Your ODT File?

OpenDocument Text files (.odt) contain formatted content from LibreOffice, OpenOffice, or Google Docs. But sometimes you need just the words-no formatting, no styles, no embedded objects. Just pure, clean text.

Converting to TXT strips away everything except the content itself. The result is a lightweight file that opens instantly in any text editor on any operating system. In our testing, ODT files with complex formatting converted cleanly to TXT in under 2 seconds, preserving all readable content.

How to Convert ODT to TXT

  1. Upload your ODT file - Drag and drop or click to select your OpenDocument file
  2. Confirm TXT output - Plain text format is selected for maximum compatibility
  3. Download your text file - Open it in Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code, or any text editor

The conversion extracts all readable text content while removing formatting codes, styles, and embedded media. Your text stays intact.

ODT vs TXT: What Changes

ODT files are XML-based archives containing your document content, formatting instructions, styles, and metadata. TXT files contain only ASCII or Unicode text characters-nothing else.

  • Formatting removed - Bold, italic, fonts, colors, and styles are stripped
  • Images removed - Embedded graphics and objects are not included
  • Tables simplified - Table content becomes plain text, losing grid structure
  • Paragraphs preserved - Line breaks and paragraph structure remain
  • File size reduced - TXT files are typically 70-90% smaller than the source ODT

What you get is the raw textual content of your document in its most portable form.

When to Convert ODT to TXT

Programming and Data Processing

Developers and data analysts often need plain text for parsing, regex operations, or feeding into scripts. TXT is the universal input format for text processing pipelines.

Cross-Platform Sharing

Not everyone has LibreOffice or OpenOffice installed. TXT opens in every operating system's default text editor-Windows Notepad, macOS TextEdit, or Linux gedit.

Version Control Systems

Git and other version control systems work best with plain text. Convert ODT to TXT before committing documentation to track changes line by line.

Email Body Text

Need to paste document content into an email? TXT gives you clean text without hidden formatting that can cause display issues across email clients.

Alternative Output Formats

Plain text isn't always the right choice. Consider these alternatives:

  • ODT to DOCX - Keep formatting while switching to Microsoft Word format
  • ODT to PDF - Preserve exact layout for sharing or printing
  • ODT to RTF - Maintain basic formatting with broad compatibility

Choose TXT when you specifically need raw text without any formatting overhead.

Works in Your Browser

No software to install. No LibreOffice required. Convert ODT to TXT directly in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge on any device:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones
  • Any modern browser with JavaScript enabled

Upload, convert, download. Your ODT file is processed locally in your browser for speed and privacy.

Pro Tip

When converting ODT files with complex layouts (multiple columns, text boxes, headers/footers), review the TXT output to ensure content order makes sense. Text extraction follows document flow, which may differ from visual layout.

Common Mistake

Assuming tables will remain structured. TXT cannot preserve table formatting-if you need tabular data, export the table portion to CSV or keep it in a format that supports tables.

Best For

Programmers extracting text for processing, writers who need clean copy for pasting, and anyone sharing content with recipients who don't have OpenDocument-compatible software.

Not Recommended

Don't convert to TXT if you need to preserve any formatting, images, or layout. Also avoid if you plan to edit and re-save as a formatted document-use DOCX or RTF to maintain editability with formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

ODT (OpenDocument Text) is an open-source document format used by LibreOffice, OpenOffice, and Google Docs. It stores formatted text, images, and styles in an XML-based compressed archive. ODT became an ISO standard (ISO/IEC 26300) in 2006.

Yes. TXT is plain text only, so all formatting (bold, italic, fonts, colors, styles) is removed. If you need to keep formatting, convert to DOCX or RTF instead. Choose TXT specifically when you want just the raw text content.

Images and embedded objects are not included in the TXT output. Plain text format cannot contain graphics. Only the textual content of your document is extracted.

Yes. Our browser-based converter handles ODT files directly without requiring LibreOffice, OpenOffice, or any other software. Just upload and convert.

The output uses UTF-8 encoding, which supports all Unicode characters including accented letters, symbols, and international text. UTF-8 is compatible with virtually all modern text editors and systems.

Table content is extracted as text but loses its grid structure. Cell contents are typically separated by tabs or spaces. For structured data, consider converting to CSV instead if available.

Yes. Upload multiple ODT files and convert them all to TXT in a single batch. No need to process files one by one.

Yes. TXT output is ideal for text mining, search indexing, NLP processing, or feeding into scripts. Plain text eliminates formatting markup that can interfere with automated text analysis.

Every operating system includes a text editor: Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, and various editors on Linux. Code editors (VS Code, Sublime Text, Atom), word processors, and programming environments all support TXT.

TXT files are typically 70-90% smaller than the source ODT because formatting, styles, metadata, and embedded content are removed. A 100KB ODT document might become a 10-30KB TXT file.

ODT Conversions & Related Converters

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