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Convert RTF to XML - Transform Documents into Structured Data

Turn rich text documents into machine-readable XML. Perfect for data processing and system integration.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Why Convert RTF to XML?

You have RTF files containing important document content, but your systems need structured data they can parse and process automatically. RTF is designed for human-readable formatted text, while XML is built for machine-readable structured data.

Converting RTF to XML unlocks your document content for database imports, content management systems, web applications, and automated workflows. The text, formatting information, and document structure become accessible through standard XML parsing tools.

How to Convert RTF to XML

  1. Upload your RTF file - Drag and drop or click to select your document
  2. Confirm XML output - XML is selected as your target format
  3. Download your XML file - Your structured data is ready for processing

The entire conversion happens in your browser. No software to install, no account required. Just upload and download.

RTF vs XML: Understanding the Difference

RTF (Rich Text Format) was created by Microsoft in 1987 for document interchange between word processors. It stores text with formatting instructions like fonts, colors, and paragraph styles. RTF files are meant to be opened in document editors and read by humans.

XML (Extensible Markup Language) was designed for storing and transporting data. It uses custom tags to define data structures that software can parse, validate, and process. XML is the backbone of countless web services, configuration files, and data exchange formats.

In our testing, RTF documents with standard formatting convert cleanly to XML, preserving text content and basic structural elements. Complex embedded objects may require additional handling after conversion.

Common Use Cases

Legacy Document Migration

Organizations with years of RTF documents need to migrate content into modern systems. Converting to XML creates structured data that imports directly into content management systems, databases, or web platforms.

Data Extraction

Developers need to extract text and structure from RTF files for processing. XML output can be parsed with standard libraries in any programming language, making data extraction straightforward.

System Integration

Connecting old document workflows with modern APIs requires structured data formats. XML serves as the bridge, allowing RTF content to feed into web services and automated pipelines.

Archival and Compliance

Long-term document archival benefits from XML's platform independence. Unlike proprietary formats, XML remains readable by any system that understands text, ensuring future accessibility.

What Gets Converted

The conversion extracts and structures:

  • Text content - All readable text from your document
  • Paragraphs and sections - Document structure preserved in XML elements
  • Basic formatting markers - Bold, italic, and other styling as attributes
  • Lists and tables - Structured as nested XML elements

Complex RTF features like embedded images or advanced layout may not transfer to XML, which is a text-based format. For documents with heavy visual formatting, consider RTF to HTML conversion instead, which better preserves visual elements.

When to Use Different Formats

XML is ideal when you need programmatic access to document content. If your goal is different, consider these alternatives:

  • RTF to PDF - When you need to preserve exact formatting for viewing and printing
  • RTF to DOCX - When you need to edit the document in modern word processors
  • RTF to HTML - When you need web-ready content with visual formatting

Choose XML when data structure and machine readability matter more than visual presentation.

Works on Any Device

Our browser-based converter runs on:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
  • Tablets and mobile devices

No downloads, no plugins, no waiting. The conversion happens instantly in your browser.

Pro Tip

When processing the XML output programmatically, use a proper XML parser rather than string manipulation. Libraries like Python's ElementTree, JavaScript's DOMParser, or Java's JAXP handle edge cases and special characters correctly.

Common Mistake

Expecting the XML to look exactly like the RTF visually. XML is about data structure, not presentation. If you need visual formatting, HTML or PDF are better target formats.

Best For

Developers extracting content from legacy RTF documents for database import, content management systems, or automated processing pipelines where structured data is essential.

Not Recommended

When you need to preserve the visual appearance of documents for reading or printing. Use RTF to PDF for that purpose, or RTF to DOCX if you need to continue editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

RTF (Rich Text Format) is a document format created by Microsoft in 1987. It stores formatted text with fonts, colors, and styling in a way that different word processors can read. RTF files have the .rtf extension and open in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and most text editors.

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a text-based format for storing structured data. It uses custom tags to organize information in a hierarchical structure that both humans and machines can read. XML is widely used for configuration files, web services, data exchange, and document storage.

Text content and document structure are preserved. Basic formatting like bold and italic can be represented as XML attributes or elements. However, visual layout and complex formatting are not XML's purpose - it focuses on data structure rather than appearance.

Converting XML to RTF is possible but requires knowing the XML structure. Our converter supports XML to other formats including HTML and PDF. However, reconstructing the original RTF formatting from XML may not produce identical results.

XML files open in any text editor (Notepad, VS Code, Sublime Text), web browsers, spreadsheet applications like Excel, and dedicated XML editors. Any programming language can parse XML with standard libraries.

Yes, completely free with no hidden costs. There are no watermarks added to your XML output, no registration required, and no limits on how many files you can convert.

Yes. The conversion happens entirely in your browser. Your RTF files are not uploaded to any server - they stay on your device throughout the process. This browser-based approach ensures your documents remain private.

Yes. Upload multiple RTF files and convert them all to XML in a single batch. This saves time when processing document collections for data migration or system integration projects.

Images embedded in RTF files cannot be directly converted to XML, which is a text-based format. The text content will convert normally. For documents with important images, consider RTF to HTML conversion, which can preserve image references.

Browser-based conversion handles RTF files up to several megabytes without issues. Very large documents with hundreds of pages may take longer to process. For extremely large files, consider splitting them into smaller sections.

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