pbmtoxbm

Convert a PBM image to a X11 XBM file

$ pbmtoxbm [path/to/input_file.pbm] > [path/to/output_file.xbm]

$ pbmtoxbm -[x11|x10] [path/to/input_file.pbm] > [path/to/output_file.xbm]

pbmtoxbm [pbmfile]
If pbmfile is not specified, pbmtoxbm reads from standard input.

The pbmtoxbm command is a utility from the Netpbm image manipulation toolkit, designed for converting image files from the Portable Bitmap (PBM) format to the X11 Bitmap (XBM) format. PBM is a simple, monochrome (1-bit) image format part of the Netpbm family, which also includes PGM (Portable Graymap) and PPM (Portable Pixmap). XBM is another monochrome image format specifically used within the X Window System environment. XBM files are unique because they are typically represented as C source code fragments, allowing them to be directly compiled into applications.

This command is crucial for developers and users who need to integrate simple, black-and-white images into X11 applications or resources. Since both PBM and XBM are 1-bit formats, pbmtoxbm primarily handles monochrome images. It reads a PBM file from standard input (or a specified file) and writes the corresponding XBM data to standard output. Its simplicity makes it a fundamental tool for basic image format conversion within the Unix/Linux ecosystem.

pbmtoxbm only supports monochrome (1-bit) images. If a color or grayscale image is provided (e.g., a PPM or PGM file), it will either fail or require prior conversion to PBM using other Netpbm tools like ppmtopbm or pgmtopbm. The output XBM format is also strictly monochrome. Additionally, XBM files are C source code fragments, not typical image files; they are meant to be compiled or included in C/C++ applications.

By default, pbmtoxbm reads the Portable Bitmap (PBM) image data from standard input if no pbmfile argument is provided. It writes the resulting X11 Bitmap (XBM) data to standard output. This behavior allows it to be easily integrated into shell pipelines, chaining operations with other Netpbm utilities or standard Unix commands.

The X11 Bitmap (XBM) format is distinctive as it's not a standalone image file in the traditional sense, but rather a C header file (.h) containing static data. This allows XBM images to be directly embedded into C/C++ applications for use with X Window System libraries without requiring external image loading libraries.

The pbmtoxbm command is part of the extensive Netpbm image processing toolkit. It was originally authored by David W. Sanderson in 1991. The Netpbm suite itself is a collection of graphics utilities designed for converting and manipulating various image formats, emphasizing simplicity and pipeline processing. pbmtoxbm represents one of the early and foundational tools within this suite, reflecting the need for interoperability between standard image formats and the then-prevalent X Window System graphics environment.

xbmtopbm(1), pbm(5), xbm(X), ppmtopbm(1), pgmtopbm(1), netpbm(1)