CONVERT
RST → OPML
Fast, secure RST to OPML conversion. No registration required.
DRAG. DROP. DONE.
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Opening note — RST is a document format oriented around a particular office suite or publishing pipeline. The OPML you want is two clicks away. If you are staring at a RST and need a clean OPML, retyping is never the answer — our converter routes the file through LibreOffice in headless mode and pandoc for text formats, which is the same pair of tools professional publishers rely on. Styles, tables, bullets and images all make it across. Background. RST is a document format oriented around a particular office suite or publishing pipeline. Destination side, OPML is a document format oriented around a particular office suite or publishing pipeline.
reStructuredText
Source formatRST (reStructuredText) is a lightweight markup language used in Python documentation.
OPML Outline
Target formatOPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) is an XML format for structured outlines and lists. It is most widely used for exchanging RSS feed subscription lists between podcast apps and feed readers, and for hierarchical note-taking.
Why convert RST to OPML
RST and OPML both describe paginated text, but they target different parts of the document life cycle. RST is usually editable; OPML is usually final. Converting is about moving from editing to distribution (or the other way round) without losing headings, styles, tables or embedded images along the way.
HOW TO CONVERT
RST → OPML
Upload your RST
Drop the document onto the uploader. We transfer over HTTPS and keep the file in an isolated processing container.
Render with LibreOffice
LibreOffice opens the RST headlessly and writes it as OPML with styles, tables and images mapped across.
Download the OPML
The OPML is ready to download; typography, pagination and embedded assets match what you saw in the source.
Common Use Cases
Corporate collaboration
Most enterprise pipelines expect OPML; arriving with RST triggers "what format is this?" conversations and conversion delays.
Cloud co-editing
Google Docs and Office Online open OPML with formatting intact; RST often triggers a conversion step that drops styles.
Legal and regulatory filing
Courts, government portals and compliance systems accept OPML as the canonical format — RST may be rejected outright.
Academic submission
Journals, universities and grant portals specify OPML for manuscripts, theses and proposals in their submission guidelines.
RST vs OPML — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
RST Strengths
- Rich directives for admonitions, code, math, and custom elements.
- Cross-references work within and across documents.
- Sphinx ecosystem offers best-in-class Python docs output.
- Standardized as part of Python PEP infrastructure.
- Plain text, version-controllable.
Limitations
- Syntax denser than Markdown — higher learning curve.
- Less widely adopted than Markdown outside Python world.
- Multiple directive dialects (Sphinx, Docutils, custom) create fragmentation.
OPML Strengths
- Standard RSS subscription interchange format.
- Simple XML — easy to parse and generate.
- Highly extensible via arbitrary attributes.
- Supported by every major outline and RSS tool.
Limitations
- XML verbosity — larger than a JSON-based equivalent.
- Specification is loose — different tools disagree on edge cases.
- Primary use (RSS reading) has shrunk dramatically since Google Reader.
RST vs OPML — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
| Specification | RST | OPML |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | text/x-rst | text/x-opml |
| Extension | .rst | .opml |
| Toolchain | Docutils, Sphinx, Read the Docs | — |
| Encoding | UTF-8 | — |
| Related formats | MyST (Markdown + RST directives) | — |
| Format | — | XML with nested <outline> elements |
| Standard | — | OPML 2.0 (2006) |
| Primary use | — | RSS subscription interchange |
RST vs OPML — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
RST
- API reference page 5-50 KB
- Sphinx project chapter 20-100 KB
- Full library documentation 500 KB - 10 MB
OPML
- Typical RSS reader export (50 feeds) 5-30 KB
- Deep outline (Scrivener novel plan) 20-200 KB
Quality & Compatibility
LibreOffice handles the heavy lifting and maps the overwhelming majority of RST features to their OPML equivalents. Standard system fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times, Helvetica) transfer exactly; corporate or custom fonts are substituted with the closest available match, which can shift line breaks by a character or two. Inline images embed at original resolution.
Tips for Best Results
- Embed fonts in the RST before uploading if you use non-system fonts — it guarantees the OPML renders identically on any viewer.
- Check tables, figure captions and page headers after conversion; complex layouts occasionally need a minor nudge in the target application.
- For documents with a table of contents, refresh the TOC field after opening the OPML so page numbers reflect the new pagination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as long as the fonts are standard (system fonts or common office fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times, Helvetica). Custom corporate fonts survive if they are embedded in the source document; otherwise the conversion substitutes the closest available match, which can shift line breaks by a character or two.
Yes. Inline images are embedded into the OPML at full resolution, editable tables become native OPML tables, and hyperlinks keep their URLs. Complex features unique to RST — macros, form fields, track-changes — are mapped where an equivalent exists in OPML and flattened into static content otherwise.
All uploads go over TLS, files are processed in isolated containers and both the source and the output are deleted within two hours. No account is required, file contents are never indexed or used for training, and the paid plan adds a signable data-processing agreement for regulated workflows.
RELATED CONVERSIONS
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Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
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Complete guide to OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) — the universal format for podcast subscription exports, RSS reader migration, and hierarchical outlines. Structure, attributes, versions, and tools.
Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.