Free online DB to TEXT converter

What the DB format is

.db is a generic filename extension, not one database specification. SQLite applications commonly use it, but other programs use .db for proprietary databases, dBase variants, and application-specific data stores.

A DB file may contain tables, indexes, relationships, typed values, metadata, and binary objects. The creating application determines which software can open it. Identify that application or database engine before choosing an export method; a SQLite utility cannot open an unrelated proprietary DB file.

What the TEXT format is

A TEXT file is a plain-text file such as records.txt. It stores characters rather than database tables, indexes, queries, permissions, relationships, or constraints.

Records can be written as one line per row with fields separated by tabs, commas, semicolons, or another delimiter. The first line may contain column names. Plain text works well for inspection, command-line processing, simple archiving, and systems that accept delimited input, but it does not preserve database behavior or structure.

How to convert a DB file to TEXT

Use 101convert.com

1. Open the DB-to-TEXT converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the database file and choose TEXT as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and download the generated .txt file.

This free method requires no installation, but it works only when the converter recognizes the particular DB variant. Do not upload confidential or regulated data unless the service's handling terms meet your requirements.

Export a SQLite database with sqlite3

Close the application using the database and make a backup before exporting. List its tables with the SQLite command-line utility:

sqlite3 database.db ".tables"

Export one table as UTF-8 tab-separated text with column headers:

sqlite3 -header -tabs database.db "SELECT * FROM table_name;" > export.txt

Replace table_name with the actual table name. Export other tables separately, or write a deliberate query that joins or filters the required data. Tabs or line breaks inside field values can make simple line-based output ambiguous, so use a format-aware importer when the data contains those characters.

Export from the original database application

Open the file in the program that created it and use its export function, commonly found under File → Export, Data → Export, or Save As. Choose a delimited text format such as CSV, select UTF-8 encoding, and set the output filename to .txt only when the receiving program expects that extension. CSV is itself a structured plain-text format; changing its extension does not alter its delimiter or quoting rules.

Choose a delimiter that does not commonly occur in the data, enable column headers when required, and use the application's documented driver for proprietary DB files. Generic database utilities cannot reliably infer tables, relationships, or field types in an unknown format.

Quality and compatibility limits

• Database structure is flattened: relationships, indexes, queries, formulas, constraints, permissions, and transactions are not retained in ordinary text output.
• Multiple tables need a format decision: export each table to a separate file, or include clear table markers and column headers when combining them.
• Encoding affects characters: UTF-8 is the safest general choice; older software may require Windows-1252 or another legacy encoding.
• Values can change meaning: dates, decimal precision, nulls, Boolean values, and leading zeros may be reinterpreted during export or import. Quote fields and define the delimiter explicitly.
• Binary fields need special handling: images, attachments, and other BLOB values may be omitted, exported as hexadecimal, or become unreadable in a normal text file.
• Text exports lose database access controls: anyone who can read the file can generally copy its contents, so protect exported files according to their sensitivity.