Convert HTM to ASCII

Understanding HTM and ASCII file formats

HTM files are web page documents written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML). They contain markup code that structures content for display in web browsers, including text, images, links, and formatting instructions. The .htm extension is functionally identical to .html.

ASCII files refer to plain text files encoded using the American Standard Code for Information Interchange. These files contain only basic text characters without formatting, images, or embedded objects, making them universally readable by text editors and programming tools.

Why convert HTM to ASCII?

Converting an HTM file to an ASCII file is useful when you need to extract readable text content from a web page, removing all HTML tags and formatting. This is often required for data processing, archiving, or importing content into systems that only accept plain text.

How to convert HTM to ASCII

To convert an HTM file to an ASCII file, you need to strip out all HTML tags and save the remaining text as a plain text file. This can be done manually or with specialized software.

Recommended software for HTM to ASCII conversion

• Notepad++ (Windows): Open your HTM file, then use Plugins → Plugins Admin → HTML Tag to remove HTML tags. Save the result as a .txt file.
• TextEdit (Mac): Open the HTM file, select all, copy, and paste into a new plain text document. Save as .txt.
• Online converters: Websites like TextFixer allow you to paste HTM code and get plain ASCII text instantly.
• Command-line tools: Use pandoc or lynx (with lynx -dump file.htm > file.txt) for batch or automated conversions.

Step-by-step example using Notepad++

1. Open your .htm file in Notepad++.
2. Install the HTML Tag plugin via Plugins → Plugins Admin.
3. Use Plugins → HTML Tag → Remove HTML Tags to strip tags.
4. Go to File → Save As and choose All types, then save with a .txt extension.

Tips for best results

• Review the output to ensure all unwanted tags are removed.
• Check for special characters or encoding issues, especially with non-English content.
• For large batches, consider command-line tools for automation.