Convert CHM to RTF — Free Online Converter
Convert Compiled HTML Help (.chm) to Rich Text Format (.rtf) online for free. Fast, secure document conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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How to Convert
Upload your .chm file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .rtf file when it's ready.
About CHM to RTF Conversion
CHM to RTF conversion transforms Microsoft Compiled HTML Help files into Rich Text Format, the universal formatted document standard readable by every word processor on every platform. RTF files preserve text formatting, images, tables, and structure while maintaining compatibility with applications ranging from WordPad to Microsoft Word to LibreOffice Writer.
Our converter extracts the HTML content from the CHM archive and transforms it into RTF through LibreOffice's conversion engine. The result is a cleanly formatted document that can be edited, printed, and distributed without requiring any specialized help file viewer.
Why Convert CHM to RTF?
RTF is the lowest common denominator for formatted documents — every word processor on Windows, macOS, and Linux can open and edit RTF files. When CHM documentation needs to reach the widest possible audience with guaranteed compatibility and editability, RTF is the safest choice. No plugins, no special software, no platform restrictions.
RTF is also preferred in regulated environments (legal, medical, government) where document format stability matters. RTF's specification has been stable since version 1.9, ensuring documents created today will be readable decades from now — unlike CHM, which depends on an abandoned Microsoft technology.
Common Use Cases
- Creating universally editable versions of CHM documentation for cross-platform distribution
- Archiving help file content in a stable, widely-supported format for long-term preservation
- Converting technical documentation to a format suitable for legal and regulatory review processes
- Providing editable documentation to stakeholders who may use any word processor on any platform
- Migrating CHM content to a format compatible with document management systems that accept RTF
How It Works
RTF (Rich Text Format) uses a text-based markup syntax with control words (backslash-prefixed commands) to describe formatting. The format supports paragraphs, character formatting (bold, italic, font, size, color), tables, images (embedded as hex-encoded bitmaps or WMF), headers/footers, and Unicode text. Our conversion extracts CHM HTML content, processes it through LibreOffice's import and RTF export filters, and produces a well-formed RTF document with proper formatting, embedded images, and structured headings.
Quality & Performance
RTF preserves text formatting, paragraph structure, lists, tables, and embedded images from the CHM content. Complex HTML layouts are simplified to RTF's more linear document model. Hyperlinks are preserved as RTF link fields. Font choices fall back to system defaults when the original CHM used web fonts. The output is clean and readable in all RTF-compatible word processors.
Device Compatibility
| Device | CHM | RTF |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Tips for Best Results
- 1Use RTF when you need guaranteed compatibility across all word processors and platforms
- 2Open the RTF in Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer to reformat headings and apply consistent styles
- 3For smaller file sizes, convert to DOCX instead — DOCX uses ZIP compression that significantly reduces size
- 4RTF's text-based format makes it grep-searchable from the command line for bulk documentation analysis
- 5Review and clean up formatting after conversion — CHM's web-oriented HTML may produce verbose RTF styles
CHM to RTF produces the most universally compatible editable document from Windows help file content. The conversion ensures the documentation is accessible, editable, and future-proof across all platforms and word processors.