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YouConvertIt: a nifty free web tool for converting media documents
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Former_MSE_Lawrence
Posts: 975 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
What's the deal?
If you've ever needed to convert a document to a different file type (for example, making your MS Office .doc/.docx CV a PDF file), you'll know it can be a pain. There are plenty of downloadable tools available, with varying degrees of freeness, but they're usually restricted to converting a very limited number of file types, and they're prone to clogging up and slowing down your computer.
YouConvertIt is a free site which'll convert hundreds of file types to one another, then simply email you a link so you can download the converted version. Since all the converting is done by the site, you don't have to download anything at all, making this usually the most hassle free way to convert things.
How to do it.
1. Go to the site and put an email address in the first box (If you're worried about getting spam on the back of submitting your address, then set up another specifically for sites like these and special offers/freebies). You don't need to register or enter any other details to use the service.
2. The next box allows you to choose the file/s to convert. Click the browse button and select it/them from the explorer window which appears. You can choose up to five at a time, but ensure they're all the same file-type or it could get confusing.
3. The third box is the most important; it shows you which formats the site can convert your files to. Obviously this'll vary depending on the file-type you're converting from. If you're not sure it'll do the conversion you need, check the drop-down list before you add files etc.
4. Now, just click the 'convert it!' button and it'll take you to a screen to show that it's gone into the system. Now you can but wait for an email with a link to your freshly converted file.
How long does it take?
Generally the files I've sent have taken just under an hour to come back, but at busy times it's known to take a few hours, so it's not ideal if you're trying to meet a deadline. For casual users though, it's just the thing.
Got sensitive files? Consider how this works before uploading.
As a couple of people have sensibly pointed out below, services like this aren't generally a good idea for converting sensitive/personal files, since by their very nature they involve uploading to the website, where files are stored before conversion. Theoretically, your info could be pulled out at the other end, so be careful.
So how's this free?
Like many modern sites, it makes all its money through advertising, so it can continue to offer the service for free. It's quite subtle though; there's a banner ad on the page when you submit, and one in the email with the document link in.
Bonus! It'll also grab video, send files, and do simple unit conversions.
The site can also grab videos from Youtube et al and send them to your email address (and even convert them to a more compressed format on the way), upload file(s) up to 1000 MB (though be warned, this'll take a while) and send a download link to your friends, and calculate simple (ie metric to imperial) conversions, all through the same easily navigable interface.
Alternatives?
As Toxteth_OGrady has pointed out, Zamzar offers a very similar service, so if there's a conversion YouConvertIt won't do, it's well worth seeing if Zamzar will.
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If you've ever needed to convert a document to a different file type (for example, making your MS Office .doc/.docx CV a PDF file), you'll know it can be a pain. There are plenty of downloadable tools available, with varying degrees of freeness, but they're usually restricted to converting a very limited number of file types, and they're prone to clogging up and slowing down your computer.
YouConvertIt is a free site which'll convert hundreds of file types to one another, then simply email you a link so you can download the converted version. Since all the converting is done by the site, you don't have to download anything at all, making this usually the most hassle free way to convert things.
How to do it.
1. Go to the site and put an email address in the first box (If you're worried about getting spam on the back of submitting your address, then set up another specifically for sites like these and special offers/freebies). You don't need to register or enter any other details to use the service.
2. The next box allows you to choose the file/s to convert. Click the browse button and select it/them from the explorer window which appears. You can choose up to five at a time, but ensure they're all the same file-type or it could get confusing.
3. The third box is the most important; it shows you which formats the site can convert your files to. Obviously this'll vary depending on the file-type you're converting from. If you're not sure it'll do the conversion you need, check the drop-down list before you add files etc.
4. Now, just click the 'convert it!' button and it'll take you to a screen to show that it's gone into the system. Now you can but wait for an email with a link to your freshly converted file.
How long does it take?
Generally the files I've sent have taken just under an hour to come back, but at busy times it's known to take a few hours, so it's not ideal if you're trying to meet a deadline. For casual users though, it's just the thing.
Got sensitive files? Consider how this works before uploading.
As a couple of people have sensibly pointed out below, services like this aren't generally a good idea for converting sensitive/personal files, since by their very nature they involve uploading to the website, where files are stored before conversion. Theoretically, your info could be pulled out at the other end, so be careful.
So how's this free?
Like many modern sites, it makes all its money through advertising, so it can continue to offer the service for free. It's quite subtle though; there's a banner ad on the page when you submit, and one in the email with the document link in.
Bonus! It'll also grab video, send files, and do simple unit conversions.
The site can also grab videos from Youtube et al and send them to your email address (and even convert them to a more compressed format on the way), upload file(s) up to 1000 MB (though be warned, this'll take a while) and send a download link to your friends, and calculate simple (ie metric to imperial) conversions, all through the same easily navigable interface.
Alternatives?
As Toxteth_OGrady has pointed out, Zamzar offers a very similar service, so if there's a conversion YouConvertIt won't do, it's well worth seeing if Zamzar will.
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Comments
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Seems like a nice way to make sure your inbox is full of spam for the rest of your life.
And who doesn't like spam?0 -
Wonder if there is anywhere yet to convert TO docx format the MS Office 2007 default Word format. The above site is not it.0
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Neither this nor Zamzar convert Corel Photopaint CPT files, anyone know of a service that does?Thanks in advance,
Steve V0 -
The site doesn't convert quarkexpress (qxd) files0
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Probably me being paranoid but I'd be careful of using/sending any personal or private files to an online service. Anything else'll be fine I'm sure."She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
Moss0 -
So you post your files containing xxxxx to another part of the world they keep them there for xxxxx and send them back to you.
No way Jose !!
It is feasible for info to be stored and used in any context they like.
In this loony world of scammers and pshishers why would you leave yourself so open to future problems.
Having been scammed via Paypal and having spent months getting the money back, my security is as tight as Gordon Browns smile.
So shipping stuff to ???? is not even on the radar0 -
Excellent site!
I used it to put Youtube videos on my iPod! Wahey!!0 -
So you post your files containing xxxxx to another part of the world they keep them there for xxxxx and send them back to you.
No way Jose !!
It is feasible for info to be stored and used in any context they like.
In this loony world of scammers and pshishers why would you leave yourself so open to future problems.
Having been scammed via Paypal and having spent months getting the money back, my security is as tight as Gordon Browns smile.
So shipping stuff to ???? is not even on the radar
Hence my post about not sending anything private or personal. I don't see how sending anything innocuous would be a risk though. Especially if they're files you plan on putting in the public domain anyway (e.g. converting before uploading your own video to sites or converting graphics for use on your own website...)"She is quite the oddball. Did you notice how she didn't even get excited when she saw this original ZX-81?"
Moss0 -
Seems like a nice way to make sure your inbox is full of spam for the rest of your life.
And who doesn't like spam?
Use a throw-away address from http://www.mailinator.com/Wonder if there is anywhere yet to convert TO docx format the MS Office 2007 default Word format. The above site is not it.
Out of date now but is this any good?
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/07/04/225347/free-.docx-converter-available.htm0
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