LIN to TXT Converter

LIN to TXT Conversion Explained

.LIN files store contract bridge game records using a proprietary, tag-based syntax developed by Bridge Base Online (BBO). While .LIN files are technically plain text, their raw syntax relies on pipe delimiters and shortcodes that are difficult for humans to read. Converting .LIN to .TXT translates these machine-readable tags into a human-readable format, such as standard bridge hand diagrams, bidding tables, and play sequences.

You gain immediate readability and universal compatibility. You lose the ability to load the file into bridge software for interactive, card-by-card playback. If you need to analyze the hand with a double-dummy solver, this conversion is a bad idea.

Typical Tasks and Users

• Bridge Teachers: Creating printable handouts and lesson materials with formatted hand diagrams.
• Bridge Journalists: Extracting bidding sequences and card play to write articles for bridge bulletins or blogs.
• Tournament Directors: Archiving interesting hands in a universally readable format for committee reviews.
• Players: Sharing a specific hand via email or text message with partners who do not have .LIN viewer software installed.

Software & Tool Support

• Bridge Base Online (BBO): The native creator of the .LIN format. It exports these files but does not natively format them into plain text diagrams.
• BridgeComposer: A dedicated Windows application that opens .LIN files and can export them into formatted text, HTML, or PDF.
• Notepad++ or VS Code: Standard text editors can open raw .LIN files to view the underlying code, but they will not parse the bridge logic or format the diagrams.
• Command-Line Parsers: Various open-source Python and Perl scripts exist on GitHub to parse BBO syntax into standard text output.

Pros and Cons of the Conversion

• Pros:

  • Universal Compatibility: Any device, operating system, or basic text editor can open a .TXT file.
  • Human Readability: Bidding and play are formatted logically instead of being hidden behind syntax tags.
  • Easy Copy-Pasting: Formatted text can be easily pasted into word processors or emails.

• Cons:

  • Loss of Interactivity: You can no longer step through the play or use "next card" features.
  • Software Incompatibility: Bridge engines and solvers cannot easily import formatted .TXT back into playable formats like .PBN or .LIN.
  • Symbol Limitations: Plain text relies on ASCII characters (S, H, D, C) for suits unless the text file specifically uses UTF-8 encoding for suit symbols (♠, ♥, ♦, ♣), which can cause display errors in older text editors.

Conversion Difficulties & Why Convert.Guru

The .LIN format uses a continuous string of pipe-delimited tags. A proper conversion must parse the vulnerability (sv|), player names (pn|), the exact cards dealt (md|), the bidding sequence (mb|), and the play sequence (pc|). It must then render this data into a spatial text layout representing the North, South, East, and West hands. Simple text extraction fails because it leaves the raw tags intact.

Convert.Guru correctly parses the BBO syntax and reconstructs the bridge hand into a clean, formatted .TXT layout. It handles the spatial alignment of suits and bidding tables automatically, saving users from manual formatting and ensuring no critical game data is dropped during the translation.

LIN vs. TXT: What is the better choice?

Which format should you choose?

Choose .LIN if you want to replay the hand, analyze it with bridge engines, or share it with other BBO users. Choose .TXT if you need to print the hand, include it in a newsletter, or share it with someone who does not use bridge software. If you need high-quality publishing with guaranteed suit symbol rendering, you should avoid .TXT and convert .LIN to .PDF or .HTML instead.

Conclusion

Converting .LIN to .TXT is essential for turning machine-readable bridge data into human-readable diagrams. The biggest limitation to watch for is the permanent loss of interactive playback and solver compatibility. Convert.Guru provides a reliable, automated way to parse BBO tags into clean text layouts, making it an ideal tool for bridge teachers, writers, and players who need fast, accurate hand records without manual formatting.