http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/17201/
Aim: We should be able to convert file formats (.gif to .png, .jpg, etc OR .doc to .odf, .pdf, .rtc, .txt, etc OR .tar.gz to .zip OR .wav to .ogg, .mp3, etc)

IDEA #1: (Will be a little harder to make and manage)
A sub-menu for the right-click menu for files that says "Convert to..." and gives a list of appropriate file formats. Click the correct file format and get a dialogue box asking for new name and a few options.



IDEA #2: (Should be easier to make, but will require more clicking for users):
Right-click a file -> "Convert file format"
Get list of appropriate formats available. If conversion libraries/codecs are not available, prompt the user to install them with instructions.
Once format is chosen, give a similar dialogue box to that in IDEA #1 (name and options).


This can make Ubuntu easier to move to also, as you can convert your files to different formats easily. Features such as multiple file convert and a summary of format features before conversion can also be added later.

Let us look forward to an All-in-one file format converter for Ubuntu!

Edit: Some details that I missed out (and some that were pointed out in the first comment):
- The integration in Nautilus, I expect, would be restricted to being a script or plugin.
- Though this feature could just be a GUI that would load, or prompt you to install, the program that will convert the file/files, I would love it if we could make all this happen within one application itself, rather than jumping back and forth between many.
- The program (if it does the converting itself) need not have all the formats to convert to. The formats can be plugins into this all-in-one converter. So people can develop plugins for different file types and others can just plug them into the converter. This means the converter doesn't always need to be developed by developers and that the basic application will be small in size.


[115 votes] Solution #2: Nautilus Converter Plugin


[-44 votes] Solution #3: Convert if file extension is changed


]]> en-us Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:32:18 +0000 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:08:57 +0000 QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/17201/
Further, you would want it to be able to define what software to use for new conversions.

In any case, nothing in nautilus itself would change.]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:35:32 +0000 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:21:49 +0000 imho, users who would want this functionality are already well aware of the differences.]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:40:55 +0000
This will be massively abused by clueless noobs who transcode from a lossy source and don't understand that it is a bad idea.]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:52:45 +0000
and also, why shouldn't people convert their music files from mp3 to ogg, if they decide they want to use a completely open and patent-free format?]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:14:30 +0000 So perhaps we could add: convert to pdf to documents.

But this should probably be an option when sending files to friends. And should probably not be used as an explicit option in a menu. Remember that most people will never use this feature.

I agree that non free files should have an option to convert them to an open free format]]> Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:38:01 +0000 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:52:10 +0000
My PS3 for instance won't play a very wide array of popular formats. To transcode things in linux is not the most fun thing in the world at present with no really easy to use native apps.

This would be the exact opposite of the way things are done presently. ]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:02:28 +0000
No more messing around with command line-based conversion tools to make files work on your MP4 player or console, no more having to open Gimp to convert a PNG to a gif you can use as an avatar!

This would be an amazing innovation.]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:15:22 +0000
There are a few options in the repos and elsewhere that incorporate some of this functionality:

nautilus-script-audio-convert (Universe)
nautilus-image-converter (Universe)

Integrating these features into a single file convert script, and with better GUI management, would be great.

Converting formats is a necessary evil in today's world. There is no reason why, however, that the original file can't be maintained (in the case of lossless to lossy formats for example). Some websites will only accept files in specific formats, and some audio devices will only accept specific formats too. In my personal experience as a University student much of the work I had to submit had to be in certain formats. I could only submit papers in .doc format, audio had to be .mp3 or .wav, and video had to be .avi. When you've got a lot of files to convert (especially if you're not familiar with *nix/Ubuntu) a nautilus extension is very useful.]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:23:39 +0000 http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Audio%2BVideo%2BImage%2BText+Convert?content=92533]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:52:15 +0000
http://code.google.com/p/nautilus-sound-converter/]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:19:48 +0000
Imho all transcoding should be done by a application specifically meant for it, unless the user is made perfectly aware that the quality and/or ediiting abilities will change. Maybe an easy-to-use batch-converter should be included by default instead.]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:34:00 +0000
what is a hi-res format? i've heard of lossless, lossy, or compressed formats, but resolution is independent of format...

anyway, you're underestimating users.

there can also be a description saying something like "use this format for small web images", and it would always keep the original, so there is no loss in information.]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:08:57 +0000