HighhXConverter
A simple local file converter for VS Code.
HighhXConverter converts documents on your own machine. Files are never uploaded, and it needs no account, no API key and no AI.
Supported conversions
| Conversion |
Needs |
| PDF → PNG / JPG (one image per page) |
Nothing. Works right after installing. |
| PDF → DOCX |
LibreOffice (free) |
| DOCX → PDF |
LibreOffice (free) |
| XLSX → PDF |
LibreOffice (free) |
| PPTX → PDF |
LibreOffice (free) |
Installation
- In VS Code, open the Extensions view (
Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X).
- Search for HighhXConverter and click Install.
- For the Office and PDF → DOCX conversions, install LibreOffice once (see below).
PDF → PNG/JPG uses a PDF renderer (PDFium) bundled with the extension, so it works immediately on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Installing LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite. HighhXConverter uses it in the background to read and write Office documents. It is too large to ship inside a VS Code extension, so you install it once yourself:
| System |
How to install |
| Windows |
Download the installer from libreoffice.org, or run winget install TheDocumentFoundation.LibreOffice |
| macOS |
Download from libreoffice.org, or run brew install --cask libreoffice |
| Ubuntu / Debian |
sudo apt install libreoffice-writer libreoffice-calc libreoffice-impress libreoffice-draw |
| Fedora |
sudo dnf install libreoffice |
HighhXConverter finds LibreOffice automatically in its standard install location or on your PATH, with no restart and no configuration. If LibreOffice is missing when you start a conversion that needs it, a message tells you so and offers a download link.
Usage
- Right-click a
.pdf, .docx, .xlsx or .pptx file in the Explorer and choose Convert File.
Or run HighhXConverter: Convert File from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P). It converts the file open in the active editor, or asks you to pick one.
- Choose the output format.
- The result is saved next to the original file. Click Open or Reveal in the notification to see it.
You can convert several files of the same type at once by selecting them all in the Explorer.
How your files are handled
- The original file is never modified. Conversions work on a private temporary copy.
- Existing files are never overwritten. If
report.pdf already exists, the result is saved as report (1).pdf, then report (2).pdf, and so on.
- PDF → PNG/JPG creates one image per page:
report-page-1.png, report-page-2.png, and so on. A single-page PDF creates report.png.
- Temporary files are always removed, whether the conversion succeeds, fails or is cancelled.
- File and folder names with spaces or non-English characters work normally.
- A running conversion can be cancelled from its progress notification.
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
highhxconverter.libreOfficePath |
(automatic) |
Full path to LibreOffice's soffice program, if it is installed in an unusual place. Example: C:\Program Files\LibreOffice\program\soffice.exe |
highhxconverter.imageDpi |
150 |
Resolution for PDF → PNG/JPG (36–600). |
highhxconverter.timeoutSeconds |
300 |
A conversion that runs longer than this is stopped. |
libreOfficePath can only be set in your user settings, never by a workspace. That way, a folder you open cannot make the extension run a different program.
Limitations
- PDF → DOCX rebuilds each page's layout with positioned text boxes. The text is editable, but complex layouts will not reflow like a document originally written in Word. Scanned PDFs (pictures of text) contain no text to extract. HighhXConverter does not do OCR.
- Password-protected files cannot be converted. Remove the password first.
- Only files on your local disk are supported, not remote or virtual workspaces.
- Fonts that are not installed on your computer are replaced with similar ones.
Privacy
Everything runs locally. HighhXConverter makes no network requests and collects no telemetry.
Troubleshooting
- "LibreOffice is required … but was not found": install LibreOffice as described above. If it is installed in a custom folder, set
highhxconverter.libreOfficePath.
- For details of any failure, open View → Output and select HighhXConverter.
License
MIT. Bundled third-party components are listed in THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md, included with the extension.
