Frequently asked questions
A question missing? Write to us, and the answer will join this page.
Are my files sent to a server?
No, and that is the whole subject of the site. The tools work inside your browser. The proof page explains how to check it yourself in ten seconds, and the absence of requests is also verified by machine before every release.
Do you keep a copy of what I process?
We could not keep one: we receive nothing. The file lives in your tab's memory, and it disappears when you close it. None of your files is written to your disk: the only one that lands there is the result you download. What your browser does keep is the site's own pages, so it works offline; they hold nothing of what you process, and your browser's own site data settings clear them.
Why is it free? Where is the catch?
It is a project of a French non-profit association, funded by grants and philanthropy, whose mission is education and digital autonomy. There is no account to create, no paid tier, no advertising, no tracker, and nothing to sell since no data is collected.
Why is there no cookie banner?
Because there is nothing to consent to. This site uses no tracker. Local storage holds the display preferences you asked for, and a button in the settings panel erases them; the site's own pages that your browser keeps for offline use are cleared from its site data settings. That is a legal state of affairs, not an oversight.
Does it really work offline?
Yes. After a first visit, the site installs itself into your browser and the tools keep working with no network. That is useful on a train, on a plane, or simply when the connection is poor.
Can I install The Workbench like an app?
Yes. In most browsers an install button appears in the address bar or in the menu. On an iPhone, the entry is called “Add to Home Screen” in the share menu.
Why do some tools list fewer formats than other sites?
Because we only announce what the browser can really do, and that is not the same thing from one browser to another. The compatibility matrix on the method page gives the detail, line by line, with its sources.
A tool said no to me. Is that a bug?
Perhaps, and in that case do write to us. But a refusal can also be honest: the format is not handled, or the file is over the memory limit the tool sets for itself so as not to crash your tab. In both cases the tool SAYS what is wrong, it does not just show a dead screen.
Can I reuse these tools elsewhere?
The site's content is under a CC BY 4.0 licence: you may take it, translate it, adapt it, including for another organisation, as long as you credit the association. The Licence page has the details.
Who is behind this site?
The ODERSA association, a French non-profit association registered with the prefecture, run entirely by volunteers. This project belongs to its Digital programme, devoted to digital autonomy.