An output engine operable to convert a file from a first format to a second format. The output engine includes a decomposer that is called by a calling application. The decomposer receives an input file and a desired file format from the calling application. The decomposer decomposes the input file into a component architecture, making the properties of objects within the input file available to other components in the output engine. The output engine also includes a writer that calls the decomposer multiple times to retrieve the component architecture of the file and generate a new version of the file in the second format. The invention also provides a method of delivering a desired file format and an input file to a decomposer. The input file is decomposed into a component architecture in the decomposer and a new version of the input file in the second format is generated by calling the decomposer multiple times from a writer.