Is there a SIMPLE way to convert files for the cybokk3? I looked at mobiperl, but I've got to tell you, it looks something like a monster! Just looking for the simplest method possible.

MobiPocket Creator is probably the easiest way. Explode the LIT using (the GUI version of) ConvertLIT, and then point Creator at the resulting .opf file.

Dear Wallcraft,
Bear with me, What is "Mobipocket Creator"? and how do I get it, and how do I use it? I am new to this type of programming, but ever since I received my CYBOOK3 for Christmas I have'nt been able to put it down!

Look here:
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/default.asp?Language=EN#

Dear Wallcraft,
Bear with me, What is "Mobipocket Creator"? and how do I get it, and how do I use it? I am new to this type of programming, but ever since I received my CYBOOK3 for Christmas I have'nt been able to put it down!

At the developers' section on the Mobipocket website, there are two programs you might want to check out: Mobipocket Creator and Mobigen. Mobipocket Creator has a GUI (lots of buttons and other user-interface controls) while Mobigen is a command-line program. That's right, you have to start up "command" under the Windows "Run" menu... Not for the faint of heart and new user - best to stick with Mobipocket Creator.

On the other hand, there is a nifty program called BookDesigner which can take a .lit file (NOT one that has been laden with DRM) and, through the magic of good programming, directly import the files contained in the .lit right into the main BookDesigner editor. If there's no editing to be done - and there's *ALWAYS* editing to be done! - you can then just save to mobi format. Mobipocket Creator requires you to do the stripping from .lit to .html (using ConvertLit) on your own, whereas, as long as you have ConvertLit installed on your system, BookDesigner will handle it all for you.

BTW, Mobipocket Creator isn't all that great at "editing" the text/doc/html files - you're still probably going to need to do some "editing" before it looks good on your Cybook. That's where BookDesigner is, in my opinion, better - the editor is built in.

Derek

This is DEFINITELY not for the faint of heart. I did download mobipocket creator home edition, now I am going to try the publishers edition. I want to thank everyone for all the assistance, keep it coming! I am learning a lot of new things today!
THANKS

MobiPocket Creator is probably the easiest way. Explode the LIT using (the GUI version of) ConvertLIT, and then point Creator at the resulting .opf file.
Forget the GUI. Just a waste of disk space. Just use ConvertLIT from the command line. It's a heck of a lot easier.

Click here, wait, click there, wait click this, click that, click the other, wait, click again... damn.. wrong option set.. now I have to do it all over again

CLI ... D:, cd \ebook, ConvertLIT command, DONE!

On the other hand, there is a nifty program called BookDesigner which can take a .lit file (NOT one that has been laden with DRM) and, through the magic of good programming, directly import the files contained in the .lit right into the main BookDesigner editor. If there's no editing to be done - and there's *ALWAYS* editing to be done! - you can then just save to mobi format. Mobipocket Creator requires you to do the stripping from .lit to .html (using ConvertLit) on your own, whereas, as long as you have ConvertLit installed on your system, BookDesigner will handle it all for you.


Please DON'T use Book Designer to create Mobi books! I agree, it's a great way to create books (it's what I use for all mine), but it creates Mobi books in a very old format, lacking many features, and with no metadata.

Best thing to do is to edit your book is BD, export it as HTML from BD, and then use Mobi Creator (or Tommy's "html2mobi" PERL tool) to create your Mobi book. I've written a tutorial here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17914) which illustrates exactly how to do it.

How about lit2mobi?

Not come across that one!

It's part of mobiperl. I don't use it myself, because it doesn't work perfectly and I like to change the formatting in most e-books, but it's really easy to use once you've installed mobiperl.

Is there a SIMPLE way to convert files for the cybokk3? I looked at mobiperl, but I've got to tell you, it looks something like a monster! Just looking for the simplest method possible.

I use the absolute, no-think method of creating a prc. I send a file off to Amazon for conversion after making it into a doc, html or pdf and get back an azw...change the suffix to prc and voila!


Trouble is, you have to have an active Kindle account to get this service, which means you have to buy a Kindle.

If you'd like, I'd be glad to send files over for conversion for you and mail them back to you. Send me a PM if interested.

BTW, Cybook does a great job of reading html files---it 'reads' them just like a prc, so no need for conversion if you already have it in html.

Gosh, the ConvertLIT method makes for nicer books than ABC Amber Lit Converter. Thanks for this, Wallcraft.

- Danny

ABC Amber LIT Converter is buggy and the PRC generator is not as nice as using Mobipocket Creator Publisher Edition.

It's part of mobiperl. I don't use it myself, because it doesn't work perfectly and I like to change the formatting in most e-books, but it's really easy to use once you've installed mobiperl.

I try to enhance it when I notice books it is not working on. So if you would lika any specific enhancement just let me know and give me a test file.

I try to enhance it when I notice books it is not working on. So if you would lika any specific enhancement just let me know and give me a test file.
It's not that it doesn't work with the e-books I've tried, but some of the formatting gets lost. Mobigen converts CSS style information into Mobipocket specific tags and lit2mobi does not.

Is there a SIMPLE way to convert files for the cybokk3? I looked at mobiperl, but I've got to tell you, it looks something like a monster! Just looking for the simplest method possible.
Actually, mobiperl is far from being a monster, if you're not afraid of invoking some console commands. Just give it a try, with just one command needed to do the full conversion process it actually is the easiest method out there.

Why can't someone produce a nice little programe todo these conversions?

Just double click on the file and it loads and converts to one's choice of output.

I really don't see how it could be made much easier than using ConvertLIT/Mobi Creator!

Have someone else click the button for you?

Why can't someone produce a nice little programe todo these conversions?

Just double click on the file and it loads and converts to one's choice of output.

I think you're talking about the app called IWIWS. (I Wish It Were So) You can find it on your local mega-mart shelves right next to the canned Unobtanium and boxes of World Peace: Dummies Edition. :D :D :D

Derek

How about one application that does the conversion .lit to .prc in one go and not two stages?

Why is that unreasonable?

Derek, I looked where you said and I could not find the app you spoke about...

Why can't someone produce a nice little programe todo these conversions?

Just double click on the file and it loads and converts to one's choice of output.

Mobiperl has a Lit2Mobi.exe. You can set up a file association (Windows) that would basically convert any lit that you double-clicked on to convert it to mobi.

I assume you can do similar on the Mac, but I am still learning that type of stuff. But, with Automator it seems like it would be doable.

BOb

How easy is it to use mobiperl?

How easy is it to use mobiperl?

I've *YET* to figure out how to get the opf2mobi to work. :( Of course, I'm attempting to run the .exe version (0.38) but still... :( And Mobipocket Creator does such a crappy job of formatting opf/multi-file html ebooks to my taste. :(

maybe if Mobi2Mobi GUI were able to deal with opf2mobi, it would make a difference, but this command-line stuff is for the birds! :(

Derek

How easy is it to use mobiperl?

To convert Lit to Mobi it is very easy... you just type...

lit2mobi MyLitFile.lit

and press enter. You know how to use the command prompt right?

BOb

How about one application that does the conversion .lit to .prc in one go and not two stages?

Why is that unreasonable?



I didn't say that it was "unreasonable". Just that - for me at least - using ConvertLIT and then Mobi Creator is sufficiently easy that I don't have a need, personally, for anything easier.

The other reason I like using Mobi Creator is that it gives you a chance to look at - and if necessary to change - the book's metadata during the conversion process. Most have the author's name as "firstname lastname"; I prefer to change it to "lastname, firstname".

Ok. I've done a few .lit to .prc conversions using the convertlit and then the mobicreator route. It is not too bad. A question. After the process I have a directory with stuff in it like cover art etc. Do I just need to keep and use the .prc file or do I need the other bits and pieces?

Second where can I learn how to do the mobiperl stuff? (Easy version)

All you need to read the book is the ".prc" file. It's a good idea to keep the OEB source, however, in case you want to make any changes subsequently.

Thanks, Harry.

Second where can I learn how to do the mobiperl stuff? (Easy version)

https://dev.mobileread.com/trac/mobiperl

It's not too hard. Mobiperl is a collection of about 6 .exes (Windows Dist). One of them is lit2mobi. Just run it on the command line without parameters and it gives you the command line instructions.

There's a few threads on the forum about it if you get stuck.

BOb

Second where can I learn how to do the mobiperl stuff? (Easy version)
It's really simple: just do lit2mobi whatever.lit and you get the conversion. Or, for a complete directory, do (on windows systems) for %a in ("*.lit") do lit2mobi %a and get all files converted in one go. Grab a coffee while you're at it ;)

Just run it on the command line without parameters and it gives you the command line instructions. One thread that provides more info on how to use the command line is How to make Igor's script work (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18310). Ignore the stuff about Python (since mobiperl is a collection of command line applications, .exe files, that do not need Perl or Python to run under Windows).

Ok. Be nice to me, please.

I am using Vista

Got lit2mobi.exe in a directory C:\users\peter

Put a test .lit file which I called a.lit in the same directory

got the command line (window) open and typed lit2mobi.exe a.lit

Then it said

Unpack file a.lit in dir ctmp
@clit@ is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable programme or batch file.
system <clit a.lit ctmp> failed 256 at MobiPerl/Util.pm line 344

So , helllpppp

What do I do now?

You install clit which is in convertlit. lit2moobi uses the external pogram clit. Make sure that clit is in your path.

Tompe

I have litconvert or convertlit installed.

What does it mean to say "in your path"? How do I do that?

Tompe

I have litconvert or convertlit installed.

What does it mean to say "in your path"? How do I do that?

Just put it in the same folder as lit2mobi.exe is in.

BOb

Tompe

I have litconvert or convertlit installed.

What does it mean to say "in your path"? How do I do that?

The binary name should be clit.exe

I never remember how to set the path in Windows. Goggle gives for example:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm

I never remember how to set the path in Windows.

Go to "Control Panel". Run the "System" application. Click the "Advanced" tab, and then the "Environment Variables" button. Edit the variable called "Path".

The edited path will only take effect in processes created after it's been edited, so you need to open a new command prompt window.

Ok. I have the programme in the same directory, all on the desktop at the moment. Do I use the compiled version or another version?

Ok. I have the programme in the same directory, all on the desktop at the moment. Do I use the compiled version or another version?
The compiled version, it's the only one containing the actual machine-readable instructions. Extension should be .exe

My setup is as follows: Mobiperl is located in C:\mobiperl together with the ConvertLIT executable (clit.exe). I appended "C:\mobiperl" to my PATH-variable in the way described by Harry above. (Since you're on Vista, it might work a little differently, but the basic idea should be the same.) Then, what I do is simply change to the directory on the CLI and execute the commands I gave above.

You can choose whatever directory you like for the programs, just as long as you put in in the path.

Another option would be to associate LIT-files with lit2mobi. That would get rid of the need to put in in the path, but is a little more complicated. Upside is, you would just need to double click on a file to do a conversion.

Go to "Control Panel". Run the "System" application. Click the "Advanced" tab, and then the "Environment Variables" button. Edit the variable called "Path".

You could also drop tools like this into your Windows\system32 folder which is already in your path. That's what I usually do with command line tools that I use alot... for example all of my SysInternals goodies are there.

Having tools in the path allows you to run them from any directory.

You can view what your path is by typing "set" and press enter at a cmd prompt. Look for the PATH= line.

BOb

I don't like putting my own files into the system folder, Bob; I find it "cleaner" to have a separate folder for my own files. It really doesn't take more than a few seconds to add a folder to the path, and once it's done, it's done.

I don't like putting my own files into the system folder, Bob; I find it "cleaner" to have a separate folder for my own files. It really doesn't take more than a few seconds to add a folder to the path, and once it's done, it's done.

Understood. But, the longer the path you have, the longer it takes to go through. You could also create a single folder myutils and add it to the path. Also, make sure your path has the most recently used paths in it first, since they are searched in order, and once the exe is found the search stops.

BOb

All my commonly-used tools I have in a folder called "C:\Tools" which, as you describe, is at the start of my path.

It is me again. Sorry, I just can't get this.

I have put lit2mobi.exe and convertlit.exe, renamed to clit.exe, and a.lit, my test lit file, into a directory on my desktop. I copied the path to the directory as Harry wrote.

I ran the cmd.exe command and the window appeared and I typed lit2mobi.exe a.lit

It appeared to run and asked me to open the .lit file. I clicked on it and it kept asking me. Eventually I gave up. It said the following

Unpack file a.lit in dir ctmp
Read in HTML tree from opf
Opf: Initialize from a file: a.opf
Could not open opf file: a.opf

Any more suggestions?

It is me again. Sorry, I just can't get this.

I have put lit2mobi.exe and convertlit.exe, renamed to clit.exe, and a.lit, my test lit file, into a directory on my desktop. I copied the path to the directory as Harry wrote.

I ran the cmd.exe command and the window appeared and I typed lit2mobi.exe a.lit

It appeared to run and asked me to open the .lit file. I clicked on it and it kept asking me. Eventually I gave up. It said the following

Unpack file a.lit in dir ctmp
Read in HTML tree from opf
Opf: Initialize from a file: a.opf
Could not open opf file: a.opf

Any more suggestions?

Is your lit file DRM protected? Where did you get it?

Also, I don't understand why you needed to rename something to clit.exe? clit.exe is the name of the file as it is shipped.

If you want I can do a webex with you. PM me if you want to do that.

BOb

Amberlit converts it to HTML ok so I don't think it is protected