Hi all,

Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker.

There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to *all* of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me.

I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest (http://www.performance-quest.com/) is giving it a go.

So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea?

But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?

I don't know of any such service. I know that ebook stores that support multiple ebook formats offer you the conversion process; but then you have to publish your book with them.

Sounds like an intriguing idea!

Here's something along those lines. I haven't tried it, but it claims to convert from content at a URL to palm doc format... http://online.colum.edu/palmconvert/
But the content looks like it has to be online to be converted (as opposed to using an online tool to convert local content on your pc).

It seems to be using the code from the old pilot.screwdriver.net that stopped working some time ago.

Here (http://www.poormojo.org/dod.html) is another one, but again only Palm .doc

Thanks everyone. Sounds like there is not a general-purpose online conversion service and probably little demand for it either.

Anyone know what happened with ebook express? They are still there at:

http://www.ebookexpress.com

But now it's just a bookstore. I seem to recall they used to have an online convert option. You would upload your text file and optionally an image to use as the cover and it would create a MS Reader .lit file for you to download. I can't seem to find it now.

There is a URL according to google of:

http://lit.ebookexpress.com/

But it doesn't work. I remember using it quite a bit before I got iSiloX.

Looks like you can do conversion to .lit with the free Content Software Development Kit (http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/downloads/sdk.asp) from MS.

Also check out http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/default.asp for more MS info and tools on MS Reader.

Lets do what you dream!


Hi all,

Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker.

There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to *all* of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me.

I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest (http://www.performance-quest.com/) is giving it a go.

So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea?

But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?

I don't know if this is quite what you're looking for, but Manybooks already has loads of books in several formats. They will also accept text file versions of books that they will convert and make available for free.

They're located at http://manybooks.net/

Can anyone explain to me why I can't convert a book I downloaded that has a .lit.zip ending on it? I tried to unzip it with Winzip-nothing happened and so I can't convert the .lit to a text file. I never came across that before. TIA. I'm at jpbrunnert@yahoo.com

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker.

There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to *all* of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me.

I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest (http://www.performance-quest.com/) is giving it a go.

So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea?

But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?
Very recently i have came across one website http://www.itglobalsolution.com/mobipocket/ebook-conversion-services.htm. Actually I was looking to convert my pdf document to mobipocket and MS reader but due to large number of images and other formatting thing i was not able to convert them properly, so i took the service of the above company and they converted my pdf book to ebook book in very good looking ebook in very reasonable price. I definitely would like to recommend you to take their service for your ebook conversion.

Hi,
I know such company, their website address is http://www.itglobalsolution.com/mobipocket/ebook-conversion-services.htm. I took their service for ebook conversion to convert my pdf format book to mobipocket and MS reader. Actually my pdf book was little complicated with many images and other formatting thing due to which i was not able to convert my pdf book to ebook in proper way, so i took the help of above company and they converted my pdf book to good looking ebook in very reasonable price with very good layout and formatting. I really would like to recommend anybody to take service of this company.

if someone sent then an ebook with DRM, could they convert it and send back an ebook without DRM?

That would be illegal. It's arguably legal to do your own format conversion of a book that you've bought; it's definitely NOT legal to get someone else to do it for you!

So then what good is this service? If the books are DRMless then I can do my own conversion.

I don't know about good, but the point is that a lot of folks would pay money faster than figuring it out themselves (for any number of perfectly good reasons, and any larger number of not so good ones), especially if they have lots of things to convert. :shrug:

Go and look at the site and you'll see :).

It's basically a service offered to authors, publishers, and companies who wish to turn existing material into nicely formatted eBooks. They also scan paper books - out of copyright stuff and things for which the customer holds the copyright.