DRM Check: Find out what DRM that ebook has got.

[pdurrant]

I wrote a python script that identifies ebook type, compression and DRM. It should work for Mobipocket, Topaz, PalmDoc, eReader and ePubs.

I've also done an Applescript wrapper for Mac users. The Applescript will handle multiple files/folders, and now displays the report on all files at the end of the run, with an option to save to a text file.

Bug reports still welcome.

This software (python script and AppleScript) are released with the Unlicence. See http://unlicense.org/

July 2011:
DRM Check.py 1.01 — minor tweak to make batch operation easier.
DRM Check Applescript 1.01 — proper batch operation.

[speedlever]

Thought I'd give it a test. Do I need to d/l both files in the box above? (Win 7 environment).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by speedlever

Thought I'd give it a test. Do I need to d/l both files in the box above? (Win 7 environment).

Under windows, only the python script will be useful. You'll also need to install Python if you don't have it already. I'd suggest installing the free version of ActivePython from here: http://www.activestate.com/activepython/downloads

Whether your Windows machine is 64-bit or 32-bit, you should install the 32-bit version of ActivePython.

Once installed, open up a command window and give the script a go.

[speedlever]

Thanks. I had v2.7/32 installed on my old HD before THE crash in December. I don't know if I reinstalled it since the plug-ins came along soon thereafter.

Looks like I need the 2nd file of the two in the OP.

Edit: back again. I see an OSX file in each of the downloads. Sorry, I'm still not sure what I need.

Edit2: nevermind. Looks like I just need the 2nd file and the drmcheck.py file in it.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by speedlever

Edit: back again. I see an OSX file in each of the downloads. Sorry, I'm still not sure what I need.

Edit2: nevermind. Looks like I just need the 2nd file and the drmcheck.py file in it.

Yes, you just need the drmcheck.py. I've tweaked the .zip file to remove the non-essential MACOSX stuff.

[FizzyWater]

Can it be used to check if a book is DRM free, as well?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Can it be used to check if a book is DRM free, as well?

Yes, it'll say if the file is unencrypted too. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

[speedlever]

Just tried it Paul. No luck. What did I do wrong?

My DOS days are too far back. Did I execute the CMD wrong? I don't know how to interpret the results.

[pdurrant]

You didn't give the full path of the ebook (missed the disk d:), and you need to add quotes to handle the space in the file path.

Try:

drmcheck.py 'd:\Ebooks\Ebook downloads\Borders\Odyssey.epub'

[KevinH]

Hi Paul,

Nicely done! Thanks for this script.

KevinH

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I wrote a python script that identifies ebook type, compression and DRM. It should work for Mobipocket, Topaz, PalmDoc, eReader and ePubs.

I've also done an Applescript wrapper for Mac users. The Applescript will handle multiple files/folders, but only reports one-by-one, so its not really suitable for mass checking.

This is only a quick attempt, and the first version at that. Bug reports welcome.

This software (python script and AppleScript) are released with the Unlicence. See http://unlicense.org/

[speedlever]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

You didn't give the full path of the ebook (missed the disk d, and you need to add quotes to handle the space in the file path.

Try:

drmcheck.py 'd:\Ebooks\Ebook downloads\Borders\Odyssey.epub'

Thanks. That did the trick. Boy, am I lazy or what? I sure miss the GUI! I wouldn't want to check many ebooks that way.

[speedlever]

And here's an interesting result:

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by speedlever

And here's an interesting result:

That is interesting. The epub is zipped incorrectly, or possibly the mimetype file in the epub is missing entirely. That it comes up as "unencrypted" surprises me, as that implies that the code couldn't find the rights.xml or the encryption.xml files.

Luckily the drm removal plugin for Calibre, or the stand-alone Windows version of DeDRM will fix up the epub structure before removing any DRM.

But perhaps I ought to try making the detection code a bit more robust. I can probably steal some code from the epubfix script that the DeDRM code uses.

Thanks for the feedback.

[EDIT: I've decided to leave the zipfix/epubfix code out of this, so I can still use unlicense. If you're doing batch operations, it's probably best to run zipfix before running drmcheck.]

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Nice program! Thanks!

Would you consider changing all the print statements except the last to use:
sys.stderr.write()
instead of print?

This would be usefull when the output from multiple calls is redirected to a file as in the following bash script:

for name in *
do
    echo $name >> results.txt
    drmcheck.py $name >> results.txt
done

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Would you consider changing all the print statements except the last to use:
sys.stderr.write()
instead of print?

This would be usefull when the output from multiple calls is redirected to a file.

I see what you mean. A good point, but I'm not happy about writing non-errors to the error stream, just to prevent them going to stdout.

I think it's probably best to just move the announcement to the Usage section. I'll do that and upload.