automatic conversion on web server?

crankypuss · 03-04-2011, 02:40 PM

On a web server that has numerous large documents in html form, I'd like to offer the user the option of downloading an appropriate ebook format.

Is this sort of thing allowed under Calibre's licensing?

It's actually a matter of doing the automated conversions on two systems, a Windows system running an apache server for development, and a Linux system running apache for production. I don't need to mess with any DRM or other copy protection.

When it comes to installing things, I'm a total spaz. Would it be better just to stick with letting the user download the html source in a zip file and let him do whatever conversion he wants? Is this something lots of folks are doing, so how to do conversions on a web server is already commonly known?

Thanks for any direction you care to offer.

itimpi · 03-04-2011, 02:45 PM

I do not think there is anything that prohibits you from doing it on a web server. In fact I am sure there are others who have done it. It is not a built-in facility of the calibre web server, so offering this facility involves doing your own interfacing to the calibre command level tools.

However a word of caution - a conversion can take a long time. Minutes is not unusual, and hours have been known. This might mean that the mode of working you are envisaging could have problems.

kovidgoyal · 03-04-2011, 02:46 PM

calibre's licensing imposes no restrictions on how you use the product of its conversions. As long as you call calibre as a separate program and dont integrate it directly into your code, you are fine. If you do integrate it, then you have to make your code open source too.

crankypuss · 03-05-2011, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itimpi

However a word of caution - a conversion can take a long time. Minutes is not unusual, and hours have been known.

Pardon my saying so, but that's just wrong; if conversions are taking that long then Calibre seems to have some performance issues that need resolving.

I think I'll stick with providing the user with an opportunity to download all the html source in a zip file. I'm parsing it, expanding custom tags, and lots of other things in about a second, then storing the completed file for download when requested. Minutes? No, thank you.

Archon · 03-05-2011, 05:37 PM

I don't think it is a Calibre issue. It is a computer "horsepower" issue.
I have never had a conversion take more than a few minutes (less than 10).

If your server is doing the conversions before it sends the file, it better have some "cajones" if you know what I mean.

Otherwise, just do the conversion ahead of time and offer several formats. Don't try to do them "on the fly".

Happy happy, joy joy.

theducks · 03-05-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankypuss

Pardon my saying so, but that's just wrong; if conversions are taking that long then Calibre seems to have some performance issues that need resolving.

I think I'll stick with providing the user with an opportunity to download all the html source in a zip file. I'm parsing it, expanding custom tags, and lots of other things in about a second, then storing the completed file for download when requested. Minutes? No, thank you.

Someone is feeding Calibre a complex (crappy coding) book.

A cleanly coded HUGE book, converts in minutes on a P4.

MasterCATZ · 04-15-2012, 03:13 AM

is their their going to be any calibre-server webgui auto convert option ?

or is the only way to convert via the PC Calibre GUI ?

03-04-2011, 02:40 PM	#1
crankypuss Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	automatic conversion on web server? On a web server that has numerous large documents in html form, I'd like to offer the user the option of downloading an appropriate ebook format. Is this sort of thing allowed under Calibre's licensing? It's actually a matter of doing the automated conversions on two systems, a Windows system running an apache server for development, and a Linux system running apache for production. I don't need to mess with any DRM or other copy protection. When it comes to installing things, I'm a total spaz. Would it be better just to stick with letting the user download the html source in a zip file and let him do whatever conversion he wants? Is this something lots of folks are doing, so how to do conversions on a web server is already commonly known? Thanks for any direction you care to offer.

03-04-2011, 02:46 PM	#3
kovidgoyal Creator of calibre Posts: 22,489 Karma: 2944574 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre's licensing imposes no restrictions on how you use the product of its conversions. As long as you call calibre as a separate program and dont integrate it directly into your code, you are fine. If you do integrate it, then you have to make your code open source too. __________________ Get calibre Notice to all: I can not provide assistance with DRM removal, for legal reasons, so please do not contact me about it.

03-05-2011, 05:37 PM	#5
Archon Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 5176 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Mac OSX, iPad, iPod, & Nook	I don't think it is a Calibre issue. It is a computer "horsepower" issue. I have never had a conversion take more than a few minutes (less than 10). If your server is doing the conversions before it sends the file, it better have some "cajones" if you know what I mean. Otherwise, just do the conversion ahead of time and offer several formats. Don't try to do them "on the fly". Happy happy, joy joy. __________________ *Archon*

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03-04-2011, 02:45 PM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 3,589 Karma: 549131 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (stanza/iBooks/QuickReader)	I do not think there is anything that prohibits you from doing it on a web server. In fact I am sure there are others who have done it. It is not a built-in facility of the calibre web server, so offering this facility involves doing your own interfacing to the calibre command level tools. However a word of caution - a conversion can take a long time. Minutes is not unusual, and hours have been known. This might mean that the mode of working you are envisaging could have problems.

04-15-2012, 03:13 AM	#7
MasterCATZ Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: kindle 3	is their their going to be any calibre-server webgui auto convert option ? or is the only way to convert via the PC Calibre GUI ?


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