Kindle and TXT files.

bakerjw · 07-07-2008, 08:39 AM

I am seriously close to picking up a Kindle over the Sony 505. Due mainly to I hate Sony software and it sounds as if the Kindle has more to offer and books/magazines are easy to purchase.

I have a lot of books in LIT or TXT formats that I will want to being into the Kindle to read. I spend evening reading to my visually impaired wife and I will read a lot of stuff that I've read before. Can the Kindle handle text files with proportional fonts? I hate reading monospace fonts.

Thanks for any comments.
John

Gideon · 07-07-2008, 08:46 AM

You can certainly convert them very easily (well, the lit files are a bit trickier but just as tricky as they are to put on the Sony Reader.) I'm not sure about the fonts.

But you're right regarding the Sony situation... the software is TERRIBLE (and Windows only) and the prices and selection at the Kindle store are far superior, with magazines and newspapers as well.

Elsi · 07-07-2008, 10:14 AM

I put plain TXT files onto the Kindle -- they're fine. I copy/paste info about series so I know the reading order. Or info about an author from Wikipedia. Or my "books I want to buy" list.

Kindle displays the TXT files in the default font -- which is proportional. I think that you need to convert RTF or DOC files (which would have font and formatting information in them). Amazon's free conversion is probably sufficient.

wallcraft · 07-07-2008, 10:31 AM

The Kindle essentially only has one font, see posts #4 and #5 of Font Sizes. It is possible to turn off full justification if you want, but there are no other test display options. Your LIT ebooks can easily be converted to MOBI. I have never tried .txt on the Kindle, but these can be converted to MOBI as well if necessary (e.g. to improve formatting).

daffy4u · 07-07-2008, 10:53 AM

These are Kindle's native file formats that require no conversion:

• Kindle (.AZW)
• Text (.TXT)
• Unprotected Mobipocket (.MOBI, .PRC)
• Audible (.AA)
• MP3 (.MP3)

If you get a moment, take a browse through the Kindle User Guide to familiarize yourself with the Kindle's features (while you're waiting for it to arrive

). It's a quick read.

Ervserver · 07-07-2008, 10:58 AM

Text works great on our Kindle

DaleDe · 07-08-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

These are Kindle's native file formats that require no conversion:

• Kindle (.AZW)
• Text (.TXT)
• Unprotected Mobipocket (.MOBI, .PRC)
• Audible (.AA)
• MP3 (.MP3)

If you get a moment, take a browse through the Kindle User Guide to familiarize yourself with the Kindle's features (while you're waiting for it to arrive

). It's a quick read.

and if you change the extension on html documents to .TXT they can also be read.

Dale

Elsi · 07-08-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

and if you change the extension on html documents to .TXT they can also be read.

I see an experiment in my very near future. After changing the extension to .TXT, will I read the HTML document, tags and all, or will the Kindle actually render the tags?

Donnageddon · 07-08-2008, 06:52 PM

I tried the change the html extention to txt on a couple of the stories on FLURB and it worked quite well.

Obviously this is great for a quick and dirty upload to the Kindle (no pictures) but the formatting was surprisingly good.

carld · 07-08-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

I see an experiment in my very near future. After changing the extension to .TXT, will I read the HTML document, tags and all, or will the Kindle actually render the tags?

The .txt file will appear on your home page and will be readable like any other document. I've had decent luck with relatively simple pages, where most things rendered correctly. The more complex a page gets, the more likely it is to display badly. Most of the time I'll just copy and paste what I want to read into Notepad and email the file to my Kindle. This works dependably.

07-07-2008, 08:39 AM	#1
bakerjw Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 115 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: none	Kindle and TXT files. I am seriously close to picking up a Kindle over the Sony 505. Due mainly to I hate Sony software and it sounds as if the Kindle has more to offer and books/magazines are easy to purchase. I have a lot of books in LIT or TXT formats that I will want to being into the Kindle to read. I spend evening reading to my visually impaired wife and I will read a lot of stuff that I've read before. Can the Kindle handle text files with proportional fonts? I hate reading monospace fonts. Thanks for any comments. John

07-07-2008, 08:46 AM	#2
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	You can certainly convert them very easily (well, the lit files are a bit trickier but just as tricky as they are to put on the Sony Reader.) I'm not sure about the fonts. But you're right regarding the Sony situation... the software is TERRIBLE (and Windows only) and the prices and selection at the Kindle store are far superior, with magazines and newspapers as well. __________________ Gideon --------------- About Me -> GideonAddington.com My Blog -> Anglimergence My Twitter -> @Gideony My Facebook -> facebook.com/gideon.addington

07-07-2008, 10:14 AM	#3
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,374 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	I put plain TXT files onto the Kindle -- they're fine. I copy/paste info about series so I know the reading order. Or info about an author from Wikipedia. Or my "books I want to buy" list. Kindle displays the TXT files in the default font -- which is proportional. I think that you need to convert RTF or DOC files (which would have font and formatting information in them). Amazon's free conversion is probably sufficient. __________________ Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all. -- Henry David Thoreau Currently reading: *Kiln People* by David Brin (MM Paperback) ... *A Play of Isaac* by Margaret Frazer (Kindle) ... *Birthright* by Nora Roberts (Audio CD) Books read in 2009: 117

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07-07-2008, 10:31 AM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,979 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3 and Fire	The Kindle essentially only has one font, see posts #4 and #5 of Font Sizes. It is possible to turn off full justification if you want, but there are no other test display options. Your LIT ebooks can easily be converted to MOBI. I have never tried .txt on the Kindle, but these can be converted to MOBI as well if necessary (e.g. to improve formatting).

07-07-2008, 10:53 AM	#5
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,522 Karma: 1609085 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: K1, KTSO, KFHD, K3, KPW, KDXG, HP Touchpadx2	These are Kindle's native file formats that require no conversion: • Kindle (.AZW) • Text (.TXT) • Unprotected Mobipocket (.MOBI, .PRC) • Audible (.AA) • MP3 (.MP3) If you get a moment, take a browse through the Kindle User Guide to familiarize yourself with the Kindle's features (while you're waiting for it to arrive ). It's a quick read.

07-07-2008, 10:58 AM	#6
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,622 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Sony 505 & HP Touchpad	Text works great on our Kindle

07-08-2008, 06:52 PM	#9
Donnageddon Now you lishen here... Posts: 2,499 Karma: 479498 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony PRS-650. Kobo Touch, Kindle Fire	I tried the change the html extention to txt on a couple of the stories on FLURB and it worked quite well. Obviously this is great for a quick and dirty upload to the Kindle (no pictures) but the formatting was surprisingly good.


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