New Conversion Process

Gideon · 02-19-2009, 04:17 PM

So, since I moved to the wonderful world of ebooks a year or so ago, I've spent a LOT of time converting files to make them look decent on whatever reader I'm using.

For a while this was the Sony 505. And sleek device that it was, there was little good content for me, and I spent a LOT of time converting for it. TONS.

And then I got a Kindle. And my time converting files went WAY down. Partially because the newspapers, magazines and books I wanted were already available at a reasonable cost. And partly because of MobiPocket Creator, and partly because of the email conversion service by Amazon.

ANYWAY... this still wasn't great. I use a Mac so using MobiPocket was a pain in the butt (as I had to open up Windows which is a frustrating process.) And even after converting a file there wasn't much I could do to it afterwards if the process didn't come out right. I could mess with the source a bit, but this was very time consuming.

But now... FINALLY... Calibre works on my Mac. Before this last week it crashed everytime I tried to use it. But now it works beautifully. I don't convert much inside of Calibre (except .lit files) but it sorts them out wonderfuly. But I did find a great use for it today.

After running something, say a PDF, through MobiPocket Creator and putting the new .mobi file into Calibre I convert it to .mobi AGAIN. This time I use the "remove extra lines between paragraphs" or something like that, that also creates an indent.

It converts them again, and I'm left with a MUCH more readable file.

So... in SUMMARY:

Convert file to .mobi using MobiPocket Creator (I use it as I get better results than going straight to Calibre and TOC's are very easy to make)
Put file in Calibre
Convert using Calibre
Use setting "Remove Spacing Between Paragraphs" under "Look and Feel"
Presto!

Elsi · 02-19-2009, 07:59 PM

Gideon -- this looks very helpful. I've created my first MobiPocket book with Calibre and it looks pretty good in the MobiPocket Reader. I need to tether my Kindle to the computer and download it so I can see how it looks on the device itself.

Now I need to figure out how to use the other features of Calibre. I go all stupid when faced with a regular expression.

pilotbob · 02-20-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

I go all stupid when faced with a regular expression.

Well, after all regex's are cartoon characters swearing.

BOb

02-19-2009, 04:17 PM	#1
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	New Conversion Process So, since I moved to the wonderful world of ebooks a year or so ago, I've spent a LOT of time converting files to make them look decent on whatever reader I'm using. For a while this was the Sony 505. And sleek device that it was, there was little good content for me, and I spent a LOT of time converting for it. TONS. And then I got a Kindle. And my time converting files went WAY down. Partially because the newspapers, magazines and books I wanted were already available at a reasonable cost. And partly because of MobiPocket Creator, and partly because of the email conversion service by Amazon. ANYWAY... this still wasn't great. I use a Mac so using MobiPocket was a pain in the butt (as I had to open up Windows which is a frustrating process.) And even after converting a file there wasn't much I could do to it afterwards if the process didn't come out right. I could mess with the source a bit, but this was very time consuming. But now... FINALLY... Calibre works on my Mac. Before this last week it crashed everytime I tried to use it. But now it works beautifully. I don't convert much inside of Calibre (except .lit files) but it sorts them out wonderfuly. But I did find a great use for it today. After running something, say a PDF, through MobiPocket Creator and putting the new .mobi file into Calibre I convert it to .mobi AGAIN. This time I use the "remove extra lines between paragraphs" or something like that, that also creates an indent. It converts them again, and I'm left with a MUCH more readable file. So... in SUMMARY: Convert file to .mobi using MobiPocket Creator (I use it as I get better results than going straight to Calibre and TOC's are very easy to make) Put file in Calibre Convert using Calibre Use setting "Remove Spacing Between Paragraphs" under "Look and Feel" Presto! __________________ Gideon --------------- About Me -> GideonAddington.com My Blog -> Anglimergence My Twitter -> @Gideony My Facebook -> facebook.com/gideon.addington

02-19-2009, 07:59 PM	#2
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,380 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	Gideon -- this looks very helpful. I've created my first MobiPocket book with Calibre and it looks pretty good in the MobiPocket Reader. I need to tether my Kindle to the computer and download it so I can see how it looks on the device itself. Now I need to figure out how to use the other features of Calibre. I go all stupid when faced with a regular expression. __________________ 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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