Easiest way to start creating .mobi from HTML using C#?

jonj · 03-30-2010, 12:02 AM

My language of choice is C#. I've gotten a feel for the Huffman algorithms that mobi seems to be based on. However, being new to algorithms and compression coding I'm seeking some guidance. What would be the best way to begin creating a C# library for .mobi conversion? (HTML to .mobi)... Is there anything out there like this already short of calling a command line (which I don't want to do)?

HarryT · 03-31-2010, 04:05 AM

I honestly have to ask what the point in reinventing the wheel is. The official Mobi tools, Mobipocket Creator, and its command-line equivalent, "mobigen", are the "standard" way of doing it. I'm not denigrating your desire to write a useful program in C#, but this doesn't really sound like a very productive way to use your time.

=X= · 03-31-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonj

My language of choice is C#. I've gotten a feel for the Huffman algorithms that mobi seems to be based on. However, being new to algorithms and compression coding I'm seeking some guidance. What would be the best way to begin creating a C# library for .mobi conversion? (HTML to .mobi)... Is there anything out there like this already short of calling a command line (which I don't want to do)?

Yes there are three open source tools that generate MOBI files. All of the tools start from HTML then convert to MOBi. Partly because mobi is nothing more than a Palm Database file with HTML stored in the database.

The tools are, Calibre, eBookTools, and mobiperl. Calibre is written in Python, and the other two are written in perl. Calibre has a GUI, but in the end they are nothing more than comand line tools.

Look in the MobiRead Wiki page for more information on the MOBI format.

What you are proposing to do is not a light and easy task. All of the tools listed today do an okay job creating MOBI. Only calibre does a good job, (mobigen/Mobi Creator are also great) but that is only because calibre has spent years perfecting this

=X=

slcoleg · 08-01-2011, 11:23 PM

I think there are a couple of good reasons to port existing app to C# or Java:
1. Java and C# are more popular languages, so we will have a better support for new engine than we have now.
2. 99% of existing apps have something missing or very generic. Mostly you have yo use 2 or more app to do simple stuff.
3. Performance and extensibilty are another reasons.
4. name it yourself, but it will be a huge list.

Thanks for advise.

O/

WT Sharpe · 08-01-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I honestly have to ask what the point in reinventing the wheel is. The official Mobi tools, Mobipocket Creator, and its command-line equivalent, "mobigen", are the "standard" way of doing it. I'm not denigrating your desire to write a useful program in C#, but this doesn't really sound like a very productive way to use your time.

Harry, I just went to mobipocket.com and when I clicked on the Mobipocket Creator 4.2 download button, the following message poped up:

Quote:

System Requirements:
Microsoft Windows 2000/XP

Do you know if the software is compatible with newer versions of Windows?

HarryT · 08-02-2011, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Harry, I just went to mobipocket.com and when I clicked on the Mobipocket Creator 4.2 download button, the following message poped up

o you know if the software is compatible with newer versions of Windows?

Yes, Mobi Creator works fine with both 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

WT Sharpe · 08-02-2011, 10:50 AM

Thanks, Harry. (Off to download.)

Raptyr · 08-21-2011, 02:23 PM

Having done precisely what JonJ proposed to do (Its a developer thing, we have to write our own at least once :-P) I now have a C# program that reads .MOBI, .AZW and .PRC files (lets face it, they're all the same thing) but I can only create uncompressed files. My compressed files (using the LZ77 algorithm) look fine, and my reader can read them fine, but they crash the Kindle for PC app. Which forum should I use to discuss this, because I'd really like to put this little app to bed.

HarryT · 08-22-2011, 11:24 AM

This forum is the correct place.

Limey · 12-10-2011, 11:30 AM

*EDITED* - nevermind, I think Caliber will suit my needs!

03-30-2010, 12:02 AM	#1
jonj Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kindle	Easiest way to start creating .mobi from HTML using C#? My language of choice is C#. I've gotten a feel for the Huffman algorithms that mobi seems to be based on. However, being new to algorithms and compression coding I'm seeking some guidance. What would be the best way to begin creating a C# library for .mobi conversion? (HTML to .mobi)... Is there anything out there like this already short of calling a command line (which I don't want to do)?

12-10-2011, 11:30 AM	#10
Limey Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 2831 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle	EDITED - nevermind, I think Caliber will suit my needs! Last edited by Limey; 12-10-2011 at 11:44 AM.

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03-31-2010, 04:05 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I honestly have to ask what the point in reinventing the wheel is. The official Mobi tools, Mobipocket Creator, and its command-line equivalent, "mobigen", are the "standard" way of doing it. I'm not denigrating your desire to write a useful program in C#, but this doesn't really sound like a very productive way to use your time.

08-01-2011, 11:23 PM	#4
slcoleg Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle	I think there are a couple of good reasons to port existing app to C# or Java: 1. Java and C# are more popular languages, so we will have a better support for new engine than we have now. 2. 99% of existing apps have something missing or very generic. Mostly you have yo use 2 or more app to do simple stuff. 3. Performance and extensibilty are another reasons. 4. name it yourself, but it will be a huge list. Thanks for advise. O/

08-02-2011, 10:50 AM	#7
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,073 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Thanks, Harry. (Off to download.)

08-21-2011, 02:23 PM	#8
Raptyr Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: Kindle	Having done precisely what JonJ proposed to do (Its a developer thing, we have to write our own at least once :-P) I now have a C# program that reads .MOBI, .AZW and .PRC files (lets face it, they're all the same thing) but I can only create uncompressed files. My compressed files (using the LZ77 algorithm) look fine, and my reader can read them fine, but they crash the Kindle for PC app. Which forum should I use to discuss this, because I'd really like to put this little app to bed.

08-22-2011, 11:24 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	This forum is the correct place.

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