RTF support question

sic · 02-05-2007, 01:12 PM

hi

I've seen there are quite a number of thread re: getting an RTF onto the SONY reader.
Recently I've been trying but seems like the only way that works is to have an MS Word file (.doc) and let the Connect software invoke MS Word when it's uploading it to the reader.
This (behind the scene) creates an RTF file that is displayed by the reader.
Any other way I tried creating an RTF (OCR program, OpenOffice, Open and re-save in WordPad, Open and re-save in MS Word) did not work, the Connect software would hang.
What's the trick?
Has anyone been able to get an RTf onto the Reader?
I hope SONY will fix this in the upcoming Connect sw upgrade...

NatCh · 02-05-2007, 01:19 PM

I just drag my RTF files directly onto the Reader's entry in the ConnSoft-- I haven't ever tried letting Connect use Word to convert .DOCs to .RTFs.

I don't know of any trick, per se, and I've only had one or two hangs in ... what? ~4 months? I've been handling them mostly through WordPad to keep the file sizes under control, and the only other thing I do consistently is edit them in NotePad and manually add meta-data, but I wouldn't think that would have any effect.

I know that's not much help to you, but I have seen some indications that the update should make some improvement of RTF handling, so there's a bit of hope there.

Maybe somebody else knows a way to make RTFs more agreeable to ConnSoft that I've not noticed?

RWood · 02-05-2007, 01:28 PM

If size is not a problem, the RTFs created by MS Word work fine in the Reader. As NatCh said they can be loaded directly through ConnSoft (a good name for the CONNECT software program by the way) and I've never had a hic-up with the process for files that did not contain pictures. I have used Stingo's Macro for formatting. The only "trick" I use is to add the title and author to the properties box inside Word rather than through Windows Explorer so it shows up in the Reader. Since all of what I deal with is English language, I have not needed to edit code pages or the like in the meta data. If you are using Notepad or other editors you may need to add the title and author via meta data. Since RTF has a strange (and expansive) way of supporting graphics, these are best left out of files for the Reader.

sic · 02-05-2007, 01:30 PM

thanks Natch,

I tried opening and re-saving in WordPad. It did shrink the file, the size went down from 300K to about 110K (something like that) but I couldn't get it onto the reader.

I guess there must be something in the file that drives the parser crazy... clearly a bug in their RTF parser.

I wonder why it worked RTF->word->drag&drop->RTF

NatCh · 02-05-2007, 01:37 PM

That is a good mystery, sic. I wish I had a guess for you, but at 300kB it's a tiny file, and I can't imagine what could be in it to choke ConnSoft -- clearly it's not full of pictures or some such.

sic · 02-05-2007, 04:33 PM

Hmmm
I tried this: open in WordPad, select All, change paragraph to "left justified" with 0 margins.
this fixed it.
Looks like the OCR program set paragraph margins or frames and stuff like that to make it look like it appeared on the original source and that caused problems for the RTF engine when it tried to reflow the text.

NatCh · 02-05-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sic

Looks like the OCR program set paragraph margins or frames and stuff like that to make it look like it appeared on the original source and that caused problems for the RTF engine when it tried to reflow the text.

Heh, I can see where that much detailed formatting info might confuse it, even on a relatively small file.

Glad you worked it out.

yvanleterrible · 02-05-2007, 05:32 PM

I've had only one lockout. It was an Rtf I made from a Pdf. The reason is that I had'nt noticed it was locked.

sic · 02-05-2007, 06:52 PM

what do you mean "locked" ?

yvanleterrible · 02-06-2007, 08:40 AM

Meaning 'read only'. No modification possible. Word translated it on the computer but the thing took about 5 min. instead of the normal 20-30 sec. It felt OK, then when Itried to transfer it to the reader, everything jammed till I pulled it out. That's when I looked up the document properties.

Aprilbeginnings · 02-06-2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

I know that's not much help to you, but I have seen some indications that the update should make some improvement of RTF handling, so there's a bit of hope there.

Speaking of Updates, are you referring to a connect software update for the reader? I have mine check and there is never one around. Has there been one or anyone ever see one happen yet?

NatCh · 02-06-2007, 10:58 AM

Yah, it's supposed to be an update to the ConnSoft and the Reader's firmware both. You haven't seen one because they haven't released one yet -- the one we're looking for will be the very first one.

Aprilbeginnings · 02-06-2007, 11:00 AM

Oh, okay. Guess I will be keeping my eyes open for it.
Thanks.

NatCh · 02-06-2007, 11:09 AM

Well, if you notice it before the rest of us do, remember that we expect you to share!

Aprilbeginnings · 02-06-2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Well, if you notice it before the rest of us do, remember that we expect you to share!

Will do.

02-05-2007, 01:12 PM	#1
sic Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 692 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: SONY reader	RTF support question hi I've seen there are quite a number of thread re: getting an RTF onto the SONY reader. Recently I've been trying but seems like the only way that works is to have an MS Word file (.doc) and let the Connect software invoke MS Word when it's uploading it to the reader. This (behind the scene) creates an RTF file that is displayed by the reader. Any other way I tried creating an RTF (OCR program, OpenOffice, Open and re-save in WordPad, Open and re-save in MS Word) did not work, the Connect software would hang. What's the trick? Has anyone been able to get an RTf onto the Reader? I hope SONY will fix this in the upcoming Connect sw upgrade...

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02-05-2007, 01:19 PM	#2
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I just drag my RTF files directly onto the Reader's entry in the ConnSoft-- I haven't ever tried letting Connect use Word to convert .DOCs to .RTFs. I don't know of any trick, per se, and I've only had one or two hangs in ... what? ~4 months? I've been handling them mostly through WordPad to keep the file sizes under control, and the only other thing I do consistently is edit them in NotePad and manually add meta-data, but I wouldn't think that would have any effect. I know that's not much help to you, but I have seen some indications that the update should make some improvement of RTF handling, so there's a bit of hope there. Maybe somebody else knows a way to make RTFs more agreeable to ConnSoft that I've not noticed?

02-05-2007, 01:28 PM	#3
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	If size is not a problem, the RTFs created by MS Word work fine in the Reader. As NatCh said they can be loaded directly through ConnSoft (a good name for the CONNECT software program by the way) and I've never had a hic-up with the process for files that did not contain pictures. I have used Stingo's Macro for formatting. The only "trick" I use is to add the title and author to the properties box inside Word rather than through Windows Explorer so it shows up in the Reader. Since all of what I deal with is English language, I have not needed to edit code pages or the like in the meta data. If you are using Notepad or other editors you may need to add the title and author via meta data. Since RTF has a strange (and expansive) way of supporting graphics, these are best left out of files for the Reader.

02-05-2007, 01:30 PM	#4
sic Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 692 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: SONY reader	thanks Natch, I tried opening and re-saving in WordPad. It did shrink the file, the size went down from 300K to about 110K (something like that) but I couldn't get it onto the reader. I guess there must be something in the file that drives the parser crazy... clearly a bug in their RTF parser. I wonder why it worked RTF->word->drag&drop->RTF

02-05-2007, 01:37 PM	#5
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	That is a good mystery, sic. I wish I had a guess for you, but at 300kB it's a tiny file, and I can't imagine what could be in it to choke ConnSoft -- clearly it's not full of pictures or some such.

02-05-2007, 04:33 PM	#6
sic Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 692 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: SONY reader	Hmmm I tried this: open in WordPad, select All, change paragraph to "left justified" with 0 margins. this fixed it. Looks like the OCR program set paragraph margins or frames and stuff like that to make it look like it appeared on the original source and that caused problems for the RTF engine when it tried to reflow the text.

02-05-2007, 05:32 PM	#8
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I've had only one lockout. It was an Rtf I made from a Pdf. The reason is that I had'nt noticed it was locked.

02-05-2007, 06:52 PM	#9
sic Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 692 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: SONY reader	what do you mean "locked" ?

02-06-2007, 08:40 AM	#10
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Meaning 'read only'. No modification possible. Word translated it on the computer but the thing took about 5 min. instead of the normal 20-30 sec. It felt OK, then when Itried to transfer it to the reader, everything jammed till I pulled it out. That's when I looked up the document properties.

02-06-2007, 10:58 AM	#12
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Yah, it's supposed to be an update to the ConnSoft and the Reader's firmware both. You haven't seen one because they haven't released one yet -- the one we're looking for will be the very first one.

02-06-2007, 11:00 AM	#13
Aprilbeginnings Guru Posts: 632 Karma: 404 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern CA Device: Sony PRS-500 /prs 650 soon	Oh, okay. Guess I will be keeping my eyes open for it. Thanks.

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02-06-2007, 11:09 AM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Well, if you notice it before the rest of us do, remember that we expect you to share!