Content Conversion

Vaporware · 01-19-2007, 04:22 PM

Ok I know there are a ton of converters out there. I also know that most of them are good at only one thing and there are trade-offs in using one tool over another.

What is the best way to go from point A (rtf, txt, html, lit, pdf)to point B (BBeB or LRF) right now? I know tools will refine themselves over the next few months, but I don't want to have to learn 30 tools just to put a document on the reader.

Currently I'm just formatting a word document (page breaks, font issues, justification), saving it as an RTF then uploading it to the reader through the connect software.

so .doc->.rtf->connect is my current path.

.pdf can go
.pdf -> PDFrasterfarian -> BBeB?
.pdf -> JAP ->BBeB?

But I haven't really been able to figure those out yet (I'm working on it). I heard that book designer is some sort of awesome formatting tool, but I dont' even know where to start looking that way.

Another thing I wanted to ask. I've downloaded some gutenburg books, but they are formatted Terribly for the reader. How do I reflow books to fix things like fixed justification (where there is a return at the end of each line to set a fixed length)?

Overall, I guess I'm just asking for help on how to get started. I would like to eventually do things like add proper footnotes and linked tables of contents but I'd be happy with just being able to set proper margins and fonts for now.

RWood · 01-19-2007, 05:17 PM

The first place to start is the MobileRead Wiki Conversion Page

It lists the current converters and links to more information about them.

For me the best format for my Sony Reader (at the moment) is RTF. I use Stingo's MS Word macro for formatting the text. It removes the hard returns at the end of each text line and keeps the paragraph structure. It also removes excessive blank lines, extra blank spaces within the document, standardizes type, and sets the font size. You can also pick either left justified or fully justified paragraphs. I have now formatted over 100 books with it -- a lot of them from Gutenburg.

Vaporware · 01-22-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

The first place to start is the MobileRead Wiki Conversion Page

It lists the current converters and links to more information about them.

For me the best format for my Sony Reader (at the moment) is RTF. I use Stingo's MS Word macro for formatting the text. It removes the hard returns at the end of each text line and keeps the paragraph structure. It also removes excessive blank lines, extra blank spaces within the document, standardizes type, and sets the font size. You can also pick either left justified or fully justified paragraphs. I have now formatted over 100 books with it -- a lot of them from Gutenburg.

Thanks a lot, I'll try this when I get home!

HarryT · 01-20-2007, 11:49 AM

I'd offer my complete, 110% agreement, with the above. Stingo's macro does a beautiful job of formatting PG books for the Reader. Unless you need pictures or a TOC, RTF is definitely the easiest format to use for the Reader.

RWood · 01-22-2007, 03:21 PM

When you do, please post back your feedback. All of the developers are looking for ways to improve their tools and all feedback is helpful.

Azayzel · 01-22-2007, 06:49 PM

My suggestion for Word docs is to convert to LIT (M$ probably has some type of free utility for this, since it's their baby) and then use the lit2lrf utility. I have yet to try the word macro (probably should, since the Reader supports rtf natively, or so they say). You're right about the tons of utilities, but I have yet to find a working copy of BBeBook to try myself (kinda gave up, as the dev doesn't seem to respond to pleas for help and of the two copies I found one isn't compiled and causes problems when compiled, while the second is compiled it doesn't work). <- Wow, was that a single sentence? Eek!

Please keep us posted as what works best for you to save all the re-work in finding what works best for what. Thanks!

[Edit] Sorry about the tone of the original post, aftering reading it over again I think that it comes off as a little rude. This is not my intention, I've just been a little frustrated with finding something that I keep hearing is a great tool. BTW No one said anything to me, just policing my own actions.

kovidgoyal · 01-22-2007, 07:08 PM

There is a bundled copy of bbebook with libprs500. Accessed via the makelrf command. I haven't had the time to do much testing, but you're welcome to try and report bugs. I will help you atleast get it running.

RWood · 01-22-2007, 10:19 PM

Good thought Azayzel, I checked the MS site and found this link for an add-in to MS Word that produces LIT files.

I still favor the straightest route from source to final file -- if I get it into MS Word then I save it as RTF. (I have started to experiment with OpenOffice so perhaps I will find another route in the near future.)

Vaporware · 01-23-2007, 12:49 AM

I have tried both the script and lit2LRF method and the lit2LRF ended up looking a lot better, but both failed to adequately translate the formatting of my document.

I have posted my test documents in this post

01-19-2007, 04:22 PM	#1
Vaporware Not here yet. Posts: 49 Karma: 11 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: ETI-2 Ebook Reader	Content Conversion Ok I know there are a ton of converters out there. I also know that most of them are good at only one thing and there are trade-offs in using one tool over another. What is the best way to go from point A (rtf, txt, html, lit, pdf)to point B (BBeB or LRF) right now? I know tools will refine themselves over the next few months, but I don't want to have to learn 30 tools just to put a document on the reader. Currently I'm just formatting a word document (page breaks, font issues, justification), saving it as an RTF then uploading it to the reader through the connect software. so .doc->.rtf->connect is my current path. .pdf can go .pdf -> PDFrasterfarian -> BBeB? .pdf -> JAP ->BBeB? But I haven't really been able to figure those out yet (I'm working on it). I heard that book designer is some sort of awesome formatting tool, but I dont' even know where to start looking that way. Another thing I wanted to ask. I've downloaded some gutenburg books, but they are formatted Terribly for the reader. How do I reflow books to fix things like fixed justification (where there is a return at the end of each line to set a fixed length)? Overall, I guess I'm just asking for help on how to get started. I would like to eventually do things like add proper footnotes and linked tables of contents but I'd be happy with just being able to set proper margins and fonts for now.

01-20-2007, 11:49 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 22,361 Karma: 39165 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Gen3, Opus, iRex DR1000S, iPod Touch, HTC Touch, PRS-600, Kindle 2	I'd offer my complete, 110% agreement, with the above. Stingo's macro does a beautiful job of formatting PG books for the Reader. Unless you need pictures or a TOC, RTF is definitely the easiest format to use for the Reader. __________________ Harry

01-22-2007, 06:49 PM	#6
Azayzel Cache Ninja! Posts: 644 Karma: 2298 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: PRS-500, HTC Shift, iPod Touch, iPaq 4150, TC1100, Panasonic WordsGear	My suggestion for Word docs is to convert to LIT (M$ probably has some type of free utility for this, since it's their baby) and then use the lit2lrf utility. I have yet to try the word macro (probably should, since the Reader supports rtf natively, or so they say). You're right about the tons of utilities, but I have yet to find a working copy of BBeBook to try myself (kinda gave up, as the dev doesn't seem to respond to pleas for help and of the two copies I found one isn't compiled and causes problems when compiled, while the second is compiled it doesn't work). <- Wow, was that a single sentence? Eek! Please keep us posted as what works best for you to save all the re-work in finding what works best for what. Thanks! [Edit] Sorry about the tone of the original post, aftering reading it over again I think that it comes off as a little rude. This is not my intention, I've just been a little frustrated with finding something that I keep hearing is a great tool. BTW No one said anything to me, just policing my own actions. Last edited by Azayzel; 01-22-2007 at 07:18 PM.

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01-19-2007, 05:17 PM	#2
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,194 Karma: 54344 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	The first place to start is the MobileRead Wiki Conversion Page It lists the current converters and links to more information about them. For me the best format for my Sony Reader (at the moment) is RTF. I use Stingo's MS Word macro for formatting the text. It removes the hard returns at the end of each text line and keeps the paragraph structure. It also removes excessive blank lines, extra blank spaces within the document, standardizes type, and sets the font size. You can also pick either left justified or fully justified paragraphs. I have now formatted over 100 books with it -- a lot of them from Gutenburg.

01-22-2007, 03:21 PM	#5
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,194 Karma: 54344 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	When you do, please post back your feedback. All of the developers are looking for ways to improve their tools and all feedback is helpful.

01-22-2007, 07:08 PM	#7
kovidgoyal Creator of calibre, Ph.D. Posts: 8,951 Karma: 37478 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: PRS-500/505/700, K2, BeBook	There is a bundled copy of bbebook with libprs500. Accessed via the makelrf command. I haven't had the time to do much testing, but you're welcome to try and report bugs. I will help you atleast get it running.

01-22-2007, 10:19 PM	#8
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,194 Karma: 54344 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Good thought Azayzel, I checked the MS site and found this link for an add-in to MS Word that produces LIT files. I still favor the straightest route from source to final file -- if I get it into MS Word then I save it as RTF. (I have started to experiment with OpenOffice so perhaps I will find another route in the near future.)

01-23-2007, 12:49 AM	#9
Vaporware Not here yet. Posts: 49 Karma: 11 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: ETI-2 Ebook Reader	I have tried both the script and lit2LRF method and the lit2LRF ended up looking a lot better, but both failed to adequately translate the formatting of my document. I have posted my test documents in this post