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danegeld · 11-21-2009, 10:54 AM

I tried several different formats, but eventually ended up with native LRF. I would prefer using ePub, but my PRS-700 (and I assume other Sony readers) doesn't support full justification in ePub files. I find ragged right margins annoying to read for any length of time. I also tried PDFs, but they don't work very well because they have to be formatted to an exact size and changing the type size on the reader messes up the formatting. A format that doesn't easily reflow is going to cause problems.

I reformat all of my books, about 750 of them so far, with Book Designer, changing the font to Gill Sans, which I find readable for long periods. Knowing that at some point in the future the format is likely to change, I always save an HTML version, very often a cleaned up plain-text version, and sometimes an InDesign file, along with the LRF. These backup files can be used to generate new versions in a different format if I need something different in the future. When you work with any kind of digital media, it's important to remember that it's your responsibility to future-proof it and make sure it will be possible to convert it to newer formats as they come along. I've tested my system and can generate a new version of any book in my collection in less than 5 minutes. Obviously, it takes considerable effort up front, but the result is a collection that I'll be able to use for many years.

11-21-2009, 10:54 AM	#7
danegeld Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 52 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony PRS-700	I tried several different formats, but eventually ended up with native LRF. I would prefer using ePub, but my PRS-700 (and I assume other Sony readers) doesn't support full justification in ePub files. I find ragged right margins annoying to read for any length of time. I also tried PDFs, but they don't work very well because they have to be formatted to an exact size and changing the type size on the reader messes up the formatting. A format that doesn't easily reflow is going to cause problems. I reformat all of my books, about 750 of them so far, with Book Designer, changing the font to Gill Sans, which I find readable for long periods. Knowing that at some point in the future the format is likely to change, I always save an HTML version, very often a cleaned up plain-text version, and sometimes an InDesign file, along with the LRF. These backup files can be used to generate new versions in a different format if I need something different in the future. When you work with any kind of digital media, it's important to remember that it's your responsibility to future-proof it and make sure it will be possible to convert it to newer formats as they come along. I've tested my system and can generate a new version of any book in my collection in less than 5 minutes. Obviously, it takes considerable effort up front, but the result is a collection that I'll be able to use for many years.