Generate Catalog: How to save as .txt file?

allowingtoo · 08-20-2013, 11:57 AM

AZW3, BIB, CSV, EPUB, MOBI or XML I know those are my options. I tried saving as EPUB and converting to .txt but it left a HUGE amount of space between the books etc. There must be a better way!!

OTOH - I did convert the EPUB to PDF with Go4ePub (always have to name the EPUB to some weird file name like xy.epub - otherwise it won't convert) and it made a great looking PDF

version.

Anyway - all I want to do is save my Titles - Authors - Series in a .txt format. (not necessarily in that order)

Am I missing something here? Thanks

itimpi · 08-20-2013, 12:09 PM

The easiest thing is to save as a csv file which is a version of a text file. It is also suitable for loading into any spreadsheet program which would allow you to do additional formatting.

allowingtoo · 08-20-2013, 12:44 PM

OK, so I save it as a CSV, which in turns still opens as an EXCEL file, which I was trying to avoid. I don't know anything about EXCEL.

In EXCEL I have the various options to "save as". I chose .txt
When I save it in .txt format - of course it gives me that warning that it's not going to like it. I chose save anyway and I don't like it.

I have quotation marks around some Authors and not others. And of course those columns are all higglety pigglety. Even if I "save as" .txt with columns.

Did I mention I don't like EXCEL?

itimpi · 08-20-2013, 01:07 PM

You do not HAVe to open a csv file with Excel - that is probably Just what you have set on your system as the default for that file type. You can quite happily open the file with Notepad or any other program that can handle text files. There are also other program's that can handle csv files. The biggest issue is that csv files are not very well formatted for human readability.

Another possibility might be to create the catalog as an ePub file in Calibre and then use Calibre to convert that to a .txt file. That might give you better formatting but then would not be amenable to any sort of ubsequent automated processing.

allowingtoo · 08-20-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itimpi

You can quite happily open the file with Notepad or any other program that can handle text files..

OMG - that is even worse. It just all ran together in one big blob.

Sigh. I'll keep trying. Thanks. I tried saving it to Google Docs and can't find a "Save As" anywhere.

PITA

MartyTX · 08-20-2013, 02:28 PM

allowingtoo,

I have golden-oldie Excel 2000, but I'm assuming more recent versions have similar features.

You possibly didn't scroll down far enough in the "Save as" list. You want to save as: "Formatted Text (Space delimited) (*prn)". Your version might not use the exact same words, but should function the same.

1. So, after your import the CSV, format the screen as you like it ... WYSIWYG.
2. Then save as formatted text space delimited ... which means that the column spacing will be saved. No Higglety Pigglety Pop. Nice straight columns.
3. Finally, simply rename the saved file from Whatever.PRN to Whatever.TXT. The PRN format is designed to work with printers, but a simple rename to TXT will meet your needs.

If you come up with some Excel questions about formatting, sorting, etc., please ask. No need to reinvent the wheel. calibre, CSV and Excel play well together.

Marty

allowingtoo · 08-20-2013, 02:44 PM

Goodness! That did it! {{insert bouncing gif here}}

All I have to do is move my tabs over a bit before I save and I think...by Jove....I've got it!

Thanks a bunch Marty!

MartyTX · 08-20-2013, 03:01 PM

You're very welcome!

Glad it worked.

08-20-2013, 11:57 AM	#1
allowingtoo Bibliophile Posts: 159 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Amazon	Generate Catalog: How to save as .txt file? AZW3, BIB, CSV, EPUB, MOBI or XML I know those are my options. I tried saving as EPUB and converting to .txt but it left a HUGE amount of space between the books etc. There must be a better way!! OTOH - I did convert the EPUB to PDF with Go4ePub (always have to name the EPUB to some weird file name like xy.epub - otherwise it won't convert) and it made a great looking PDF version. Anyway - all I want to do is save my Titles - Authors - Series in a .txt format. (not necessarily in that order) Am I missing something here? Thanks

08-20-2013, 01:07 PM	#4
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	You do not HAVe to open a csv file with Excel - that is probably Just what you have set on your system as the default for that file type. You can quite happily open the file with Notepad or any other program that can handle text files. There are also other program's that can handle csv files. The biggest issue is that csv files are not very well formatted for human readability. Another possibility might be to create the catalog as an ePub file in Calibre and then use Calibre to convert that to a .txt file. That might give you better formatting but then would not be amenable to any sort of ubsequent automated processing. Last edited by itimpi; 08-20-2013 at 01:11 PM.

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08-20-2013, 12:09 PM	#2
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	The easiest thing is to save as a csv file which is a version of a text file. It is also suitable for loading into any spreadsheet program which would allow you to do additional formatting.

08-20-2013, 12:44 PM	#3
allowingtoo Bibliophile Posts: 159 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Amazon	OK, so I save it as a CSV, which in turns still opens as an EXCEL file, which I was trying to avoid. I don't know anything about EXCEL. In EXCEL I have the various options to "save as". I chose .txt When I save it in .txt format - of course it gives me that warning that it's not going to like it. I chose save anyway and I don't like it. I have quotation marks around some Authors and not others. And of course those columns are all higglety pigglety. Even if I "save as" .txt with columns. Did I mention I don't like EXCEL?

08-20-2013, 02:28 PM	#6
MartyTX Dedicated Posts: 441 Karma: 11279376 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX Device: iPad Mini 1 & 4, Nook ST, Dell 11-3000, iPhone 5s	allowingtoo, I have golden-oldie Excel 2000, but I'm assuming more recent versions have similar features. You possibly didn't scroll down far enough in the "Save as" list. You want to save as: "Formatted Text (Space delimited) (*prn)". Your version might not use the exact same words, but should function the same. 1. So, after your import the CSV, format the screen as you like it ... WYSIWYG. 2. Then save as formatted text space delimited ... which means that the column spacing will be saved. No Higglety Pigglety Pop. Nice straight columns. 3. Finally, simply rename the saved file from Whatever.PRN to Whatever.TXT. The PRN format is designed to work with printers, but a simple rename to TXT will meet your needs. If you come up with some Excel questions about formatting, sorting, etc., please ask. No need to reinvent the wheel. calibre, CSV and Excel play well together. Marty

08-20-2013, 02:44 PM	#7
allowingtoo Bibliophile Posts: 159 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Amazon	Goodness! That did it! {{insert bouncing gif here}} All I have to do is move my tabs over a bit before I save and I think...by Jove....I've got it! Thanks a bunch Marty!

08-20-2013, 03:01 PM	#8
MartyTX Dedicated Posts: 441 Karma: 11279376 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Amarillo, TX Device: iPad Mini 1 & 4, Nook ST, Dell 11-3000, iPhone 5s	You're very welcome! Glad it worked.

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