Convert forum threads to ebook?

4runner · 06-25-2014, 09:31 PM

Hello,

Does anyone know how to convert a forum thread to an ebook? This would be especially useful for long threads...

I know you could "show printable version" and print to PDF, but that is not good enough... There is not much control over the formatting, and it is not very organized...

Thanks!

Billi · 06-26-2014, 01:24 AM

You can use some of the Thread Tools in the blue ribbon just above your post as a starting point.

4runner · 06-26-2014, 09:12 AM

The forum I am trying to read does not have any "thread tools." I was wondering if there was some kind of application or way of viewing (or converting) threads to an ebook that could easily be read on the kindle (I have an e-ink)

shalym · 06-26-2014, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4runner

The forum I am trying to read does not have any "thread tools." I was wondering if there was some kind of application or way of viewing (or converting) threads to an ebook that could easily be read on the kindle (I have an e-ink)

If you can "Show Printable Version", then why not use either the Send To Kindle plugin for Firefox or Chrome (http://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/firefox) or Instapaper (https://www.instapaper.com/).

Shari

4runner · 06-26-2014, 09:29 AM

On the forum I am trying to convert the threads to an ebook, there is not an option to "show printable version." That's what I meant by saying there are no "thread tools" like there are on this forum.

theducks · 06-26-2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4runner

On the forum I am trying to convert the threads to an ebook, there is not an option to "show printable version." That's what I meant by saying there are no "thread tools" like there are on this forum.

Why all the mystery?

If the forum is NOT MR there is little chance someone can guess which Forum engine (eg PHPbb) the one you want to scrape is using and come up with a perfect solution.

Your browser has a 'View source' feature where you can see (and copy) the code displayed. Do note that this will be a bit more than cut and paste as you will need to create a ebook-compatible stylesheet . but there is a good possibility that the same thread will use the same stylesheet throught

Billi · 06-26-2014, 11:54 AM

Please, ask your questions in this other forum and don't waste our time with dishonest questions that no one is able to answer.

HarryT · 06-26-2014, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4runner

On the forum I am trying to convert the threads to an ebook, there is not an option to "show printable version." That's what I meant by saying there are no "thread tools" like there are on this forum.

It would be a lot more sensible to ask in that other forum rather than here. Nobody can possibly answer your question without knowing what forum software you're talking about.

shalym · 06-26-2014, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4runner

On the forum I am trying to convert the threads to an ebook, there is not an option to "show printable version." That's what I meant by saying there are no "thread tools" like there are on this forum.

I don't understand...in the first post, you explicitly said

Quote:

I know you could "show printable version" and print to PDF, but that is not good enough...

Now you say that you can't show printable version? In any case, the Send To Kindle plug in can be used whether you use "show printable version" or not. It takes whatever text is on the page and converts it to ebook format. I used the plugin to convert this thread and attached it so that you can see what it will look like.

Shari

Sgt.Stubby · 10-08-2014, 12:42 PM

This is why using walled-garden web-based forums is a bad idea. Web forums are designed specifically to take control away from you, chaining you to a GUI and mouse.

It's far more sensible to source your content from usenet, which (by design) gives you control by making all content available in a raw form, limited only by the capability of client side tools.

If you must draw your content from a phpbbs walled-garden, then you can often setup a RSS-usenet gateway at gwene. Once it's NNTP-accessible, then you can grab the raw text and easily do an automated markup to something like LaTeX, which can generate quite nice looking PDFs.

mr ploppy · 10-09-2014, 06:39 AM

I use this, you can add extra urls to stitch together if you can't get it all on one page.

http://web2fb2.net/

HarryT · 10-09-2014, 07:11 AM

Given that the OP has not logged on since June, I very much doubt that he still cares

.

06-25-2014, 09:31 PM	#1
4runner Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: kindle e-ink	Convert forum threads to ebook? Hello, Does anyone know how to convert a forum thread to an ebook? This would be especially useful for long threads... I know you could "show printable version" and print to PDF, but that is not good enough... There is not much control over the formatting, and it is not very organized... Thanks!

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06-26-2014, 01:24 AM	#2
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	You can use some of the Thread Tools in the blue ribbon just above your post as a starting point.

06-26-2014, 09:12 AM	#3
4runner Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: kindle e-ink	The forum I am trying to read does not have any "thread tools." I was wondering if there was some kind of application or way of viewing (or converting) threads to an ebook that could easily be read on the kindle (I have an e-ink)

06-26-2014, 09:29 AM	#5
4runner Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2014 Device: kindle e-ink	On the forum I am trying to convert the threads to an ebook, there is not an option to "show printable version." That's what I meant by saying there are no "thread tools" like there are on this forum.

06-26-2014, 11:54 AM	#7
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Please, ask your questions in this other forum and don't waste our time with dishonest questions that no one is able to answer.

10-08-2014, 12:42 PM	#10
Sgt.Stubby Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 530000 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: none	This is why using walled-garden web-based forums is a bad idea. Web forums are designed specifically to take control away from you, chaining you to a GUI and mouse. It's far more sensible to source your content from usenet, which (by design) gives you control by making all content available in a raw form, limited only by the capability of client side tools. If you must draw your content from a phpbbs walled-garden, then you can often setup a RSS-usenet gateway at gwene. Once it's NNTP-accessible, then you can grab the raw text and easily do an automated markup to something like LaTeX, which can generate quite nice looking PDFs.

10-09-2014, 06:39 AM	#11
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I use this, you can add extra urls to stitch together if you can't get it all on one page. http://web2fb2.net/

10-09-2014, 07:11 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Given that the OP has not logged on since June, I very much doubt that he still cares .

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