Thinking about a total package.

shighfield · 10-08-2008, 11:32 AM

All,

I've been showing my wife how "Easy" it is to convert books and move them onto my EBW. She watched me for a while, and decided I was insane.

So from a non techie her needs follow:

1) A simple package that will install IMPServe, build, and all tools needed to convert books / store them as HTML and download to the reader converting on the fly.

2) A Form of GUI where she can load the manager and then close it when done.

So thinking about this, I took the "launcher" program I wrote a couple of weeks ago, and have started adding calls to the various conversion tools. For quick updating of things like Nick's tools... Would it be possible to use a page on the WIKI or somethign more static then a forum thread for getting the new versions so I can attempt to build the feature into the launcher?

She's really made me think with all the talent in this forum, we can make this stuff easy for the non techie's to use. (Granted it is easy, if you read a couple of posts etc, but as she told me "I don't want to read that, you guys are boring.")

What do we think?

DaleDe · 10-08-2008, 11:51 AM

That is a good use of the wiki.

Dale

nrapallo · 10-08-2008, 05:25 PM

I'm all for it! The attachments to my tools in the forum posts are static until the next "update"...

How can I help make this worK for you? (I've already got all the tools installed...

)

The wiki pages use a filename as it's "link"; so as long as that filename doesn't change from version to version, you're ok. This filename can be used by your script, tricky, but can be made to work.

However, a simpler alternative would be to download the files from the posts yourself first and include them in your installer. The filesize would be HUGE, but at least you know what each tool will be called and where it is stored. However, you'll have to update your installer whenever one of the tools gets updated, though.

RickyMaveety · 10-08-2008, 06:43 PM

My thought is that, if it wasn't such a huge pain in the ass to do, more people might get into creating books for more of the readers.

HarryT · 10-09-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

My thought is that, if it wasn't such a huge pain in the ass to do, more people might get into creating books for more of the readers.

For many formats, it's not a "huge pain in the ass". Using MobiPocket Creator, for example, creating nice-looking books is extremely straightforward.

What eBook creation tools have you used that you've found to be the PITA that you describe?

shighfield · 10-09-2008, 08:16 AM

Nick: Forgive me for asking before I look. <cough> Have you created a step by step walkthrough for installing everything yet? As for including the tools in the archive that might be the best way to go, and to start as new versions are out we'll make it easy to upgrade. (Unzip to this directory)

I've almost got something to show you guys... Unfortunately my programming skills are rusty, and I never learned a modern language so I'm learning as I go.

nrapallo · 10-09-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shighfield

Nick: Forgive me for asking before I look. <cough> Have you created a step by step walkthrough for installing everything yet? As for including the tools in the archive that might be the best way to go, and to start as new versions are out we'll make it easy to upgrade. (Unzip to this directory)

I've almost got something to show you guys... Unfortunately my programming skills are rusty, and I never learned a modern language so I'm learning as I go.

<cough> I just pulled this out from my back pocket... <cough> <cough>

Lit2sb (lit to imp) Homepage: Convert .lit directly into .IMP formats
1. Unzip s32lit2sb.zip
2. Read s32lit2sb-INSTRUCTIONS-by-NR.txt
2a. Install the s32lit2sb.exe program.
2b. Create empty files called 'debug' and 'GEB1150' using a text editor in the installed directory.
2c. Update the clit14.exe file in the Home directory with the clit.exe (version 1.8) command-line program installed by ConvertLIT GUI.
2d. 'Associate' the .lit filetype with the lit2sb.exe program, using these dos commands:

Code:

c:\>assoc .lit=LitFile
c:\>ftype LitFile="C:\Program Files\lit2sb\lit2sb.exe" "%1"

3. Replace installed lit2sb.exe with the updated version contained in this .zip: lit2sb.zip
4. Just double-click the .lit file and it will be automatically converted into .imp format.

Mobi2IMP Homepage: Mobi2IMP 9.4 with new Windows GUI & UTF-8
1. Unzip Mobi2IMP-9.4-Installer.zip
2. Install the Mobi2IMP-9.4.exe program
3. Update the Mobi2IMP.exe in the install directory's bin folder with the updated version contained in this .zip (if any): Mobi2IMP-9.4b-dos.zip
4. Copy the start menu icon for Mobi2IMP to the desktop for easier access to start the Mobi2IMP GUI.
5. Start the GUI, select an input file, check any applicable options and click Convert.

PDFRead Homepage: PDFRead 1.8 released!
1. Unzip pdfread-1.8.2-Installer.zip
2. Install the pdfread-1.8.2.exe program
3. Copy the start menu icon for PDFRead to the desktop for easier access to start the PDFRead GUI.
4. Start the GUI, select an input file, in format, output format, enter Title & Author & Category, check any applicable options and click Convert.

p.s. Just 'quote' this message to see all the links in their original form.

derrell · 10-09-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shighfield

I've almost got something to show you guys... Unfortunately my programming skills are rusty, and I never learned a modern language so I'm learning as I go.

Just curious which lang are you using, and what utilities were you thinking of including? The list of things that might need to be installed could get really large very quickly.

shighfield · 10-10-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrell

Just curious which lang are you using, and what utilities were you thinking of including? The list of things that might need to be installed could get really large very quickly.

The utilities are the python scripts / impserve etc. Basically take the existing tools and write a GUI wrapper around them all to make it easy to work with.

I'm trying to decide on a language now so I don't end up with somethign windows only as I'm mainly a mac guy.

shighfield · 10-10-2008, 04:46 PM

Thanks Nick! I have something to try for the long weekend. We have our turkey on Saturday so sunday and Monday I'll be buried in a editor.

nrapallo · 10-10-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shighfield

Thanks Nick! I have something to try for the long weekend. We have our turkey on Saturday so sunday and Monday I'll be buried in a editor.

It will be a hot one this weekend, so be sure to stick your head out, once in a while.

We don't have many more "hot" days left here, do we?

I'll be having turkey on Sunday up at the cottage (Bluewater Beach) where I DON'T have an internet connection...

Oh, well, got to read some time...

BTW, thanks for the heads up on Commodork! I'm starting the Commodore 64 chapter right now. Actually, I REALLY got "started" with the Mighty Mo 300 baud modem and a C64 wayback in the early '80's! It was a great time...

10-08-2008, 11:32 AM	#1
shighfield Groupie!? GROUPIE!?!? Posts: 319 Karma: 649 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Dirty Shwa Device: EBW 1150, Libra Color	Thinking about a total package. All, I've been showing my wife how "Easy" it is to convert books and move them onto my EBW. She watched me for a while, and decided I was insane. So from a non techie her needs follow: 1) A simple package that will install IMPServe, build, and all tools needed to convert books / store them as HTML and download to the reader converting on the fly. 2) A Form of GUI where she can load the manager and then close it when done. So thinking about this, I took the "launcher" program I wrote a couple of weeks ago, and have started adding calls to the various conversion tools. For quick updating of things like Nick's tools... Would it be possible to use a page on the WIKI or somethign more static then a forum thread for getting the new versions so I can attempt to build the feature into the launcher? She's really made me think with all the talent in this forum, we can make this stuff easy for the non techie's to use. (Granted it is easy, if you read a couple of posts etc, but as she told me "I don't want to read that, you guys are boring.") What do we think?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Calibre - total newbie!	nakita002	Amazon Kindle	2	05-12-2010 06:04 PM
Total Newbie	ljfoley	Introduce Yourself	8	03-24-2010 08:44 PM
Total newbie	Violetteskye	Astak EZReader	4	10-21-2009 03:07 AM
Cybook Plus at Total E-reader	mikaelalind	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	2	10-12-2009 08:38 AM
Total newbie, please help!	Londoner	Sony Reader	15	09-08-2008 03:09 PM

10-08-2008, 11:51 AM	#2
DaleDe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,470 Karma: 13095790 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Grass Valley, CA Device: EB 1150, EZ Reader, Literati, iPad 2 & Air 2, iPhone 7	That is a good use of the wiki. Dale

10-08-2008, 05:25 PM	#3
nrapallo GuteBook/Mobi2IMP Creator Posts: 2,958 Karma: 2530691 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: REB1200 EBW1150 Device: T1 NSTG iLiad_v2 NC Device: Asus_TF Next1 WPDN	I'm all for it! The attachments to my tools in the forum posts are static until the next "update"... How can I help make this worK for you? (I've already got all the tools installed... ) The wiki pages use a filename as it's "link"; so as long as that filename doesn't change from version to version, you're ok. This filename can be used by your script, tricky, but can be made to work. However, a simpler alternative would be to download the files from the posts yourself first and include them in your installer. The filesize would be HUGE, but at least you know what each tool will be called and where it is stored. However, you'll have to update your installer whenever one of the tools gets updated, though.

10-08-2008, 06:43 PM	#4
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	My thought is that, if it wasn't such a huge pain in the ass to do, more people might get into creating books for more of the readers.

10-09-2008, 08:16 AM	#6
shighfield Groupie!? GROUPIE!?!? Posts: 319 Karma: 649 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Dirty Shwa Device: EBW 1150, Libra Color	Nick: Forgive me for asking before I look. <cough> Have you created a step by step walkthrough for installing everything yet? As for including the tools in the archive that might be the best way to go, and to start as new versions are out we'll make it easy to upgrade. (Unzip to this directory) I've almost got something to show you guys... Unfortunately my programming skills are rusty, and I never learned a modern language so I'm learning as I go.

10-10-2008, 04:46 PM	#10
shighfield Groupie!? GROUPIE!?!? Posts: 319 Karma: 649 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Dirty Shwa Device: EBW 1150, Libra Color	Thanks Nick! I have something to try for the long weekend. We have our turkey on Saturday so sunday and Monday I'll be buried in a editor.

Advert

Advert