Completely confused

prim88 · 10-18-2010, 03:19 PM

Hi, I'm new and apparently completely confused. I have been collecting e-books of various formats in preparation of getting my IPad. What would be the best (easiest) program for me to use to convert the files to the ePub format. I'm currently using a MAC PPC running OSX 4.9. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bob

holterzoff · 10-18-2010, 03:49 PM

calibre!

pthwaite · 10-18-2010, 04:22 PM

Well calibre does a good job if there is no DRM. If you have books withe that dreaded readers bloc, you would need to remove the DRM before conversion.

Otherwise, most book formats are readable by various apps. iBooks would read drm free pubs and PDFs, kindle app will obviously read kindle books and I think it can read mobi, but I haven't got round to investigating that yet.

Stanza and others also exist, include bluefire which are all worth trying. So you may not need to convert in all instances.

Howard

neilmarr · 10-19-2010, 06:43 AM

Good to have your company, Prim. And my advice -- like Holterzoff's above -- would be to start using Calibre's free library software.

Stripping DRM is only borderline legal (no matter how morally justified it might be), so we can't go into detail here at MR (although instructions are all over the net).

I'd suggest, though, that from here in, you buy DRM-free books if possible. Many retailers do offer ebooks with no DRM padlocks and most free classics and other Public Domain work is without DRM for easy conversion and use on all platforms.

Good luck and best wishes. Neil

danegeld · 10-24-2010, 01:07 PM

Converting your books is the least of your problems. You will not be able to use an iPad with your PPC and OSX 4.9. Using an iPad on a Mac requires OSX 10.5.8 or later and iTunes 10.1.

monkeyluis · 10-24-2010, 09:59 PM

Calibre to convert. They look great in iBooks.

wannabee · 10-25-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danegeld

Converting your books is the least of your problems. You will not be able to use an iPad with your PPC and OSX 4.9. Using an iPad on a Mac requires OSX 10.5.8 or later and iTunes 10.1.

But seriously prim88 . . . it's time to dip your toe in the water. OS10 isn't that scary mate.

prim88 · 10-26-2010, 11:14 AM

Thanks everyone, I downloaded calibre and finally had a chance to convert my first book. I am still about 3 wks out from my IPad and will be updating my desktop unit at the same time along with getting wi-fi. Back to conversion, when I did the conversion, it created a new folder with the .rar file (original), the ePub file (converted) also the cover .jpeg and something called metadata.opf. Does this .opf file need to be maintain in the folder with the book or can it be discarded since the conversion is finished?

desertgrandma · 10-26-2010, 11:18 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, Bob.

emellaich · 11-01-2010, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prim88

Thanks everyone, I downloaded calibre and finally had a chance to convert my first book. I am still about 3 wks out from my IPad and will be updating my desktop unit at the same time along with getting wi-fi. Back to conversion, when I did the conversion, it created a new folder with the .rar file (original), the ePub file (converted) also the cover .jpeg and something called metadata.opf. Does this .opf file need to be maintain in the folder with the book or can it be discarded since the conversion is finished?

Well, since you are just killing time ... one of the things I like to do in Calibre is to change the book name so that I can find out the correct order to read the books. I come up with a code for a series and then rename the series. So for Honor Harrington, my code is HH and "On Basilisk Station" becomes "HH 1: On Basilisk Station". Calibre has a built-in series capability, but it doesn't automatically transfer over to the reading software. By renaming them I can easily group/find the set of books and the reading order. It's a bit of a pain to do the first time, but if you've got three weeks to kill, why not?

prim88 · 11-01-2010, 12:33 PM

Sounds good, Is there a particular button to push that will take me to fields to change and sort or do I just click on the title and rename it. I would like to do it similar to a mini database, ie...
Category: Star Trek
Series ST:TNG #
Title: Diplomatic Implausibility
Author: Keith R.A. DeCandido
Major Characters: Klingons

Is something like this possible? Thanks Bob

10-18-2010, 03:19 PM	#1
prim88 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: IPad	Completely confused Hi, I'm new and apparently completely confused. I have been collecting e-books of various formats in preparation of getting my IPad. What would be the best (easiest) program for me to use to convert the files to the ePub format. I'm currently using a MAC PPC running OSX 4.9. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bob

10-18-2010, 03:49 PM	#2
holterzoff Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 3052 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: cologne Device: kindle3w, Ipad, iphone4	easy answer calibre!

10-19-2010, 06:43 AM	#4
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your company, Prim. And my advice -- like Holterzoff's above -- would be to start using Calibre's free library software. Stripping DRM is only borderline legal (no matter how morally justified it might be), so we can't go into detail here at MR (although instructions are all over the net). I'd suggest, though, that from here in, you buy DRM-free books if possible. Many retailers do offer ebooks with no DRM padlocks and most free classics and other Public Domain work is without DRM for easy conversion and use on all platforms. Good luck and best wishes. Neil Attached Images

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10-18-2010, 04:22 PM	#3
pthwaite Fanatic Posts: 597 Karma: 430 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ellesmere Port, UK Device: DR1000S Sony PRS505 iPad iPhone	Well calibre does a good job if there is no DRM. If you have books withe that dreaded readers bloc, you would need to remove the DRM before conversion. Otherwise, most book formats are readable by various apps. iBooks would read drm free pubs and PDFs, kindle app will obviously read kindle books and I think it can read mobi, but I haven't got round to investigating that yet. Stanza and others also exist, include bluefire which are all worth trying. So you may not need to convert in all instances. Howard

10-24-2010, 01:07 PM	#5
danegeld Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 52 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Sony PRS-700	Converting your books is the least of your problems. You will not be able to use an iPad with your PPC and OSX 4.9. Using an iPad on a Mac requires OSX 10.5.8 or later and iTunes 10.1.

10-24-2010, 09:59 PM	#6
monkeyluis Banned Posts: 725 Karma: 656644 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central Florida Device: iPad "3", Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, iPhone 4S	Calibre to convert. They look great in iBooks.

10-26-2010, 11:14 AM	#8
prim88 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: IPad	Thanks everyone, I downloaded calibre and finally had a chance to convert my first book. I am still about 3 wks out from my IPad and will be updating my desktop unit at the same time along with getting wi-fi. Back to conversion, when I did the conversion, it created a new folder with the .rar file (original), the ePub file (converted) also the cover .jpeg and something called metadata.opf. Does this .opf file need to be maintain in the folder with the book or can it be discarded since the conversion is finished?

10-26-2010, 11:18 AM	#9
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, Bob.

11-01-2010, 12:33 PM	#11
prim88 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: IPad	Sounds good, Is there a particular button to push that will take me to fields to change and sort or do I just click on the title and rename it. I would like to do it similar to a mini database, ie... Category: Star Trek Series ST:TNG # Title: Diplomatic Implausibility Author: Keith R.A. DeCandido Major Characters: Klingons Is something like this possible? Thanks Bob