Calibre: lrf2mobi?

[edembowski]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I get the feeling you didn't read much of my posts.

Yes, I read them. I don't see why you think I hadn't.

Because Calibre cannot modify the metadata (as it is seen on the ebook) without converting the ebook into a format that is NOT supported by the Kindle (such as mobi), Calibre, with respect to modifying metadata does not support mobi.

OK, Calibre does not modify the meta data from the source file. It will store it in it's db, and when it converts to a new format, it will write teh new file with that meta data. I realize that this isn't what you're looking for, I'm just trying to be clear about how it works.

I know I can't "buy" a copy of Calibre. I have a copy. I realize that it is free. However, I am not about to financially support the development of software that is never going to meet my needs.

Financial support isn't the only way to support the app. You can extend the application to add the features you need. It's open source.

And, because my ebook reader of choice is a Kindle ... Calibre without mobi support ... and without even the hope of future mobi support is not a program that I am likely to financially support.

I don't have a Kindle, (I'm a prs-500 user) so I can't say what actually works, but you really should take a look at the source code for Calibre. Kovid has at least stared Kindle support. Take a look in /src/calibre/devices/kindle. This looks like there will be support for this device.

It's lovely to know that I can modify the program. As soon as I decide to become a programmer, I'll let you all know. Let's see ... medical school, then law school .... sure, why not ... what the hell.

Well, it's all in python. As far as programming languages go, it's one of the easier ones to learn.

I'm not being at all sarcastic here, if you don't want to donate money, then don't. If you feel that learning python is too much then don't. You expressed a problem and I'm trying to show you solutions to the problem you're having. If you want to continue giving flip answers to people who are trying to help you, please don't.

- Ed

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Not really, the standout feature of the Kindle is its ease of use (at least if you're only buying from Amazon). For example, Amazon charges for free content like blogs, what is basically a convenience fee. Also Amazon is the only company that doesn't seem to care about supporting open formats.

The reason I am reluctant to add support for MOBI is that it is an old format that will be becoming increasingly obsolete. As such it's not a wise investemnt of my rather limited development time.

I honestly don't know of any Kindle owners who are buying "only" from Amazon. Mobi may be an "old" format, but as long as it is still in fairly prominent usage ... well, I would hope that someone somewhere would consider doing it.

But, like I said ... peace in the Middle East would be nice too ....

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by edembowski

Yes, I read them. I don't see why you think I hadn't.
OK, Calibre does not modify the meta data from the source file. It will store it in it's db, and when it converts to a new format, it will write teh new file with that meta data. I realize that this isn't what you're looking for, I'm just trying to be clear about how it works.

The reason I didn't think you read the posts was, if you had read them, you would have known that I know how it works. So, if you were trying to be clear for my benefit ... you didn't need to be.

Originally Posted by edembowski

Financial support isn't the only way to support the app. You can extend the application to add the features you need. It's open source.

And, "open source" meaning that those with extremely limited knowledge of programing can just make it jump through hoops with a flick of the wrist??

Originally Posted by edembowski

I don't have a Kindle, (I'm a prs-500 user) so I can't say what actually works, but you really should take a look at the source code for Calibre. Kovid has at least stared Kindle support. Take a look in /src/calibre/devices/kindle. This looks like there will be support for this device.

Well .... dandy. I'll look into that. Since it's going to be so incredibly easy to do and all .... no need to know anything about the language or logic ... just whooop .... and it's done.

Originally Posted by edembowski

Well, it's all in python. As far as programming languages go, it's one of the easier ones to learn.

I'm not being at all sarcastic here, if you don't want to donate money, then don't. If you feel that learning python is too much then don't. You expressed a problem and I'm trying to show you solutions to the problem you're having. If you want to continue giving flip answers to people who are trying to help you, please don't.

- Ed

And, if you really want to give thoughtless information that in no way shape or form is going to help me with the problem as it was expressed ... then please, do me a personal favor and .... don't.

-Ricky

[JeffElkins]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

[e:\temp\junk]lrf2html "The Secret Adversary.lrf"
Parsing LRF...
Reading metadata...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "convert_to.py", line 123, in <module>
File "convert_to.py", line 117, in main
File "convert_to.py", line 108, in process_file
File "convert_to.py", line 51, in __init__
File "convert_to.py", line 56, in create_metadata
File "C:\Program Files\calibre\library.zip\calibre\ebooks\lrf\meta. py", line 233, in get_metadata
File "C:\Program Files\calibre\library.zip\calibre\ebooks\lrf\meta. py", line 312, in restore_pos
File "C:\Program Files\calibre\library.zip\calibre\ebooks\lrf\meta. py", line 567, in get_cover
File "C:\Program Files\calibre\library.zip\calibre\ebooks\lrf\meta. py", line 543, in get_objects_by_type
TypeError: 'dict' object is not callable

That is using 0.4.76.

Same error here. Last I heard, Kovid said lrf2html was incomplete and didn't work.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by edembowski

Financial support isn't the only way to support the app. You can extend the application to add the features you need. It's open source.

- Ed

I think this is the most ludicris point people make when they talk about how great open source is. The truth is, the majority of people that use open source software couldn't write a batch file never mind something like compiling a custom linux kernal.

How many people do you think modify FireFox for their own use?

BOb

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think this is the most ludicris point people make when they talk about how great open source is. The truth is, the majority of people that use open source software couldn't write a batch file never mind something like compiling a custom linux kernal.

How many people do you think modify FireFox for their own use?

BOb

Now, now Bob .... you don't want to be tarred with Ed's "flip" brush.

Of course, I happen to agree with you. Just saying that something is "open source" means exactly squat ... unless you happen to be familiar with the programing language.

For me, the reason I do often donate money to people who create and improve on open source programs is because they are doing something I do not have the time to learn how to do myself, and what they are doing does benefit me in having a program that I can use.

I understand Kovid's reasoning behind his not wanting to do what would need to be done to make Calibre function such that it could edit metadata in mobi files. And, I'm also fairly sure he understands how great his program could be for people who do not have (or want) ebooks in the lrf format. It's just that Calibre is not that program, and it's not going to become that program.

I do hope that someone with some skill can alter Calibre to allow for conversion into mobi, and to allow for direct connection of Calibre to the Kindle for file organization. That would be a program I could really use.

[edembowski]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

...
How many people do you think modify FireFox for their own use?
...

I hardly think that Calibre approaches the complexity of Firefox. What I suggested is in no way unreasonable, and does not require unusual amounts of talent, just some reasoning and patience. Since you feel that's ludicrous, let's just agree to disagree, and get back to the topic.

- Ed

[Gideon]

I have to disagree with the standout feature of the Kindle being 'ease of use.'

For me it's real simple... CONTENT. I don't subscribe to any blogs, but I sure do like getting newspapers, magazines... and oh, that massive ebook collection of stuff that isn't in the public domain.

I'm also not adverse to some work to get something working, and have spent countless hours working with and editing files to work in both mobi and lrf formats. And it is MUCH easier to deal with a Mobi file from an ease of use and reliability because of the Mobi creator program. And since I don't have a surplus of free time, I find this works just fine and now I spend less time converting and more time reading, which is exactly how it should be.

As for Calibre.. yes, it'd be nice to have a tool that can manage mobi files. But developers get to decide what they want to do, and if they don't want to support it, it's up to them.

[kovidgoyal]

You can get more newspapers and magazines and random web content on the 505 than on the Kindle. And you can get just as much non public domain content.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by Gideon

I have to disagree with the standout feature of the Kindle being 'ease of use.'

For me it's real simple... CONTENT. I don't subscribe to any blogs, but I sure do like getting newspapers, magazines... and oh, that massive ebook collection of stuff that isn't in the public domain.

I'm also not adverse to some work to get something working, and have spent countless hours working with and editing files to work in both mobi and lrf formats. And it is MUCH easier to deal with a Mobi file from an ease of use and reliability because of the Mobi creator program. And since I don't have a surplus of free time, I find this works just fine and now I spend less time converting and more time reading, which is exactly how it should be.

As for Calibre.. yes, it'd be nice to have a tool that can manage mobi files. But developers get to decide what they want to do, and if they don't want to support it, it's up to them.

Yeah, I know .... I was simply hoping. It's not going to happen, I absolutely understand that, but nothing wrong with hoping ... right??