UX student looking for interviewees - Page 4

JSWolf · 02-28-2021, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Jon, neither of the two KindleUnpack options for AZW3 say format shift, they says KF8 to Epub and unpack AZW3. For the KF8 to Epub option if the KF8 file has an embedded epub, that will be extracted, otherwise the KF8 will be converted/format shifted to epub. The other option is to unpack the KF8 which is sometimes useful for checking images, etc.

The KF8 is not converted. If it was, it would have Calibre code. It's format shifted.KindleUnpack does not convert. It shifts.

DNSB · 02-28-2021, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The KF8 is not converted. If it was, it would have Calibre code. It's format shifted.KindleUnpack does not convert. It shifts.

What does calibre have to do with conversion? If I import a Kindle ebook into Sigil, there is no calibre code yet an azw3 is converted/format shifted to epub. Or you are trying to say that only calibre can be used to convert formats and that any other program is format shifting not converting?

ownedbycats · 02-28-2021, 08:33 PM

For what it matters, I've mostly heard "format shifting" in regards to changing from one physical medium to another (e.g. digitizing stuff from analog tapes, or ripping an audio CD to MP3).

JSWolf · 03-03-2021, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

What does calibre have to do with conversion? If I import a Kindle ebook into Sigil, there is no calibre code yet a aw3 is converted/format shifted to epub. Or you are trying to say that only calibre can be used to convert formats and that any other program is format shifting not converting?

What you are doing doing with Sigil is also format shifting because it's using KindleUnpack code to convert to ePub on load.

j.p.s · 03-03-2021, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWoof

What you are doing doing with Sigil is also format shifting because it's using KindleUnpack code to convert to ePub on load.

Only according to you.

UXstudent · 03-04-2021, 08:18 AM

This is a bit off topic (but I don't mind), so either format shifting and conversion is synonymous or there's a distinction between the two. It seems most of the time the end result is the same, so I don't really care. But the way it makes sense to me differentiating between the two, format shifting is when intentionally making changes to how content is presented. Like, if you're "converting" from EPUB to EPUB without any changes then you're doing something wrong. But format shifting lets you adjust font size, fonts used, line heights and much more. Conversion however is about preserving the content between file formats. Any changes to the content is unintentional when converting. For example, PDFs supports any graphical styling possible a document can have, but a TXT file can't store images or styles, and converting a PDF to TXT will result in information loss. But that is unintentional (disregarding that anyone converting PDF to TXT probably knows this would happen) and instead is a result of limitations of the file type.

But enough about semantics.

Converting is apparently a very common task among Calibre users. Do you often make adjustments to conversion settings or do you mostly use one setting for all your conversions? If converting from and/or to several formats, do you use different settings per format conversion?

I will soon begin designing GUIs that hopefully improves the current design. To test them efficiently I need volunteers in videocalls. If anyone would be willing please let me know. Otherwise I need to find other ways to test my designs.

maddz · 03-04-2021, 08:31 AM

The other reason to convert to the same format is to strip out bloat. The Tor.com bi-monthly short story newsletters routinely download as 20 Mb ePub files. Running an ePub-to-ePub conversions gets the file size to under 1 MB.

I tend not to fiddle around with the settings, but I know others do. I might do so if there's some dodgy formatting like bad hyphenation, but I'm just happy to have a readable file at the end of the day to load onto my Kobo.

John F · 03-04-2021, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UXstudent

This is a bit off topic (but I don't mind), so either format shifting and conversion is synonymous or there's a distinction between the two. It seems most of the time the end result is the same, so I don't really care. But the way it makes sense to me differentiating between the two, format shifting is when intentionally making changes to how content is presented. Like, if you're "converting" from EPUB to EPUB without any changes then you're doing something wrong. But format shifting lets you adjust font size, fonts used, line heights and much more. Conversion however is about preserving the content between file formats. Any changes to the content is unintentional when converting. For example, PDFs supports any graphical styling possible a document can have, but a TXT file can't store images or styles, and converting a PDF to TXT will result in information loss. But that is unintentional (disregarding that anyone converting PDF to TXT probably knows this would happen) and instead is a result of limitations of the file type.

...

That seems like a rather unique definition.

I think the more common definition is going from one format to another (mobi to epub).

JSWolf · 03-04-2021, 06:26 PM

Format shifting is taking the code from one format and using it to make another format but keeping the code the same as possible. So going from KF8 to ePub (using the KindleUnpack plugin for Calibre or Sigil) can be done while keeping the code pretty much unmodified. You do have to check for errors and correct these errors and sometimes a KF8 self-published can be a real mess and it could be easier to just convert.

But if the source is an ePub, then chances are it will convert OK and all you need do is fix the minor errors you get due to the KF8 format.

ownedbycats · 03-04-2021, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Format shifting is taking the code from one format and using it to make another format but keeping the code the same as possible.

No it isn't.

Quoth · 03-05-2021, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

No it isn't.

Conversion and format shifting are synonyms. More extreme examples are to consume on a phone, or previously a personal media player with an HDD.
LP -> mp3
CD -> mp3. Both are digital but the code is completely different
CD, LP or MP3 to Sony Minidisc.
LP, CD, minidisc, reel tapes, MP3 to compact cassette.
VHS -> mp4
DVD -> mp4 (also involves DRM removal)
paper or scanned PDF -> real ebook (few PMP supported ebooks, at best HTML, text or Action Script with the text in it).

There can be hardly any difference in the CSS, NCX and HTML between an epub2 and a KF8/azw3 made from it.

The preservation or not of code is irrelevant on Conversion/Format shifting. The entire purpose has always been (since the 1950s with tape, radio and discs) simply to consume the content on a different device to what the media was originally sold on.

UXstudent · 03-07-2021, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

That seems like a rather unique definition.

I think the more common definition is going from one format to another (mobi to epub).

I made a reply earlier but it got lost because my session ran out, and I couldn't be bothered to retype it again. But the short of it was that this was my point of view when arguing in favor of "converting" and "format shifting" having different meanings.

So I have some late questions that would help. I apologize in advance because I would like you to essentially answer the same question in different ways.

How much, approximately, do you use the "tag browser" (the sidebar on the left) when doing searches? I would like answers in % of numbers of searches you do. Measured in time, how much use is having the tag browser open overall while using Calibre (considering that you're using the program for non-search operations)?

What is the most elaborate search you've done? How does a typical search look for you?

Quoth · 03-07-2021, 11:51 AM

I never use tag browser, just part of title. I've about 2,400 titles in Calibre. Tags are often inconsistent. I only worry about tags / categories on books I'm publishing, not in Calibre. I do use Collections and only have books in one collection (custom column) and a custom owner column, (person bought it, PD, Promo, one we sell etc) and sort by those. Sometimes sort by format.
I've been working with physical media editing and computer files for over 40 years. Almost everyone uses Format shifted and Converted as synonyms.

Unless I was to delete all the imported tags and to assign my own, they are nearly useless. Also only the ancient Sony PRS-350 I have uses tags. Collections only work properly with my oldest Kindle or any Kobo. They don't work in any App, nor usably in KOreader on Android.
I export/copy organised by directory named after author as LN_FN. One ereader I have can only sort by the author directory name.

Really if you can change what package you are doing for your dissertation, do. Calibre is a terrible choice and any conclusions are going to be dubious due to sample size and the diverse use and the niche application.

Explaining why Android and Win 10 are both worse UX and GUI than Win9x, NT 4.0, Win 2K, XP and Server 2003 and Mac OS 9 would be more use and more achievable.

I spent 10 years doing databases, document management systems and more years programming and I fail to see how you can achieve anything useful using Calibre as target, especially with the user base.

Or contrast the stupidity of Office 2007 with Office 2003 and why hiding less used menu items is the biggest stupidity ever.

Or why though a tile based touch GUI is excellent for small screen information consumption it's almost useless for Content creation.
Or why Android TV is so much a worse GUI & UX than ordinary Android and the interfaces used by Sony or Sky before it.

Calibre is a very niche program to manage ebooks for ereaders, though people do manage to use it for ereading apps and also for other content. I've mentored students doing FYP, Masters and one doing a PhD and I can't see where you can be going with this as a UX study.

maddz · 03-07-2021, 12:26 PM

I use tags for specific searches: when adding a book to Calibre the tag *NEW gets applied as part of the import process. When I have completed importing a batch of books to Calibre, I then use the saved search which looks for that specific tag.

I also tag books that need a better cover at some point when I can be bothered to try and find one (usually short stories from the pulps which have the issue cover). Apart from that, I don't bother much with tags - I tag at a fairly high level - genre or sub-genre, and I'm also tagging short fiction and anthologies (a year ago I had a 55 minute train journey as part of my daily commute, and read short stories or anthologies).

I don't need tags on the Kobo as everything is built around shelves, and unless I mistake, you still can't tag search on Kobo.

PeterT · 03-07-2021, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddz

I don't need tags on the Kobo as everything is built around shelves, and unless I mistake, you still can't tag search on Kobo.

But you could map tags in calibre to shelves on the kobo.

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02-28-2021, 08:33 PM	#48
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,998 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	For what it matters, I've mostly heard "format shifting" in regards to changing from one physical medium to another (e.g. digitizing stuff from analog tapes, or ripping an audio CD to MP3).

03-04-2021, 08:18 AM	#51
UXstudent Member Posts: 16 Karma: 2135972 Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Trollhättan, Sweden Device: None	This is a bit off topic (but I don't mind), so either format shifting and conversion is synonymous or there's a distinction between the two. It seems most of the time the end result is the same, so I don't really care. But the way it makes sense to me differentiating between the two, format shifting is when intentionally making changes to how content is presented. Like, if you're "converting" from EPUB to EPUB without any changes then you're doing something wrong. But format shifting lets you adjust font size, fonts used, line heights and much more. Conversion however is about preserving the content between file formats. Any changes to the content is unintentional when converting. For example, PDFs supports any graphical styling possible a document can have, but a TXT file can't store images or styles, and converting a PDF to TXT will result in information loss. But that is unintentional (disregarding that anyone converting PDF to TXT probably knows this would happen) and instead is a result of limitations of the file type. But enough about semantics. Converting is apparently a very common task among Calibre users. Do you often make adjustments to conversion settings or do you mostly use one setting for all your conversions? If converting from and/or to several formats, do you use different settings per format conversion? I will soon begin designing GUIs that hopefully improves the current design. To test them efficiently I need volunteers in videocalls. If anyone would be willing please let me know. Otherwise I need to find other ways to test my designs.

03-04-2021, 08:31 AM	#52
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,405 Karma: 30039536 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	The other reason to convert to the same format is to strip out bloat. The Tor.com bi-monthly short story newsletters routinely download as 20 Mb ePub files. Running an ePub-to-ePub conversions gets the file size to under 1 MB. I tend not to fiddle around with the settings, but I know others do. I might do so if there's some dodgy formatting like bad hyphenation, but I'm just happy to have a readable file at the end of the day to load onto my Kobo.

03-04-2021, 06:26 PM	#54
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,796 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Format shifting is taking the code from one format and using it to make another format but keeping the code the same as possible. So going from KF8 to ePub (using the KindleUnpack plugin for Calibre or Sigil) can be done while keeping the code pretty much unmodified. You do have to check for errors and correct these errors and sometimes a KF8 self-published can be a real mess and it could be easier to just convert. But if the source is an ePub, then chances are it will convert OK and all you need do is fix the minor errors you get due to the KF8 format.

03-07-2021, 11:51 AM	#58
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,122 Karma: 105211945 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	I never use tag browser, just part of title. I've about 2,400 titles in Calibre. Tags are often inconsistent. I only worry about tags / categories on books I'm publishing, not in Calibre. I do use Collections and only have books in one collection (custom column) and a custom owner column, (person bought it, PD, Promo, one we sell etc) and sort by those. Sometimes sort by format. I've been working with physical media editing and computer files for over 40 years. Almost everyone uses Format shifted and Converted as synonyms. Unless I was to delete all the imported tags and to assign my own, they are nearly useless. Also only the ancient Sony PRS-350 I have uses tags. Collections only work properly with my oldest Kindle or any Kobo. They don't work in any App, nor usably in KOreader on Android. I export/copy organised by directory named after author as LN_FN. One ereader I have can only sort by the author directory name. Really if you can change what package you are doing for your dissertation, do. Calibre is a terrible choice and any conclusions are going to be dubious due to sample size and the diverse use and the niche application. Explaining why Android and Win 10 are both worse UX and GUI than Win9x, NT 4.0, Win 2K, XP and Server 2003 and Mac OS 9 would be more use and more achievable. I spent 10 years doing databases, document management systems and more years programming and I fail to see how you can achieve anything useful using Calibre as target, especially with the user base. Or contrast the stupidity of Office 2007 with Office 2003 and why hiding less used menu items is the biggest stupidity ever. Or why though a tile based touch GUI is excellent for small screen information consumption it's almost useless for Content creation. Or why Android TV is so much a worse GUI & UX than ordinary Android and the interfaces used by Sony or Sky before it. Calibre is a very niche program to manage ebooks for ereaders, though people do manage to use it for ereading apps and also for other content. I've mentored students doing FYP, Masters and one doing a PhD and I can't see where you can be going with this as a UX study.

03-07-2021, 12:26 PM	#59
maddz Wizard Posts: 1,405 Karma: 30039536 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Icarus, iPad Mini 2, Kobo Touch, Google Nexus 7	I use tags for specific searches: when adding a book to Calibre the tag *NEW gets applied as part of the import process. When I have completed importing a batch of books to Calibre, I then use the saved search which looks for that specific tag. I also tag books that need a better cover at some point when I can be bothered to try and find one (usually short stories from the pulps which have the issue cover). Apart from that, I don't bother much with tags - I tag at a fairly high level - genre or sub-genre, and I'm also tagging short fiction and anthologies (a year ago I had a 55 minute train journey as part of my daily commute, and read short stories or anthologies). I don't need tags on the Kobo as everything is built around shelves, and unless I mistake, you still can't tag search on Kobo.

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