PRS-600 "Best" format to convert to (from .lit)?

sp00ki · 05-19-2010, 06:32 PM

Hello.
I'm a new PRS-600 owner, and have recently begun converting a few of my LIT files for use on my Touch Edition using Calibre.

I've had mixed results so far... EPub is almost consistently a no-go; PDF seems to work, but never gives me anything readable.

So far, LTF has been my best bet, but the page number changes upon font resize (so if i'm reading along with a friend, "the scene on page 30" is meaningless).

Does anyone know of a file format that works "best" for converting LIT to?

Or perhaps tips to make the conversion process a bit easer? I'm still in my learning curve (this is day two), so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

AnemicOak · 05-19-2010, 07:32 PM

What about ePub makes it a no-go for you? Perhaps folks can help get you a better conversion.

Worldwalker · 05-19-2010, 07:45 PM

Also, if it's a conversion issue, you might want to ask about it down in the calibre forum.

palo · 05-19-2010, 08:49 PM

Try clit to get it from lit to txt then convert via calibre

p

AnemicOak · 05-19-2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo

Try clit to get it from lit to txt then convert via calibre

p

Calibre will convert the LIT directly. IMO, TXT would be the worst format to take things to as you lose things like italics. You can use C-Lit to explode the LIT and get the underlying HTML, but I doubt the conversion results will look any different.

Depending on the problems with the ePub you can often do a bit of hand editing with Sigil after converting with Calibre.

DoctorOhh · 05-19-2010, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp00ki

Hello.
I'm a new PRS-600 owner, and have recently begun converting a few of my LIT files for use on my Touch Edition using Calibre.

EPub is almost consistently a no-go.

So far, LTF has been my best bet, but the page number changes upon font resize (so if i'm reading along with a friend, "the scene on page 30" is meaningless).

Does anyone know of a file format that works "best" for converting LIT to?

It's simple if the lit is properly formatted then it will consistently convert to ePub without error.

If the lit file is garbage (previously converted from pdf) then it will convert like garbage. You can usually tell by looking at the lit file, if it doesn't have clean paragraphs, if sentences stop suddenly to be started again a line down then it is not likely to convert to anything well.

I convert all my files to ePub using Calibre and I change the font size, indent all paragraphs and put a line between each paragraph. This is how I like my books and a well formatted lit file is the best source I could ask for.

People in the Calibre forum could give you more specific pointers.

MSJim · 05-19-2010, 11:14 PM

I've had my best results converting LIT files to ePub using a multistep process. I use Amber Lit Converter to go from LIT to RTF. Edit/format the file to my liking in MS Word, then save as filtered HTM. I then use Calibre to convert the HTM to ePub.
It sounds like a lot of bother, but if, as dwanthny said, you have a poorly formatted LIT file, this works best for me.
I do all my formatting, page breaks, paragraph spacing, etc. in Word, because I haven't figured out the fine points of tweaking HTML code with Calibre.

JSWolf · 05-19-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSJim

I've had my best results converting LIT files to ePub using a multistep process. I use Amber Lit Converter to go from LIT to RTF. Edit/format the file to my liking in MS Word, then save as filtered HTM. I then use Calibre to convert the HTM to ePub.
It sounds like a lot of bother, but if, as dwanthny said, you have a poorly formatted LIT file, this works best for me.
I do all my formatting, page breaks, paragraph spacing, etc. in Word, because I haven't figured out the fine points of tweaking HTML code with Calibre.

You are risking make one hell of a mess of your ePub. ABC Amber LIT Converter uses code from a buggy version of Convert LIT. The you add all kinds of crap when you use Word. The best idea is to use Calibre to convert the LIT to ePub and then use Sigil to edit the CSS and you'll end up with a nice looking CSS.

FatDog · 05-20-2010, 12:42 AM

I love all the different ways people solve the same problem. This means there is no clear winner but lots of solutions. Any others?

AlbertaCowboy · 05-20-2010, 12:06 PM

Nine times out of ten, if I have a lit. file to begin with, I run it through the wringer using Book Designer. I can make any edits that I need to on the source material within BD. When finished editing, I output the file to LRF, and then convert to ePub with Calibre. I have found that the vast majority of problems that arise with conversions are due to improperly formatted source material. Ultimately, if you put garbage in, you get garbage out.

Timoleon · 05-20-2010, 12:14 PM

LIT makes beautiful LRF files. I do the same thing that AlbertaCowboy does, though --- I run the LIT through the wringer of Book Designer first before giving it to Calibre to convert to LRF. LRF still looks better than ePub on Sony devices, although I guess the handwriting is on the wall that it is a dying format...

edbro · 05-20-2010, 12:32 PM

Calibre lists an order of preference for best formats to convert from. I believe that .lit is the best. I have never had a properly formatted lit file come out anything less than perfect. I always convert to both epub and lrf and send lrfs to the device.

This is a Calibre question that would best be posted in the Calibre forum.

AlbertaCowboy · 05-20-2010, 02:05 PM

Just because most of us use Calibre in converting does not automatically make the original thread topic "a Calibre question". My take on the original thread was that sp00ki was using lit. files as a source and was having trouble with formatting.

edbro · 05-20-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Just because most of us use Calibre in converting does not automatically make the original thread topic "a Calibre question". My take on the original thread was that sp00ki was using lit. files as a source and was having trouble with formatting.

Then the answer would depend on which conversion tool sp00ki was using. Since he/she already said Calibre then I think that getting help in the Calibre thread would be more productive. I was just trying to direct the OP to the best source of information.

Teddman · 05-20-2010, 02:47 PM

Just convert to LRF and tell your friend, "the scene where such-and-such happens" instead of "the scene on page 30."

Problem solved.

05-19-2010, 06:32 PM	#1
sp00ki Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-600 Touch Edition™	"Best" format to convert to (from .lit)? Hello. I'm a new PRS-600 owner, and have recently begun converting a few of my LIT files for use on my Touch Edition using Calibre. I've had mixed results so far... EPub is almost consistently a no-go; PDF seems to work, but never gives me anything readable. So far, LTF has been my best bet, but the page number changes upon font resize (so if i'm reading along with a friend, "the scene on page 30" is meaningless). Does anyone know of a file format that works "best" for converting LIT to? Or perhaps tips to make the conversion process a bit easer? I'm still in my learning curve (this is day two), so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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05-19-2010, 07:32 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	What about ePub makes it a no-go for you? Perhaps folks can help get you a better conversion.

05-19-2010, 07:45 PM	#3
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	Also, if it's a conversion issue, you might want to ask about it down in the calibre forum.

05-19-2010, 08:49 PM	#4
palo Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 28 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony T2	Try clit to get it from lit to txt then convert via calibre p

05-19-2010, 11:14 PM	#7
MSJim Bookworm Posts: 104 Karma: 26 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Georgia, USA Device: PRS-600, Nook STR	I've had my best results converting LIT files to ePub using a multistep process. I use Amber Lit Converter to go from LIT to RTF. Edit/format the file to my liking in MS Word, then save as filtered HTM. I then use Calibre to convert the HTM to ePub. It sounds like a lot of bother, but if, as dwanthny said, you have a poorly formatted LIT file, this works best for me. I do all my formatting, page breaks, paragraph spacing, etc. in Word, because I haven't figured out the fine points of tweaking HTML code with Calibre.

05-20-2010, 12:42 AM	#9
FatDog Witless protection Agent Posts: 290 Karma: 1002898 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	I love all the different ways people solve the same problem. This means there is no clear winner but lots of solutions. Any others?

05-20-2010, 12:06 PM	#10
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	Nine times out of ten, if I have a lit. file to begin with, I run it through the wringer using Book Designer. I can make any edits that I need to on the source material within BD. When finished editing, I output the file to LRF, and then convert to ePub with Calibre. I have found that the vast majority of problems that arise with conversions are due to improperly formatted source material. Ultimately, if you put garbage in, you get garbage out.

05-20-2010, 12:14 PM	#11
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	LIT makes beautiful LRF files. I do the same thing that AlbertaCowboy does, though --- I run the LIT through the wringer of Book Designer first before giving it to Calibre to convert to LRF. LRF still looks better than ePub on Sony devices, although I guess the handwriting is on the wall that it is a dying format...

05-20-2010, 12:32 PM	#12
edbro Banned Posts: 640 Karma: 4911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Grapevine, TX Device: iPad4	Calibre lists an order of preference for best formats to convert from. I believe that .lit is the best. I have never had a properly formatted lit file come out anything less than perfect. I always convert to both epub and lrf and send lrfs to the device. This is a Calibre question that would best be posted in the Calibre forum.

05-20-2010, 02:05 PM	#13
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	Just because most of us use Calibre in converting does not automatically make the original thread topic "a Calibre question". My take on the original thread was that sp00ki was using lit. files as a source and was having trouble with formatting.

05-20-2010, 02:47 PM	#15
Teddman Addict Posts: 242 Karma: 695 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	Just convert to LRF and tell your friend, "the scene where such-and-such happens" instead of "the scene on page 30." Problem solved.

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