Harper Collins Dictionary Won't Convert

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 08:46 AM

I have been trying to convert an English-Italian dictionary from azw format to PDF so that my partner, who happens to be blind, can access it on her BrailleSense Polaris. Calibre runs for quite a long time before it eventually fails. Ironically, Anicesoft (apologies if this is considered swearing here!!) have had the file over a year and not done anything with it either (their last e-mail suggested we paid for a developer at about £200/day to get it done!). I hope you might be able to help with this. As I know my way around a PC, if I need to me to do any digging for hidden files etc which might help, then this can be done.

kovidgoyal · 05-12-2020, 09:24 AM

fails with what error?

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 09:40 AM

It looks as though I may have done this on my partner's machine having used her DRM removal tool (epubor ultimate) and haven't got access to that until Thursday. Running it now I get a DRM error. I can't remember what error I got but will retry on Thursday and report back.

pdurrant · 05-12-2020, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulBenn

I have been trying to convert an English-Italian dictionary from azw format to PDF so that my partner, who happens to be blind, can access it on her BrailleSense Polaris. Calibre runs for quite a long time before it eventually fails. Ironically, Anicesoft (apologies if this is considered swearing here!!) have had the file over a year and not done anything with it either (their last e-mail suggested we paid for a developer at about £200/day to get it done!). I hope you might be able to help with this. As I know my way around a PC, if I need to me to do any digging for hidden files etc which might help, then this can be done.

Do not post unauthorised copies of copyright material to MobileRead again. Attachment deleted.

Remove the DRM from the dictionary. Use the KindleUnpack plugin with calibre to extract the HTML contents. Manipulate that into the desired format.

If you want to try calibre conversion again, make sure you're using the 64-bit version of calibre.

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 10:37 AM

I don't know how you define an unauthorised copy - the file that I uploaded was the one that is on my Kindle. My partner is part of my Kindle family so we are authorised to share books between us. How is a file that I am authorised to view an "unauthorised copy of copyright material"? The reason DRM removal was done on her laptop and not mine (so I admit the file I uploaded included DRM as I had forgottem this) is because she as the licence for Epubor Ultimate.

stumped · 05-12-2020, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulBenn

.. we are authorised to share books between us. ...

but you are not authorised to share a copy with the rest of the world by posting it online where anyone could download it.

<Rude comment.>

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 10:49 AM

So if I have a problem converting a file I guess what I should do is to post it as a private bug report rather than seek help in the forum itself. As I am new here I am still trying to work out what I can do and what I can't.

jhowell · 05-12-2020, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulBenn

So if I have a problem converting a file I guess what I should do is to post it as a private bug report rather than seek help in the forum itself.

Yes, that is the procedure for a book that is under copyright.

By far the most likely reason that a large book, such as a dictionary, will fail to convert is that a 32-bit release of calibre is being used and is running out of memory. (The reason for failure will be Memory Error.) Installing 64-bit calibre will fix that sort of problem.

-----

I do wonder how useful a dictionary converted to PDF will be. The lookup functionality built into the Kindle will not carry over. And simply searching for words within the PDF may not work if they are broken up in to syllables in the dictionary presentation.

stumped · 05-12-2020, 11:02 AM

you can ask for help with a description of the problem but not post the actual book. attaching an entire dictionary to a private bug report may be overkill, unless simpler fixes fail.

as its a commercially sold product we can probably assume that the book itself is not broken, its a case of finding the right tools & approach.

also dictionary conversions of any sort are problematic due to the size of book/ number of linked entries. maybe a powerful PC will be able to do it if left to run for hours...

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 11:12 AM

Thank you all for your replies. I will check the version of Calibre that has been installed on my partner's laptop.

The reason that I wanted it converted to PDF is because my partner and I know that this format is accessible via her BrailleSense Polaris so that she can read it in braille. We are looking at the possibility of installing the Kindle APK on the device but that too is fraught with problems. First we will have to check out whether the device has a browser on it. If not, then that will have to be installed. Once installed my partner will have to work out how to use it. That in itself is not straight forward when what she is reading is limited to 32 characters at a time (the BrailleSense "screen")!

When I last tried a conversion of the dictionary it did run for quite a while before failing as I recall. This, as has been said, could be caused by the size and complexity of the dictionary being converted.

stumped · 05-12-2020, 12:06 PM

how does she need to use the dictionary?

have you considered Alexa, or OK Google equivalent. i.e. you use voice apps to define, translate, rather than braille-typed queries and braille responses

I know that Ok google does translations. we have used it with foreign visitors to our AirBnb & its great. if we preset ,say, Italian as the alternative language in google assistant then its effectively bilingual, in English and italian
so with an italian visitor and a Google Home in the room we can speak a phrase and have OK google say it in italian , or they could do the reverse to us

those same apps can do dictionary definitions also e.g. this Smart dictionary Alexa Skill
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BeCauseApps.../dp/B078L2V447

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 01:28 PM

She uses the dictionary to translate words that are in Italian books that she accesses on her BrailleSense. By having the dictionary on her BrailleSense then she has everything in one place. I will mention Alexa and Ok Google to her when I speak to her tonight. My partner has not got a smartphone because the cost of an accessible phone is prohibitive.

Thanks for your suggestions.

stumped · 05-12-2020, 01:37 PM

So the dictionary really needs to be integrated with the reader, to get the braille equivalent of tap on a word to see the definition.
I am a bit surprised that has not been solved by specialist suppliers already.
I don't think pdf will work well as someone else opined. It's a dumb format and will not link at word level.
Do explore voice though, a Google home mini is very cheap, there have been several give away promotions. One of you needs something that can run the setup app, just one time, so if you have an android device you can do that for her. That selects WiFi and sets other preferences like languages.
Same for setting up an Alexa device, you need to one time use an app unless you get a cheap fire tablet with hands free Alexa built in, then you just put it into a dock for always on docked mode...

PaulBenn · 05-12-2020, 01:40 PM

Thanks again for your suggestions.

stumped · 05-12-2020, 01:46 PM

Ok . I will leave it there
A while back I did some related research into options for my wife's mother whose eyesight deteriorated to the point that she was registered legally blind, so much looking at tech workarounds...
E.g. we found her a big button audio player for audio books on usb sticks, via the RNIB. It could be operated quite well by feel.

05-12-2020, 08:46 AM	#1
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Harper Collins Dictionary Won't Convert I have been trying to convert an English-Italian dictionary from azw format to PDF so that my partner, who happens to be blind, can access it on her BrailleSense Polaris. Calibre runs for quite a long time before it eventually fails. Ironically, Anicesoft (apologies if this is considered swearing here!!) have had the file over a year and not done anything with it either (their last e-mail suggested we paid for a developer at about £200/day to get it done!). I hope you might be able to help with this. As I know my way around a PC, if I need to me to do any digging for hidden files etc which might help, then this can be done. Last edited by pdurrant; 05-12-2020 at 09:50 AM.

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05-12-2020, 09:24 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,858 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	fails with what error?

05-12-2020, 09:40 AM	#3
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	It looks as though I may have done this on my partner's machine having used her DRM removal tool (epubor ultimate) and haven't got access to that until Thursday. Running it now I get a DRM error. I can't remember what error I got but will retry on Thursday and report back.

05-12-2020, 10:37 AM	#5
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I don't know how you define an unauthorised copy - the file that I uploaded was the one that is on my Kindle. My partner is part of my Kindle family so we are authorised to share books between us. How is a file that I am authorised to view an "unauthorised copy of copyright material"? The reason DRM removal was done on her laptop and not mine (so I admit the file I uploaded included DRM as I had forgottem this) is because she as the licence for Epubor Ultimate.

05-12-2020, 10:49 AM	#7
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	So if I have a problem converting a file I guess what I should do is to post it as a private bug report rather than seek help in the forum itself. As I am new here I am still trying to work out what I can do and what I can't.

05-12-2020, 11:02 AM	#9
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	you can ask for help with a description of the problem but not post the actual book. attaching an entire dictionary to a private bug report may be overkill, unless simpler fixes fail. as its a commercially sold product we can probably assume that the book itself is not broken, its a case of finding the right tools & approach. also dictionary conversions of any sort are problematic due to the size of book/ number of linked entries. maybe a powerful PC will be able to do it if left to run for hours...

05-12-2020, 11:12 AM	#10
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Thank you all for your replies. I will check the version of Calibre that has been installed on my partner's laptop. The reason that I wanted it converted to PDF is because my partner and I know that this format is accessible via her BrailleSense Polaris so that she can read it in braille. We are looking at the possibility of installing the Kindle APK on the device but that too is fraught with problems. First we will have to check out whether the device has a browser on it. If not, then that will have to be installed. Once installed my partner will have to work out how to use it. That in itself is not straight forward when what she is reading is limited to 32 characters at a time (the BrailleSense "screen")! When I last tried a conversion of the dictionary it did run for quite a while before failing as I recall. This, as has been said, could be caused by the size and complexity of the dictionary being converted.

05-12-2020, 12:06 PM	#11
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	how does she need to use the dictionary? have you considered Alexa, or OK Google equivalent. i.e. you use voice apps to define, translate, rather than braille-typed queries and braille responses I know that Ok google does translations. we have used it with foreign visitors to our AirBnb & its great. if we preset ,say, Italian as the alternative language in google assistant then its effectively bilingual, in English and italian so with an italian visitor and a Google Home in the room we can speak a phrase and have OK google say it in italian , or they could do the reverse to us those same apps can do dictionary definitions also e.g. this Smart dictionary Alexa Skill https://www.amazon.co.uk/BeCauseApps.../dp/B078L2V447

05-12-2020, 01:28 PM	#12
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	She uses the dictionary to translate words that are in Italian books that she accesses on her BrailleSense. By having the dictionary on her BrailleSense then she has everything in one place. I will mention Alexa and Ok Google to her when I speak to her tonight. My partner has not got a smartphone because the cost of an accessible phone is prohibitive. Thanks for your suggestions.

05-12-2020, 01:37 PM	#13
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	So the dictionary really needs to be integrated with the reader, to get the braille equivalent of tap on a word to see the definition. I am a bit surprised that has not been solved by specialist suppliers already. I don't think pdf will work well as someone else opined. It's a dumb format and will not link at word level. Do explore voice though, a Google home mini is very cheap, there have been several give away promotions. One of you needs something that can run the setup app, just one time, so if you have an android device you can do that for her. That selects WiFi and sets other preferences like languages. Same for setting up an Alexa device, you need to one time use an app unless you get a cheap fire tablet with hands free Alexa built in, then you just put it into a dock for always on docked mode...

05-12-2020, 01:40 PM	#14
PaulBenn Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2020 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Thanks again for your suggestions.

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05-12-2020, 01:46 PM	#15
stumped Wizard Posts: 3,305 Karma: 10259306 Join Date: May 2016 Device: kobo forma, Kobo Libra, Huawei media Tab, fire HD10, PW3 HDX8.9,	Ok . I will leave it there A while back I did some related research into options for my wife's mother whose eyesight deteriorated to the point that she was registered legally blind, so much looking at tech workarounds... E.g. we found her a big button audio player for audio books on usb sticks, via the RNIB. It could be operated quite well by feel.