Garbage in Garbage out

Novasea · 10-21-2008, 10:21 PM

I have been spending a lot of time learning about file conversion. It is taking me quite a while but thanks to the information here I have learned a lot in the last couple of weeks.
I have been able to convert text files and html files to .lrf. I have been able to convert .pdf files and then convert them to .lrf.

This has not been easy. I have had to do a LOT of reading here on the forum.
I have also had to do things over and over again until I became somewhat competent using the different utilities.

One thing that I have learned is that if you start with garbage ( a poorly formatted document ) and you just run it through a utility, you end up with garbage as your final product.

I think it is important to understand that no matter what utility you are using to convert from whatever format to another, you need to look at your original source document and see what sort of shape it is in.

There are going to be instances when you are going to have to spend time making corrections in Word (or whatever you use).

I guess what I am trying to say is that a good, clean format conversion depends on what you start out with and how much time you are willing to work on manually making corrections.

No utility is going to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. You have to be willing to use the utility as a tool and expect to put in some effort on your own to end up with a good finished product.

Just a rant ...I guess.

Thank you to all who have provided some great tools to work with and to all who share such great information as to how to use these tools.

zelda_pinwheel · 10-21-2008, 10:24 PM

as frustrating as that can be, novasea, it's an excellent point, and i think it's useful to be reminded of it from time to time. (irritating, but useful !

)

DDHarriman · 10-22-2008, 05:23 PM

Agreed completely!
And one must just pay attention to the people who post those outstanding well formatted and correct eBooks and they will tell it takes hours, and even days, of hard work.

montsnmags · 10-23-2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novasea

...
Just a rant ...I guess.
...

You're terrible at rants. There was nothing irrational or overblown in that at all.

That was more like a clearly stated and well-argued point, that puts into even-more-apparent perspective the enormous amount of work put in by the people that upload books to Mobile Read.

Well-said.

Cheers,
Marc

10-21-2008, 10:21 PM	#1
Novasea Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 212 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Sony 505	Garbage in Garbage out I have been spending a lot of time learning about file conversion. It is taking me quite a while but thanks to the information here I have learned a lot in the last couple of weeks. I have been able to convert text files and html files to .lrf. I have been able to convert .pdf files and then convert them to .lrf. This has not been easy. I have had to do a LOT of reading here on the forum. I have also had to do things over and over again until I became somewhat competent using the different utilities. One thing that I have learned is that if you start with garbage ( a poorly formatted document ) and you just run it through a utility, you end up with garbage as your final product. I think it is important to understand that no matter what utility you are using to convert from whatever format to another, you need to look at your original source document and see what sort of shape it is in. There are going to be instances when you are going to have to spend time making corrections in Word (or whatever you use). I guess what I am trying to say is that a good, clean format conversion depends on what you start out with and how much time you are willing to work on manually making corrections. No utility is going to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. You have to be willing to use the utility as a tool and expect to put in some effort on your own to end up with a good finished product. Just a rant ...I guess. Thank you to all who have provided some great tools to work with and to all who share such great information as to how to use these tools.

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10-21-2008, 10:24 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	as frustrating as that can be, novasea, it's an excellent point, and i think it's useful to be reminded of it from time to time. (irritating, but useful ! )

10-22-2008, 05:23 PM	#3
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Agreed completely! And one must just pay attention to the people who post those outstanding well formatted and correct eBooks and they will tell it takes hours, and even days, of hard work.

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