How do I change format from PDA to Sony Reader?

scgf · 08-22-2008, 11:39 AM

I am in the UK and eagerly awaiting delivery of my new Sony Reader. Meanwhile I am collecting some ebooks.

I have bought a collection of .lit books meant for a Pocket PC. I have successfully converted them to html then to lrf using the usual Convertlit and Calibre.

The problem is that the original ebooks were formatted for the small pocket pc screen and when I view them in Calibre the font is very big.

Is there a way to reformat the ebooks to work better with the Sony Reader? I am very new to this and am thrilled that I have successfully converted some DRM ebooks!

Many thanks for your advice.

=X= · 08-22-2008, 01:46 PM

If you are using the GUI. There is a setting in calbre, located on the fourth tab. Change the "Base Font" to your desired size. It sound like you like small fonts so I would start with 8.

=X=

JSWolf · 08-22-2008, 01:54 PM

10 point is a good size on the 6" eink screen of the 505.

Code:

html2lrf --top-margin=0 --bottom-margin=0 --left-margin=0 --right-margin=0 --wordspace=1.1 --base-font-size=10 "name of the file"

That's what I would use to get no mragins and a 10 point base font size.

scgf · 08-22-2008, 03:07 PM

Many thanks guys, that worked fine.

One more question, though. One of the ebooks I converted has a mono-spaced font which is not as pleasing to read as a serif font. I tried changing the fonts in Calibre but this simply caused an error.

What do I need to do?

Thanks.

igorsk · 08-22-2008, 04:15 PM

I haven't actually tried it but I expect the following would work: use lit2oeb to extract the HTML, edit it, then use html2lrf with --use-spine option.

Timoleon · 08-22-2008, 06:27 PM

Changing the point size to 9 in Calibre works perfectly for me. It corresponds with the "S" font size on the reader; and scales up nicely to medium and large with a push of a button.

I also like Calibre to skip a line between paragraphs when it reformats the text. Thusly, it breaks the flow of thoughts into bite-sized chunks for my bite-sized brain

Tim

scgf · 08-23-2008, 06:12 AM

I'm a bit of a novice with html, but I opened the main ebook htm file in an editor and added:

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">

to the section after <body>. Naturally I added </span> to the end, before </html>.

I have no idea what the difference is between <span style> and <font=> but at least it works. I am forced to use a font size of 10 because if I go to 9 in Calibre some characters are too close to each other.

What is interesting is that the lrf file is 0.4MB without specifying a font and 1.1MB with Times New Roman!

I did see <pre> before the main body text and </pre> afterwards, not sure what they do either.

Thanks again for the help - I am beginning to get a grip on it all!

HarryT · 08-23-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scgf

I have no idea what the difference is between <span style> and <font=>

There's no practical difference. Using a "span" is just a more modern way of doing it.

Quote:

I did see <pre> before the main body text and </pre> afterwards, not sure what they do either.

It means "preformatted". It tells the browser not to wrap lines, etc. You probably want to remove those tags.

scgf · 08-23-2008, 08:09 AM

Cheers HarryT.

I just tried removing <pre> from the html file and promptly lost all formatting - no paragraphs, chapters etc..

HarryT · 08-23-2008, 08:23 AM

Sounds as though the text doesn't have any formatting tags in it. That's not good!

08-22-2008, 11:39 AM	#1
scgf Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 2136402 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Amazon PW 3 iPad Pro, iPhone 12 Pro	How do I change format from PDA to Sony Reader? I am in the UK and eagerly awaiting delivery of my new Sony Reader. Meanwhile I am collecting some ebooks. I have bought a collection of .lit books meant for a Pocket PC. I have successfully converted them to html then to lrf using the usual Convertlit and Calibre. The problem is that the original ebooks were formatted for the small pocket pc screen and when I view them in Calibre the font is very big. Is there a way to reformat the ebooks to work better with the Sony Reader? I am very new to this and am thrilled that I have successfully converted some DRM ebooks! Many thanks for your advice.

08-22-2008, 01:54 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	10 point is a good size on the 6" eink screen of the 505. Code: html2lrf --top-margin=0 --bottom-margin=0 --left-margin=0 --right-margin=0 --wordspace=1.1 --base-font-size=10 "name of the file" That's what I would use to get no mragins and a 10 point base font size.

08-23-2008, 06:12 AM	#7
scgf Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 2136402 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Amazon PW 3 iPad Pro, iPhone 12 Pro	I'm a bit of a novice with html, but I opened the main ebook htm file in an editor and added: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> to the section after <body>. Naturally I added </span> to the end, before </html>. I have no idea what the difference is between <span style> and <font=> but at least it works. I am forced to use a font size of 10 because if I go to 9 in Calibre some characters are too close to each other. What is interesting is that the lrf file is 0.4MB without specifying a font and 1.1MB with Times New Roman! I did see <pre> before the main body text and </pre> afterwards, not sure what they do either. Thanks again for the help - I am beginning to get a grip on it all! Last edited by scgf; 08-23-2008 at 06:15 AM.

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08-22-2008, 01:46 PM	#2
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	If you are using the GUI. There is a setting in calbre, located on the fourth tab. Change the "Base Font" to your desired size. It sound like you like small fonts so I would start with 8. =X=

08-22-2008, 03:07 PM	#4
scgf Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 2136402 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Amazon PW 3 iPad Pro, iPhone 12 Pro	Many thanks guys, that worked fine. One more question, though. One of the ebooks I converted has a mono-spaced font which is not as pleasing to read as a serif font. I tried changing the fonts in Calibre but this simply caused an error. What do I need to do? Thanks.

08-22-2008, 04:15 PM	#5
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	I haven't actually tried it but I expect the following would work: use lit2oeb to extract the HTML, edit it, then use html2lrf with --use-spine option.

08-22-2008, 06:27 PM	#6
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	Changing the point size to 9 in Calibre works perfectly for me. It corresponds with the "S" font size on the reader; and scales up nicely to medium and large with a push of a button. I also like Calibre to skip a line between paragraphs when it reformats the text. Thusly, it breaks the flow of thoughts into bite-sized chunks for my bite-sized brain Tim

08-23-2008, 08:09 AM	#9
scgf Connoisseur Posts: 81 Karma: 2136402 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Kobo Clara HD, Amazon PW 3 iPad Pro, iPhone 12 Pro	Cheers HarryT. I just tried removing <pre> from the html file and promptly lost all formatting - no paragraphs, chapters etc..

08-23-2008, 08:23 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sounds as though the text doesn't have any formatting tags in it. That's not good!

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