An EBook converter?

BrickyBrian · 11-17-2018, 02:58 PM

When I'm studying a subject and find a book that I wish to use I find that it helps me to absorb what I’m studying by copying pieces from the book onto my computer, then work with those words by writing a critique on what that particular writer said and then deleting the copied EBook.

The problem is that if I wish to type the words I am reading from a book onto my computer face by the time I have moved my eyes from the book to the computer I forget what I wanted to type within seconds. Of course I could go through the cumbersome practice of attaching a rule to the book moving it down the page sentence by sentence. It has been suggested to me that this problem may result from my dyslexia.

As a result of that problem I started to scan pages of books I'm working with then deleting them when I have finished working with them but it’s a laborious task. I then found that there are companies that will strip a book down and then digitalise it but that requires that the book is destroyed.

I know that some E Books that can be copied using cut and paste but I also know that there are many that can’t so in desperation I am now looking for an EBook converter and as the Internet can be a dangerous place to buy applications or programs call them what you will I wonder if anyone would care to suggest an EBook converter that can be trusted? I have asked a number of publishers for permission to temporarily copy one of their books but most don’t even reply.

Adoby · 11-17-2018, 03:03 PM

Take a look at calibre. It can convert to/from many formats.

Note that PDF is very bad as a source format.

Also note that the books have to be without copy protection / DMR.

https://calibre-ebook.com/download

This forum is the main support channel for calibre.

rcentros · 11-17-2018, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrickyBrian

I know that some E Books that can be copied using cut and paste but I also know that there are many that can’t so in desperation I am now looking for an EBook converter and as the Internet can be a dangerous place to buy applications or programs call them what you will I wonder if anyone would care to suggest an EBook converter that can be trusted? I have asked a number of publishers for permission to temporarily copy one of their books but most don’t even reply.

If the legally obtained book is in eBook format (ePub or mobi) you can do just about anything you want with it, via Calibre and Apprentice Alf, including cut and paste. PDF depends on what kind of PDF. If it's just images of the pages bound together, then you'll still have to OCR scan it (like you would a physical book). If it's a "real" PDF you can either cut and paste directly from the book, or convert it into another format for copying and pasting.

Tarana · 11-17-2018, 07:27 PM

If you are able to scan your page straight, then get ABBYY Transformer. It's about $40 and does a lovely job of converting scanned text into epub format. Then use Calibre to fix the typos and you are ready to go.

BookCat · 11-23-2018, 12:24 AM

The first thing which occurred to me on reading you post was: learn to touch type. But this can take a long time. Touch typing would enable you to keep your eyes on the book while your fingers do the typing; you don't need to look at the keys or screen.

But it can take months, even years to become good at this, depending upon your motor skills.

Another suggestion: read the passages into a tape recorder, then type them later. Or use text to speech software.

Converting the books might be easier.

ZodWallop · 11-26-2018, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrickyBrian

...The problem is that if I wish to type the words I am reading from a book onto my computer face by the time I have moved my eyes from the book to the computer I forget what I wanted to type within seconds.

Since it sounds like you don't necessarily need to convert the books you are reading in to full fledged ebooks, why not just take pictures of the pages you are studying? You could then open those pictures on your monitor in one window to read and type in another.

A cheap and easy solution you could do right now at no cost (assuming you have a cell phone with a camera).

11-17-2018, 02:58 PM	#1
BrickyBrian Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 2136218 Join Date: Mar 2018 Device: None	An EBook converter? When I'm studying a subject and find a book that I wish to use I find that it helps me to absorb what I’m studying by copying pieces from the book onto my computer, then work with those words by writing a critique on what that particular writer said and then deleting the copied EBook. The problem is that if I wish to type the words I am reading from a book onto my computer face by the time I have moved my eyes from the book to the computer I forget what I wanted to type within seconds. Of course I could go through the cumbersome practice of attaching a rule to the book moving it down the page sentence by sentence. It has been suggested to me that this problem may result from my dyslexia. As a result of that problem I started to scan pages of books I'm working with then deleting them when I have finished working with them but it’s a laborious task. I then found that there are companies that will strip a book down and then digitalise it but that requires that the book is destroyed. I know that some E Books that can be copied using cut and paste but I also know that there are many that can’t so in desperation I am now looking for an EBook converter and as the Internet can be a dangerous place to buy applications or programs call them what you will I wonder if anyone would care to suggest an EBook converter that can be trusted? I have asked a number of publishers for permission to temporarily copy one of their books but most don’t even reply.

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11-17-2018, 03:03 PM	#2
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	Take a look at calibre. It can convert to/from many formats. Note that PDF is very bad as a source format. Also note that the books have to be without copy protection / DMR. https://calibre-ebook.com/download This forum is the main support channel for calibre.

11-17-2018, 07:27 PM	#4
Tarana Wizard Posts: 3,978 Karma: 38840460 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Minneapolis Device: PWSE, Voyage, K3, HDX, KBasic 7 & 8, Nook Glo3, Echos, Nanos	If you are able to scan your page straight, then get ABBYY Transformer. It's about $40 and does a lovely job of converting scanned text into epub format. Then use Calibre to fix the typos and you are ready to go.

11-23-2018, 12:24 AM	#5
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,912 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	The first thing which occurred to me on reading you post was: learn to touch type. But this can take a long time. Touch typing would enable you to keep your eyes on the book while your fingers do the typing; you don't need to look at the keys or screen. But it can take months, even years to become good at this, depending upon your motor skills. Another suggestion: read the passages into a tape recorder, then type them later. Or use text to speech software. Converting the books might be easier.

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