"Breaking into" a .prc file

Ea · 04-13-2009, 05:00 AM

I'm trying to convince someone who about to publish a fanzine in an 'e-version' that it would be a good idea to offer a real ebook format beside PDF.

Her biggest concern is that, I qoute: "What really gives me a headache is that people can change the text."

As far as I know, it's difficult unless you have specialist knowledge to actually change text in a .prc file. Am I correct? I mean, I suppose it could be done... or can it?

Besides, it's my opinion that it's fairly straightforward to copy from a PDF and that it's much more likely that someone would do that than try to get into the prc file. Or they might try the prc file, but I've just tried and it doesn't look like it's neither straightforward to do, nor to find instructions for doing so.

PS: I'm looking for practical answers, not opinions whether PDF is a good idea or not. I'm just trying to help someone and show that there are other options that are just as good (or better) than PDF when it comes to protect the text.

Jellby · 04-13-2009, 05:08 AM

It's maybe difficult to directly change the text of a .prc file, but it's quite easy to "uncompress" it, change the text (it's basically HTML) and re-create the .prc.

It's not much harder to change the text in a PDF, although the changes must be limited, like changing "ash" into "ass". Unless the PDF is created as images... in which case one can extract the images, alter them with a graphics program and re-create the PDF.

If identifying the one correct authorized official version is the trouble, I'd suggest publishing a hash (such as MD5 or SHA) in the webpage, as it is done with software. Or maybe encoding with a PGP private key.

HarryT · 04-13-2009, 05:16 AM

Assuming that, by "prc", you are referring to MobiPocket files, then there are tools around which, as Jellby says, can "decompress" the Mobi file back to HTML. However, I'm slightly at a loss why your friend is worried about this. Does he or she think that anyone is likely to want to start distributing modified versions of the book?

gwynevans · 04-13-2009, 05:18 AM

Well, she's probably correct, in that if she really wants to protect the text, releasing it as a PDF consisting of a series of page images is probably the best way. Of course, many people have OCR software!

If she does want to go for the eBooks market, though, a PDF of the correct page size could be a reasonable solution.

Ea · 04-13-2009, 05:32 AM

Well... the situation could be; it apparently happens sometimes that some readers of fan fiction don't like, say, the ending, and then write another one just for themself. It's not really about redistribution. Though that could happen, too, but I would say in a casual manner. Her problem is that she has to think about what her contributers feel. If you don't understand the technology very well, it causes fear.

The end users we're talking about, are not usually people who are especially computer literate - because if they were, you can't really do a thing anyway. This is casual users we're talking about, and it's then that I think that a mobipocket file wouldn't be less safe in these terms than a PDF.

Ea · 04-13-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

Well, she's probably correct, in that if she really wants to protect the text, releasing it as a PDF consisting of a series of page images is probably the best way. Of course, many people have OCR software!

If she does want to go for the eBooks market, though, a PDF of the correct page size could be a reasonable solution.

Yes, that is what I'm going to propose if she doesn't feel comfortable with the mobipocket file.

Andybaby · 04-13-2009, 08:44 AM

as a side note, if i see a verson of a story that has been modified, it would make me more likely to read that story, the original as well as the modified version, because someone has liked it enough to change it, i would want to see if i agree with those changes or not.

a quick example of a famous story would be Podkayne of Mars, where Heinleins publisher made him not kill the Main character, but in later printings included both endings.

HarryT · 04-13-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

as a side note, if i see a verson of a story that has been modified, it would make me more likely to read that story, the original as well as the modified version, because someone has liked it enough to change it, i would want to see if i agree with those changes or not.

a quick example of a famous story would be Podkayne of Mars, where Heinleins publisher made him not kill the Main character, but in later printings included both endings.

... or Dickens' "Great Expectations", where the same thing happened. Modern editions (and the version available here at MR) include both endings.

JSWolf · 04-13-2009, 09:12 PM

If the fanzine is something I am interested in and it's only available in PDF, I would not bother with it and I would tell others not to bother with it. But if it was in a format I could easily convert or use as is, I'd read it. And if I liked it, I'd recommend it to others with an interest in the subject matter. But in PDF, no matter the subject, I'd stay away. So PDF is going to cause more hassle then it is worth. And besides, if the files are hosted on the author's site, then the downloads will be the original files and I see no issues there are all. But PDF is going to be an issue we don't need. So please tell this person to stay far far away from PDF.

gwynevans · 04-14-2009, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Yes, that is what I'm going to propose if she doesn't feel comfortable with the mobipocket file.

Don't forget to flag to here that the downside is that while people can't change the text, they also can't change the font size, which is a critical issue for many readers.

gwynevans · 04-14-2009, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the fanzine is something I am interested in and it's only available in PDF, I would not bother with it and I would tell others not to bother with it.

Isn't that just a little bit extreme? As a counter-example, I'd point to this...

JSWolf · 04-14-2009, 09:29 AM

Yes, I know PDF can be ok if sized properly. But the issue is that it's not reflowable, cannot change the text size, and it won't work on the Kindle. So overall, it's still nasty.

Jellby · 04-14-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But the issue is that it's not reflowable, cannot change the text size, and it won't work on the Kindle.

Just like paper books

daffy4u · 04-14-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Yes, I know PDF can be ok if sized properly. But the issue is that it's not reflowable, cannot change the text size, and it won't work on the Kindle. So overall, it's still nasty.

If it's text, it's very easy to convert (if it's DRM-free). It not, those who really want it can use Savory or a computer.

Gaurnim · 04-14-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

The end users we're talking about, are not usually people who are especially computer literate - because if they were, you can't really do a thing anyway. This is casual users we're talking about, and it's then that I think that a mobipocket file wouldn't be less safe in these terms than a PDF.

If they are casual users, I'd say there is a good chance that they know less about MobiPocket than about PDF files.

04-13-2009, 05:00 AM	#1
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	"Breaking into" a .prc file I'm trying to convince someone who about to publish a fanzine in an 'e-version' that it would be a good idea to offer a real ebook format beside PDF. Her biggest concern is that, I qoute: "What really gives me a headache is that people can change the text." As far as I know, it's difficult unless you have specialist knowledge to actually change text in a .prc file. Am I correct? I mean, I suppose it could be done... or can it? Besides, it's my opinion that it's fairly straightforward to copy from a PDF and that it's much more likely that someone would do that than try to get into the prc file. Or they might try the prc file, but I've just tried and it doesn't look like it's neither straightforward to do, nor to find instructions for doing so. PS: I'm looking for practical answers, not opinions whether PDF is a good idea or not. I'm just trying to help someone and show that there are other options that are just as good (or better) than PDF when it comes to protect the text.

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04-13-2009, 05:08 AM	#2
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,542 Karma: 19001583 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	It's maybe difficult to directly change the text of a .prc file, but it's quite easy to "uncompress" it, change the text (it's basically HTML) and re-create the .prc. It's not much harder to change the text in a PDF, although the changes must be limited, like changing "ash" into "ass". Unless the PDF is created as images... in which case one can extract the images, alter them with a graphics program and re-create the PDF. If identifying the one correct authorized official version is the trouble, I'd suggest publishing a hash (such as MD5 or SHA) in the webpage, as it is done with software. Or maybe encoding with a PGP private key.

04-13-2009, 05:16 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Assuming that, by "prc", you are referring to MobiPocket files, then there are tools around which, as Jellby says, can "decompress" the Mobi file back to HTML. However, I'm slightly at a loss why your friend is worried about this. Does he or she think that anyone is likely to want to start distributing modified versions of the book?

04-13-2009, 05:18 AM	#4
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	Well, she's probably correct, in that if she really wants to protect the text, releasing it as a PDF consisting of a series of page images is probably the best way. Of course, many people have OCR software! If she does want to go for the eBooks market, though, a PDF of the correct page size could be a reasonable solution.

04-13-2009, 05:32 AM	#5
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	Well... the situation could be; it apparently happens sometimes that some readers of fan fiction don't like, say, the ending, and then write another one just for themself. It's not really about redistribution. Though that could happen, too, but I would say in a casual manner. Her problem is that she has to think about what her contributers feel. If you don't understand the technology very well, it causes fear. The end users we're talking about, are not usually people who are especially computer literate - because if they were, you can't really do a thing anyway. This is casual users we're talking about, and it's then that I think that a mobipocket file wouldn't be less safe in these terms than a PDF.

04-13-2009, 08:44 AM	#7
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	as a side note, if i see a verson of a story that has been modified, it would make me more likely to read that story, the original as well as the modified version, because someone has liked it enough to change it, i would want to see if i agree with those changes or not. a quick example of a famous story would be Podkayne of Mars, where Heinleins publisher made him not kill the Main character, but in later printings included both endings.

04-13-2009, 09:12 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,798 Karma: 143059982 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If the fanzine is something I am interested in and it's only available in PDF, I would not bother with it and I would tell others not to bother with it. But if it was in a format I could easily convert or use as is, I'd read it. And if I liked it, I'd recommend it to others with an interest in the subject matter. But in PDF, no matter the subject, I'd stay away. So PDF is going to cause more hassle then it is worth. And besides, if the files are hosted on the author's site, then the downloads will be the original files and I see no issues there are all. But PDF is going to be an issue we don't need. So please tell this person to stay far far away from PDF.

04-14-2009, 09:29 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 78,798 Karma: 143059982 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Yes, I know PDF can be ok if sized properly. But the issue is that it's not reflowable, cannot change the text size, and it won't work on the Kindle. So overall, it's still nasty.

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