Batch processing of PDB files?

[Asterra]

Let's hypothesize that one has come across about 100 books in PDB format, and wishes to convert these into whatever works best with the iLiad. He has discovered that the only application which seems capable of producing a book-like format from these files - with paragraphs and indentations and the like - is Book Designer. The option seems to exist for one to load the PDBs into Book Designer one by one, saving them as HTMLs or what have you.

This could get tedious.

There's a two-step process here. Load a PDB, save as HTML. (I assume this will work well with the iLiad and the font won't be some generic digital thing.) A batch rendition of this process would be ideal, but it's not immediately obvious how one might achieve such a thing with Book Designer.

Anyway, that's where I'm at now. At the very least, it's a relief that there is an application capable of doing something with these books.

[Adam B.]

The iLiad should be able to read a PDB out of the box with the internal Mobipocket reader.

[Asterra]

Ah, okay, thanks. That piece of information (and probably others) should possibly be updated at this otherwise useful resource:

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

Now to look into .LIT concerns.

[Adam B.]

Originally Posted by Asterra

Ah, okay, thanks. That piece of information (and probably others) should possibly be updated at this otherwise useful resource:

https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/E-book_Reader_Matrix

Now to look into .LIT concerns.

If the .Lit file is unencrypted, I've created a script that will automatically convert it into a format readable with FBReader on the iLiad.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Asterra

Let's hypothesize that one has come across about 100 books in PDB format, and wishes to convert these into whatever works best with the iLiad.

Note that "PDB" is a Palm file format that is used by several e-book formats. Check bytes 61-68 of your files (e.g. with a text editor, or under Linux with the file command) to determine the format. FBReader supports:

Aportis Doc (bytes 61-68 = "TEXtREAd")
zTxt ("zTXTGPlm")
plucker ("DataPlkr")
mobipocket ("BOOKMOBI")

MobiPocket is usually in a .prc file, but the other three are usually or often .pdb files. AportisDoc is now usually called PalmDoc, and the MobiPocket Reader will also read these files (which might be .prc or .pdb).

In any case, if you have a Windows or Linux Desktop, download FBReader and see if it reads your PDB files. If you have Windows, or any one of the many supported handheld PDA's or smart phones you can also try MobiPocket Reader.

See Palm Magic for a list of many PalmOS document types.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Note that "PDB" is a Palm file format that is used by several e-book formats. Check bytes 61-68 of your files (e.g. with a text editor, or under Linux with the file command) to determine the format. FBReader supports:

Aportis Doc (bytes 61-68 = "TEXtREAd")
zTxt ("zTXTGPlm")
plucker ("DataPlkr")
mobipocket ("BOOKMOBI")

MobiPocket is usually in a .prc file, but the other three are usually or often .pdb files. AportisDoc is now usually called PalmDoc, and the MobiPocket Reader will also read these files (which might be .prc or .pdb).

In any case, if you have a Windows or Linux Desktop, download FBReader and see if it reads your PDB files. If you have Windows, or any one of the many supported handheld PDA's or smart phones you can also try MobiPocket Reader.

See Palm Magic for a list of many PalmOS document types.

You can find this list in an easier to read format and more filetypes in my PDB article on the mobileread wiki. If you haven't checked it lately you are missing a good resource.

Dale

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by DaleDe

You can find this list in an easier to read format and more filetypes in my PDB article on the mobileread wiki. If you haven't checked it lately you are missing a good resource.

Thanks for the link. It would have saved me a lot of typing.