How do I read PDFs with Sony PRS-500?

unrealalex · 02-11-2008, 04:10 AM

I just got it as a gift, I had a few PDFs lying on my computer I've been wanting to read, so I put them on the reader with the Connect software, but the size of the text/font is so small I can't read them! Size button doesn't work either.

Whats the best way to make these PDF's readable?

dhbailey · 02-11-2008, 05:17 AM

Reading PDF files which haven't been created with the Sony Reader's screen size in mind are difficult. For some, turning the screen orientation to landscape (press and hold the Size button until the text rotates) can make them more readable.

I have found that using the PDFLRF application can make PDF files actually useful on the Reader. I can't recall where I downloaded this from, though. I'm sure I read about it here first, so perhaps if you did a search of this forum for PDFLRF you can find where to download it from.

It has worked for a number of PDF files which are finally readable on my 500.

gwynevans · 02-11-2008, 05:23 AM

PdfLrfWin is what I use if I need to read a PDF, but as you've found, while this size reader can display PDF's, it really depends upon the PDF itself (which to be fair, is the whole point of the PDF format), so PDF is actually the least ideal choice of the formats that are readable...

Anyway, read around the site & also bear in mind that as well as displaying PDFs, you can also read .rtf & .lrf formats directly. In addition, to the files that are directly available for download, there's a few ways of converting from various other formats to the .lrf 'native' format of the device (libprs500, Book Designer & Convert LIT are what you need to be looking for, is that's a way you might be considering.).

unrealalex · 02-11-2008, 05:29 AM

Pretty dissapointing really, you'd think Sony would release something to address this problem =/ I don't imagine it would be terribly difficult to make the Size button act as zoom for pdfs.

Yea I've been experimenting with the pdflrf and with rtf's, both seem to lose or mess up the formatting in some way, not really ideal solutions, sigh.

igorsk · 02-11-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unrealalex

Pretty dissapointing really, you'd think Sony would release something to address this problem =/ I don't imagine it would be terribly difficult to make the Size button act as zoom for pdfs.

Maybe you should try implementing that if you think it's not that difficult...
Have you tried resizing the window in Acrobat Reader? Does it "zoom" properly?

unrealalex · 02-12-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

Maybe you should try implementing that if you think it's not that difficult...
Have you tried resizing the window in Acrobat Reader? Does it "zoom" properly?

I'm not a programmer. Neither are most consumers, thats why people pay $300 for a product... I'm sure there would have been a way if they seriously attempted it.

dhbailey · 02-12-2008, 06:47 AM

Based on how relatively poor a job the converters which are available do, it may not be possible!

PDFs reformatted for the screen size work wonderfully!

carma54 · 02-12-2008, 11:25 AM

I'm new at this too, with the added complication (and privilege) of owning a Mac. This may seem complicated but I am fussy and VERY determined. I use a program called DeskUNPDF to convert the document to a Word document. I then format the document as follows:

1. I change the document page size to 3.5" X 5" dimensions. I have named this custom format "Sony Reader." It fits nicely into the Sony Reader window.
2. I change page margins to 0.4 Top; 0.2 bottom, left, and right; and 0.2 for the footnotes.
3. I make other cosmetic changes as necessary using the "Search and Replace" capabilities of Word. I change the text size to 12 points, for instance (I have "senior" eyes).
4. After I am satisfied with the appearance of the document, I save it and keep it, just in case I ever need to go back and make other changes that I have missed.
5. I used the "Print" command, but on the Mac, along with the usual "Print" and "Preview" buttons, there is a "PDF" button. I print as a PDF and end up with a new PDF file that has been specifically formatted for the Sony Reader.

Some have suggested that you reformat the window size using the Adobe Reader. That is something I will also explore. It would be easier, but whether or not I use it will depend on how it ultimately looks on the Sony Reader. The above-mentioned software, DeskUNPDF, also will convert directly to lrf (Sony Reader format, aka BBeB).

Sony has rotten support service. I had sent at least 3 emails in a month-long period of time asking for help with NO response. I sort of lost my temper and my 4th email was a rather terse complaint, ending with me calling them jerks (I'm so ashamed!) THEN I got a response! The responder said he looked up my history and found NO emails (which tells me that they keep lousy records) and basically just told me that "Sony doesn't support Macs at this time". Duh!

I am happy with the Sony Reader however, once I found some creative work-arounds. It's great having a library of reading material with you; especially if you travel around a lot.

Best Regards,

Christine

02-11-2008, 04:10 AM	#1
unrealalex Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: PRS-500	How do I read PDFs with Sony PRS-500? I just got it as a gift, I had a few PDFs lying on my computer I've been wanting to read, so I put them on the reader with the Connect software, but the size of the text/font is so small I can't read them! Size button doesn't work either. Whats the best way to make these PDF's readable?

02-12-2008, 11:25 AM	#8
carma54 Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port Angeles, WA; USA Device: Sony PRS-300	Making PDFs readable on the PRS-500 I'm new at this too, with the added complication (and privilege) of owning a Mac. This may seem complicated but I am fussy and VERY determined. I use a program called DeskUNPDF to convert the document to a Word document. I then format the document as follows: 1. I change the document page size to 3.5" X 5" dimensions. I have named this custom format "Sony Reader." It fits nicely into the Sony Reader window. 2. I change page margins to 0.4 Top; 0.2 bottom, left, and right; and 0.2 for the footnotes. 3. I make other cosmetic changes as necessary using the "Search and Replace" capabilities of Word. I change the text size to 12 points, for instance (I have "senior" eyes). 4. After I am satisfied with the appearance of the document, I save it and keep it, just in case I ever need to go back and make other changes that I have missed. 5. I used the "Print" command, but on the Mac, along with the usual "Print" and "Preview" buttons, there is a "PDF" button. I print as a PDF and end up with a new PDF file that has been specifically formatted for the Sony Reader. Some have suggested that you reformat the window size using the Adobe Reader. That is something I will also explore. It would be easier, but whether or not I use it will depend on how it ultimately looks on the Sony Reader. The above-mentioned software, DeskUNPDF, also will convert directly to lrf (Sony Reader format, aka BBeB). Sony has rotten support service. I had sent at least 3 emails in a month-long period of time asking for help with NO response. I sort of lost my temper and my 4th email was a rather terse complaint, ending with me calling them jerks (I'm so ashamed!) THEN I got a response! The responder said he looked up my history and found NO emails (which tells me that they keep lousy records) and basically just told me that "Sony doesn't support Macs at this time". Duh! I am happy with the Sony Reader however, once I found some creative work-arounds. It's great having a library of reading material with you; especially if you travel around a lot. Best Regards, Christine

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02-11-2008, 05:17 AM	#2
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	Reading PDF files which haven't been created with the Sony Reader's screen size in mind are difficult. For some, turning the screen orientation to landscape (press and hold the Size button until the text rotates) can make them more readable. I have found that using the PDFLRF application can make PDF files actually useful on the Reader. I can't recall where I downloaded this from, though. I'm sure I read about it here first, so perhaps if you did a search of this forum for PDFLRF you can find where to download it from. It has worked for a number of PDF files which are finally readable on my 500.

02-11-2008, 05:23 AM	#3
gwynevans Wizzard Posts: 1,402 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: iPad 2, iPhone 6s, Kindle Voyage & Kindle PaperWhite	PdfLrfWin is what I use if I need to read a PDF, but as you've found, while this size reader can display PDF's, it really depends upon the PDF itself (which to be fair, is the whole point of the PDF format), so PDF is actually the least ideal choice of the formats that are readable... Anyway, read around the site & also bear in mind that as well as displaying PDFs, you can also read .rtf & .lrf formats directly. In addition, to the files that are directly available for download, there's a few ways of converting from various other formats to the .lrf 'native' format of the device (libprs500, Book Designer & Convert LIT are what you need to be looking for, is that's a way you might be considering.).

02-11-2008, 05:29 AM	#4
unrealalex Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: PRS-500	Pretty dissapointing really, you'd think Sony would release something to address this problem =/ I don't imagine it would be terribly difficult to make the Size button act as zoom for pdfs. Yea I've been experimenting with the pdflrf and with rtf's, both seem to lose or mess up the formatting in some way, not really ideal solutions, sigh.

02-12-2008, 06:47 AM	#7
dhbailey Guru Posts: 604 Karma: 733 Join Date: Mar 2007 Device: HP iPAQ211 / PRS 500, 700 and 505	Based on how relatively poor a job the converters which are available do, it may not be possible! PDFs reformatted for the screen size work wonderfully!

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