Downloaded .php files - can't convert?

Araucaria · 03-24-2013, 01:56 PM

I've downloaded a couple of books recently from the forum - the most recent one I tried was Hugh Walpole's "The Old Ladies" in - supposedly - epub format.

What I actually got was a .php file (called "attachment.php") and I had no idea what to do with it.

It doesn't seem Calibre will convert it to any readable format, and although Sigil seemed to open it, all that appeared was the title.

I must be doing something wrong, but I'd really appreciate an expert - or even another amateur - telling me what it is.

I did try googling .php files but what I found was a bit too technical.

kovidgoyal · 03-24-2013, 11:26 PM

A .php file is not an ebook. You will need to download the actual ebook file which will be in .epub or .mobi or .azw format.

BetterRed · 03-25-2013, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Araucaria

I've downloaded a couple of books recently from the forum - the most recent one I tried was Hugh Walpole's "The Old Ladies" in - supposedly - epub format.

What I actually got was a .php file (called "attachment.php") and I had no idea what to do with it.

It doesn't seem Calibre will convert it to any readable format, and although Sigil seemed to open it, all that appeared was the title.

I must be doing something wrong, but I'd really appreciate an expert - or even another amateur - telling me what it is.

I did try googling .php files but what I found was a bit too technical.

@Araucaria

If you are downloading using a 'download manager' you may get this. Try a download via your browsers right click menu - in Firefox & Chrome its "Save Link As", in IE its "Save Target As" and in the rest its something like that. Some sites don't like some (all ?) Download Managers such as JDownloader, Internet Downloader etc.

If you're not using a download manager then when you initiate the download try overriding the 'attachment.php' name with 'The Old Ladies.epub' etc, or rename it after the download. Chances are your getting the right data with a dodgy name. I don't know why it happens, only that it sometimes does.

BR

Araucaria · 03-25-2013, 08:13 AM

I don't know exactly what the problem was, but it seems to have been caused by a Firefox add-on, probably Hola. I've now disabled it, and the files all download properly as .epub ones, rather than being converted somewhere (here on my own computer?) into that confounded .php thing.

It was very annoying!

BetterRed · 03-25-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Araucaria

I don't know exactly what the problem was, but it seems to have been caused by a Firefox add-on, probably Hola. I've now disabled it, and the files all download properly as .epub ones, rather than being converted somewhere (here on my own computer?) into that confounded .php thing.

It was very annoying!

Yep - looks like it was HOLA judging by the reviews at AMO - did you see this

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMO Review

I have never used hola, but I installed the addon to check it out, and did not remove it. It sets up a proxy in the Preferences->advanced->network settings that does not get removed when you remove the plugin (this problem is mentioned in the hola faq).

BR

PeterT · 03-25-2013, 10:45 AM

Funny... I have the Hola Unblocker extension in Chrome and don't seem to have any problems either with it enabled or disabled.

BetterRed · 03-25-2013, 10:53 AM

Sometimes extensions can run interference on other extensions - e.g. I can't have both Tile Tabs and BBCodeXtra enabled. I haven't tried having both for a long time - so it may have been fixed. So it could be that something else is 'interfering' with Hola.

Or it could be a Gecko sensitivity that Webkit sidstepped

03-24-2013, 01:56 PM	#1
Araucaria Bibliophile Posts: 166 Karma: 934516 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cantal in the French Auvergne Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW2, Moon Pro on Lenovo tablet	Downloaded .php files - can't convert? I've downloaded a couple of books recently from the forum - the most recent one I tried was Hugh Walpole's "The Old Ladies" in - supposedly - epub format. What I actually got was a .php file (called "attachment.php") and I had no idea what to do with it. It doesn't seem Calibre will convert it to any readable format, and although Sigil seemed to open it, all that appeared was the title. I must be doing something wrong, but I'd really appreciate an expert - or even another amateur - telling me what it is. I did try googling .php files but what I found was a bit too technical.

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03-24-2013, 11:26 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,318 Karma: 27111242 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	A .php file is not an ebook. You will need to download the actual ebook file which will be in .epub or .mobi or .azw format.

03-25-2013, 08:13 AM	#4
Araucaria Bibliophile Posts: 166 Karma: 934516 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cantal in the French Auvergne Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW2, Moon Pro on Lenovo tablet	I don't know exactly what the problem was, but it seems to have been caused by a Firefox add-on, probably Hola. I've now disabled it, and the files all download properly as .epub ones, rather than being converted somewhere (here on my own computer?) into that confounded .php thing. It was very annoying!

03-25-2013, 10:45 AM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,472 Karma: 78880114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Funny... I have the Hola Unblocker extension in Chrome and don't seem to have any problems either with it enabled or disabled.

03-25-2013, 10:53 AM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,707 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Sometimes extensions can run interference on other extensions - e.g. I can't have both Tile Tabs and BBCodeXtra enabled. I haven't tried having both for a long time - so it may have been fixed. So it could be that something else is 'interfering' with Hola. Or it could be a Gecko sensitivity that Webkit sidstepped

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