Brand new owner- Do I have to?

mordax · 05-09-2009, 08:35 PM

So, I literally just got home with my new device, and I wanted to add some text files to it. My questions are...

1. Do I have to install the software to add txt files to the device?

2. Do I have to convert txt files to LRM in order to read them.

I am very excited to own this (I've been lurking on this site for weeks) but somehow I haven't found an answer to this question yet.

zelda_pinwheel · 05-09-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mordax

So, I literally just got home with my new device, and I wanted to add some text files to it. My questions are...

1. Do I have to install the software to add txt files to the device?

2. Do I have to convert txt files to LRM in order to read them.

I am very excited to own this (I've been lurking on this site for weeks) but somehow I haven't found an answer to this question yet.

and the answers are, nope and nope. just connect the 505 with the usb cable, it will appear as an external drive and you can copy the files in. and since it can read .txt (i'm pretty sure) no worries there either (although they won't be very pretty. for pretty, i recommend epub format).

i do recommend you take a look at calibre (see the calibre forum), it's a really useful library management, conversion, and rss aggregation tool. i find it indispensable.

happy reading !

mordax · 05-09-2009, 08:53 PM

Its just I tried putting the txt files in the books folder, and the didn't show up as far as I could tell.

zelda_pinwheel · 05-09-2009, 08:56 PM

hmm... i've got a 700 and i'm not sure whether the file system is the same as on the 505, but logically that should work... i do know there are a few differences with the user interface. are you looking (on the 505) in something called "all books" or "library" or something, after you eject it ? maybe either try it again or install calibre quickly (it's free and only takes a few seconds to install, and very easy to use) and use that to send them over.

or, somebody who has a 505 will surely come along soon and be able to tell you for sure.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 05-09-2009, 09:10 PM

On your device - check in Books by date and then look under today's date to see if you can see them there.

I just tried dragging a test txt file onto the device in database | media | books and it showed up on my device (which is also a 505)

Patricia · 05-09-2009, 09:15 PM

It should read text files.
According to our wiki (and the Sony blurb):
"Book formats supported are PDF (including reflow and DRM), ePUB, TXT, RTF, LRF, & LRX. "
https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS505

I use the Sony software to load files into the reader. Calibre also works. I'm afraid that I've never used any other method.
It occurs to me that a brand-new reader just might need charging first.

Text files will load, but they won't look good. This is because text files have hard line breaks, which will lead to some very strange breaks on the screen. It is very easy to convert the text file into a reflowable Doc or RTF. Here's two ways:

Paste the text file into a word document. Save it.
Open Find and Replace (In the “Edit” menu). You need to make three passes with it.
1. Find ^p^p (i.e. find two paragraph marks. The symbols are in More then Special. The paragraph mark is at the top of the list.). Replace with @ (These act as placeholders to preserve the real paragraphs.)
2. Now, for the second pass, find ^p (single paragraph mark). Replace with a single space.
3. Finally, for the third pass, find @ and replace with either a single paragraph mark, or two paragraph marks if you prefer an empty line between paragraphs.
Then save as a doc or as an rtf and load into your reader.

or use

Stingo’s Word Macro
This does a good job at removing the hard line breaks in text files and making a reflowable document. It also sets the font to Times New Roman, point 14. Once installed, it is very easy to use. Paste your text file into a word document. Save the Doc and run the macro.
You can find it here, together with instructions on how to install it:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8793
(The only time this has ever given me trouble was when I failed to save the doc before running the macro. It crashed.)

mordax · 05-09-2009, 09:15 PM

I ended up using Calibre and it worked just fine.

Thanks.

zelda_pinwheel · 05-09-2009, 09:28 PM

i'm glad you got it sorted.

excellent advice from patricia and shortncuddlyam to keep in mind for future use.

Valwit · 05-11-2009, 07:04 AM

txt are fine, just put them to the other books, not just into the root directory

mordax · 05-11-2009, 12:15 PM

Thanks again guys! I am bookmarking this thread so I remember your great advice!

05-09-2009, 08:35 PM	#1
mordax Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: sony 505	Brand new owner- Do I have to? So, I literally just got home with my new device, and I wanted to add some text files to it. My questions are... 1. Do I have to install the software to add txt files to the device? 2. Do I have to convert txt files to LRM in order to read them. I am very excited to own this (I've been lurking on this site for weeks) but somehow I haven't found an answer to this question yet.

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05-09-2009, 08:53 PM	#3
mordax Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: sony 505	Its just I tried putting the txt files in the books folder, and the didn't show up as far as I could tell.

05-09-2009, 08:56 PM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	hmm... i've got a 700 and i'm not sure whether the file system is the same as on the 505, but logically that should work... i do know there are a few differences with the user interface. are you looking (on the 505) in something called "all books" or "library" or something, after you eject it ? maybe either try it again or install calibre quickly (it's free and only takes a few seconds to install, and very easy to use) and use that to send them over. or, somebody who has a 505 will surely come along soon and be able to tell you for sure.

05-09-2009, 09:10 PM	#5
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	On your device - check in Books by date and then look under today's date to see if you can see them there. I just tried dragging a test txt file onto the device in database \| media \| books and it showed up on my device (which is also a 505)

05-09-2009, 09:15 PM	#6
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	It should read text files. According to our wiki (and the Sony blurb): "Book formats supported are PDF (including reflow and DRM), ePUB, TXT, RTF, LRF, & LRX. " https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS505 I use the Sony software to load files into the reader. Calibre also works. I'm afraid that I've never used any other method. It occurs to me that a brand-new reader just might need charging first. Text files will load, but they won't look good. This is because text files have hard line breaks, which will lead to some very strange breaks on the screen. It is very easy to convert the text file into a reflowable Doc or RTF. Here's two ways: Paste the text file into a word document. Save it. Open Find and Replace (In the “Edit” menu). You need to make three passes with it. 1. Find ^p^p (i.e. find two paragraph marks. The symbols are in More then Special. The paragraph mark is at the top of the list.). Replace with @ (These act as placeholders to preserve the real paragraphs.) 2. Now, for the second pass, find ^p (single paragraph mark). Replace with a single space. 3. Finally, for the third pass, find @ and replace with either a single paragraph mark, or two paragraph marks if you prefer an empty line between paragraphs. Then save as a doc or as an rtf and load into your reader. or use Stingo’s Word Macro This does a good job at removing the hard line breaks in text files and making a reflowable document. It also sets the font to Times New Roman, point 14. Once installed, it is very easy to use. Paste your text file into a word document. Save the Doc and run the macro. You can find it here, together with instructions on how to install it: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8793 (The only time this has ever given me trouble was when I failed to save the doc before running the macro. It crashed.)

05-09-2009, 09:28 PM	#8
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	i'm glad you got it sorted. excellent advice from patricia and shortncuddlyam to keep in mind for future use.

05-11-2009, 07:04 AM	#9
Valwit Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ireland Device: PRS-505, Inkpad3Pro	txt are fine, just put them to the other books, not just into the root directory

05-11-2009, 12:15 PM	#10
mordax Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2009 Device: sony 505	Thanks again guys! I am bookmarking this thread so I remember your great advice!

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