JafSoft AscToRTF - A GREAT Gutenberg Book/Ascii/RTF converter

Prince Bertram · 11-10-2006, 11:01 AM

Check out the AscToRTF application by JafSoft Limited at http://www.jafsoft.com/asctortf. It does cost $60 (which is a lot) but it is a great utility for converting plain text ascii e-books from Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/ to RTF files for viewing on the new Sony® Reader PRS-500. I've only had the Sony Reader a week now, and although it "supports" plain text files they don't display well because of the fixed line endings. Before I discovered the AscToRTF application I was doing a lot of hard work in Microsoft Word trying to format the .txt files into something more readable to save as RTF format for improved reading on the PRS-500 reader. It was much too much work "searching and replacing" and doing other editing -- even using some simple macros I wrote to automate the process. Now, all the hard work is done for me - I just run a batch job on the ascii e-texts and in a few minutes I have much more readable books. I still have to spend a few minutes touching up the results created by AscToRTF in Microsoft Word (only because of the perfectionist in me), but that is nothing compared to the hours of work it has saved me. Without this great application to convert public-domain e-books in text format to a very nice "readable" RTF format for the Sony Reader - I was seriously doubting the wisdom of purchasing the Sony Reader. Check out this great application.

TadW · 11-11-2006, 05:08 AM

$60? What a rip-off for a product that has been last updated in 2004.

rcs1000 · 11-12-2006, 01:58 PM

Ummm: it doesn't seem much better than my RTF converter that's on the forums somewhere...

susall · 11-18-2006, 10:24 AM

I tried to purchase the software, but I received the silly error message "We cannot accept free e-mail addresses," just because my email address is from Yahoo. The fact is I pay for my Yahoo address, because I'm issued a lot of space, etc. What a lame policy!

susall · 11-18-2006, 12:45 PM

Just a follow up. The author of the AscToRtf software sent me a thoughtful reply about this. He suggested I use a PayPal account. I've done so and I hope to get a proper registration code soon.

JazZi · 11-21-2006, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susall

Just a follow up. The author of the AscToRtf software sent me a thoughtful reply about this. He suggested I use a PayPal account. I've done so and I hope to get a proper registration code soon.

You're joking, right?

lint · 11-21-2006, 11:00 AM

im thinking this original poster was the author...why on earth anyone would pay for software like this is beond me (no offense susall).

-lint

NatCh · 11-21-2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lint

...why on earth anyone would pay for software like this is beond me....

To encourage future software availability, both from this author and from others that see they can actually get compensated for their work, perhaps?

Kinda like paying for ebooks even though you can get free bootleg copies of them.

Prince Bertram · 11-21-2006, 12:14 PM

Each individual can make their own assessment as to whether or not this program is worth the $60 it sells for. All I can say is that it does the job for me and I have been very happy with it. I understand that there are other macros, scripts, and applications out there that can do similar things and that is fine. For me, AscToRTF has been the easiest and most accurate ascii to .rtf conversion process I have used and the amount of time it has saved me is well worth the $60. Those of you with lots of time and the appropriate knowledge and skill can no doubt save $60.

Just a couple of clarifications 1) I'm not the author of the application nor do I know the author 2) I e-mailed the author suggesting he consider charging less for the application and his response was reasonable - this application is geared towards application developers (not individuals) that need to convert a large amount of text data using a batch process 3) There are independent reviews of this program that are very positive as to its functionality and value - check those out first. 4) There is a demo mode – try it – either you will like it or you won’t – decide for yourself!

It is easy to criticize a product based on price. It is even easier to criticize a product one does not own or that one has no use for. But for some, this product might be of use, which is the reason I brought it to the attention of this forum.

-Prince Bertram

winner · 11-25-2006, 05:42 AM

I am use RTF TO XML Converter by Novosoft LLC. I’d like to recommend you this converter. It is very powerful and easy to use.
Also RTF TO XML evaluation version is provided with 30 days trial period. You may read more about it on this page: http://www.rtf-to-xml.com

henkvdg · 11-25-2006, 05:56 AM

Go to www.manybooks.net !!!

Download Gutenberg books in the format you like !

Nightwing · 11-25-2006, 06:29 AM

I assume you know about wordpad that is included with all Windows installs?

Can take in stock text and out put as rtf? Just wondering...

11-10-2006, 11:01 AM	#1
Prince Bertram Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	JafSoft AscToRTF - A GREAT Gutenberg Book/Ascii/RTF converter Check out the AscToRTF application by JafSoft Limited at http://www.jafsoft.com/asctortf. It does cost $60 (which is a lot) but it is a great utility for converting plain text ascii e-books from Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/ to RTF files for viewing on the new Sony® Reader PRS-500. I've only had the Sony Reader a week now, and although it "supports" plain text files they don't display well because of the fixed line endings. Before I discovered the AscToRTF application I was doing a lot of hard work in Microsoft Word trying to format the .txt files into something more readable to save as RTF format for improved reading on the PRS-500 reader. It was much too much work "searching and replacing" and doing other editing -- even using some simple macros I wrote to automate the process. Now, all the hard work is done for me - I just run a batch job on the ascii e-texts and in a few minutes I have much more readable books. I still have to spend a few minutes touching up the results created by AscToRTF in Microsoft Word (only because of the perfectionist in me), but that is nothing compared to the hours of work it has saved me. Without this great application to convert public-domain e-books in text format to a very nice "readable" RTF format for the Sony Reader - I was seriously doubting the wisdom of purchasing the Sony Reader. Check out this great application.

11-21-2006, 12:14 PM	#9
Prince Bertram Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	JafSoft AscToRTF Application - No Regrets Here! Each individual can make their own assessment as to whether or not this program is worth the $60 it sells for. All I can say is that it does the job for me and I have been very happy with it. I understand that there are other macros, scripts, and applications out there that can do similar things and that is fine. For me, AscToRTF has been the easiest and most accurate ascii to .rtf conversion process I have used and the amount of time it has saved me is well worth the $60. Those of you with lots of time and the appropriate knowledge and skill can no doubt save $60. Just a couple of clarifications 1) I'm not the author of the application nor do I know the author 2) I e-mailed the author suggesting he consider charging less for the application and his response was reasonable - this application is geared towards application developers (not individuals) that need to convert a large amount of text data using a batch process 3) There are independent reviews of this program that are very positive as to its functionality and value - check those out first. 4) There is a demo mode – try it – either you will like it or you won’t – decide for yourself! It is easy to criticize a product based on price. It is even easier to criticize a product one does not own or that one has no use for. But for some, this product might be of use, which is the reason I brought it to the attention of this forum. -Prince Bertram

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11-11-2006, 05:08 AM	#2
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	$60? What a rip-off for a product that has been last updated in 2004.

11-12-2006, 01:58 PM	#3
rcs1000 Gadget freak Posts: 32 Karma: 19 Join Date: Oct 2006	Ummm: it doesn't seem much better than my RTF converter that's on the forums somewhere...

11-18-2006, 10:24 AM	#4
susall Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2005	I tried to purchase the software, but I received the silly error message "We cannot accept free e-mail addresses," just because my email address is from Yahoo. The fact is I pay for my Yahoo address, because I'm issued a lot of space, etc. What a lame policy!

11-18-2006, 12:45 PM	#5
susall Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2005	Just a follow up. The author of the AscToRtf software sent me a thoughtful reply about this. He suggested I use a PayPal account. I've done so and I hope to get a proper registration code soon.

11-21-2006, 11:00 AM	#7
lint Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 76 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader	im thinking this original poster was the author...why on earth anyone would pay for software like this is beond me (no offense susall). -lint

11-25-2006, 05:42 AM	#10
winner Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006	I am use RTF TO XML Converter by Novosoft LLC. I’d like to recommend you this converter. It is very powerful and easy to use. Also RTF TO XML evaluation version is provided with 30 days trial period. You may read more about it on this page: http://www.rtf-to-xml.com

11-25-2006, 05:56 AM	#11
henkvdg Groupie Posts: 180 Karma: 66830 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: IREX iLiad, Pocketbook Pro 903	Go to www.manybooks.net !!! Download Gutenberg books in the format you like !

11-25-2006, 06:29 AM	#12
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	I assume you know about wordpad that is included with all Windows installs? Can take in stock text and out put as rtf? Just wondering...

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