Classic Reading math and science textbooks..

zaqwsx170 · 07-02-2010, 12:46 PM

Hey guys. I'm having a bit of trouble reading math and science textbooks on my nook. They're all completely OCR'd, but I think the problem is that many of the characters used don't work well with the nook.

What can I do?

HarryT · 07-02-2010, 12:54 PM

What format are they in? If it's PDF, then I'm afraid the only answer is to get a device with a screen the size that the PDF is formatted for - there's just no way to satisfactorily to display a PDF on a 6" screen if it's formatted for A4/Letter size.

zaqwsx170 · 07-02-2010, 01:32 PM

Well that's not my current issue. I think the only issue I'm having is that the characters aren't displaying properly...is there any way to fix that specific issue?

HarryT · 07-02-2010, 01:52 PM

I'm afraid I have to repeat the question - what format are the books in? Again, if it's PDF, the appropriate fonts need to be embedded in the PDF file if they are not present on the device.

troymc · 07-03-2010, 01:18 AM

Harry is absolutely correct. You haven't given us enough information to help answer your question.

I will say that I have not seen very many textbooks in formats other than PDF. However, since PDFs generally embed the necessary fonts, your description leads me to believe you don't have PDF files.

It might be that you have a poorly converted or OCR'd version of a PDF file. In which case the garbage characters you are seeing are just that - garbage. You would have to go back to the original to understand what they were meant to be.

However, there is a very slight possibility that your ebook is referencing unicode characters which your current font doesn't support. Or, even slighter, that your ebook references a non-unicode font which you don't have installed.

The last two possibilities are fixable - but we'd need more information to be able to help you. What kind of file is it? and it would be nice to see a pic of what you are seeing. (or attaching the file is another nice helper.)

Troy

HarryT · 07-03-2010, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troymc

The last two possibilities are fixable - but we'd need more information to be able to help you. What kind of file is it? and it would be nice to see a pic of what you are seeing. (or attaching the file is another nice helper.)

Troy

A screenshot of the file is fine, but please don't attach the file if it's a copyrighted book.

JDługosz · 07-04-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaqwsx170

Hey guys. I'm having a bit of trouble reading math and science textbooks on my nook. They're all completely OCR'd, but I think the problem is that many of the characters used don't work well with the nook.

What can I do?

Use Calibre to "convert" (even if it's already a epub) and put stuff in the "additional CSS" to make it use the system fonts, not the crippled embedded fonts that are part of the reader app. See this link.

Now does anyone know why they use built-in fonts (only) for the reader app, when the system fonts are soooo much better? Seems like a waste of memory at the very least. My impression is that the platform outclasses the apps shipped on it.

--John

Halcyon · 09-01-2010, 08:37 PM

So it is not possible to make a PDF read properly?

Looking at having 1000page textbooks sent to me through the school. I need to be able to read them on my nook.

Surely Calibre can fix that?

07-02-2010, 12:46 PM	#1
zaqwsx170 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: nook	Reading math and science textbooks.. Hey guys. I'm having a bit of trouble reading math and science textbooks on my nook. They're all completely OCR'd, but I think the problem is that many of the characters used don't work well with the nook. What can I do?

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07-02-2010, 12:54 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What format are they in? If it's PDF, then I'm afraid the only answer is to get a device with a screen the size that the PDF is formatted for - there's just no way to satisfactorily to display a PDF on a 6" screen if it's formatted for A4/Letter size.

07-02-2010, 01:32 PM	#3
zaqwsx170 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: nook	Well that's not my current issue. I think the only issue I'm having is that the characters aren't displaying properly...is there any way to fix that specific issue?

07-02-2010, 01:52 PM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm afraid I have to repeat the question - what format are the books in? Again, if it's PDF, the appropriate fonts need to be embedded in the PDF file if they are not present on the device.

07-03-2010, 01:18 AM	#5
troymc Groupie Posts: 161 Karma: 608 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Plano, TX Device: Sony PRS-505 + B&N Nook + Motion LE1700 + Motorola Xoom Wifi	Harry is absolutely correct. You haven't given us enough information to help answer your question. I will say that I have not seen very many textbooks in formats other than PDF. However, since PDFs generally embed the necessary fonts, your description leads me to believe you don't have PDF files. It might be that you have a poorly converted or OCR'd version of a PDF file. In which case the garbage characters you are seeing are just that - garbage. You would have to go back to the original to understand what they were meant to be. However, there is a very slight possibility that your ebook is referencing unicode characters which your current font doesn't support. Or, even slighter, that your ebook references a non-unicode font which you don't have installed. The last two possibilities are fixable - but we'd need more information to be able to help you. What kind of file is it? and it would be nice to see a pic of what you are seeing. (or attaching the file is another nice helper.) Troy

09-01-2010, 08:37 PM	#8
Halcyon Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Nook	So it is not possible to make a PDF read properly? Looking at having 1000page textbooks sent to me through the school. I need to be able to read them on my nook. Surely Calibre can fix that?

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