Guttenberg Text -> PalmReader

[ptc]

Lots of the free stuff out there seems to be available in Guttenberg text.

What is the best (free) way to convert Guttenberg text to PalmReader format?

Tips and tricks for best results would be appreciated....

[Omnitron]

Good article on doing that here (http://www.pdaavenue.com/forum/displayarticle.php?threadid=277&articleforums=5)

[*YellowRose*]

I've used this program (http://www.palmblvd.com/software/pc/DocInOut-1999-05-22-palm-pc.html) for a couple of years now . . . it doesn't get any easier than this . . . :)

[bryus]

Originally posted by Omnitron
Good article on doing that here (http://www.pdaavenue.com/forum/displayarticle.php?threadid=277&articleforums=5)

I will try to re-post this how-to on my own site. I will post a link when it is done.

[Omnitron]

I thought about that link earlier today... I wonder how many PDA Ave articles I've referenced everywhere.... :rolleyes:

[bryus]

Ok, here it is. How to Build a Palm Reader eBook (http://www.bryanshome.netfirms.com/build_palm_reader.html)

[Edlin]

If you`re using windows, IMO it`s easier to use --YR--
's suggestion above ( http://www.palmblvd.com/software/pc/DocInOut-1999-05-22-palm-pc.html ) or http://www.cognitiveroot.com/makedoc.htm rather than messing about with hex editors

[bryus]

Originally posted by Edlin
If you`re using windows, IMO it`s easier to use --YR--
's suggestion above ( http://www.palmblvd.com/software/pc/DocInOut-1999-05-22-palm-pc.html ) or http://www.cognitiveroot.com/makedoc.htm rather than messing about with hex editors

There is a difference between making a Palm Reader eBook and a Palm Doc file. My Palm Reader eBooks are formatted with chapters and are very similar to those you can purchase from Palm Digital Media or Fictionwise in the secure Palm Reader format. Palm Docs can be read by Palm Reader, iSilo, MobiPocket, WordSmith, etc.

[Edlin]

okies... thanks for the clarification :)

Though if a text file can be conveted to the standard palmdoc format and can be read via palmreader..... I dont see much difference for people wanting to convert plain text to a format they can read with.

I like things quick, & for my use dont care if they`re a bit dirty around the edges.

[bryus]

Originally posted by Edlin
okies... thanks for the clarification :)

Though if a text file can be conveted to the standard palmdoc format and can be read via palmreader..... I dont see much difference for people wanting to convert plain text to a format they can read with.

I like things quick, & for my use dont care if they`re a bit dirty around the edges.

That's it.

I could just take the plain eText from Gutenberg, convert it with zero changes to a Palm Doc format, but, I prefer the more profesional, polished look. Besides, I can typically turn an eText into a Palm Reader file on my lunch hour since I have my system worked out pretty well. For me the result is worth the effort.

[LanMan]

The MAIN reason that I don't like the Palm Reader is that I cannot highlight a word to be copied into my Beiks dictionary. Therefore I use TiBR for most of my ebook use. I would love the PR if only the would make that one simple change.

[bryus]

Originally posted by LanMan
The MAIN reason that I don't like the Palm Reader is that I cannot highlight a word to be copied into my Beiks dictionary. Therefore I use TiBR for most of my ebook use. I would love the PR if only the would make that one simple change.

I am sure it is part of the DRM that you can't copy text. :( I know what you mean because I am reading Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution and would like to be able to copy some of the evaluations into DTG.

There is something you can try if you have Palm Reader Pro. Highlighting a word will allow you to make a note. The title of the note will contain the word. Then you can copy the word from the note.

[feed_sheep]

With Palm Reader Pro, can you highlight more than one word at a time?

[bryus]

Originally posted by feed_sheep
With Palm Reader Pro, can you highlight more than one word at a time?

You can actually highlight an entire page if you want to, but it only pulls "p. 332: "Please go back ofer yo.." and nothing more into the note. It really isn't practical for copying more than a word or two.

[LanMan]

Well, I'm using the freeware version of PR. I would gladly upgrade to the Pro version if it included the feature that I want. I know that the pro version allows copying a file into their own dictionary, but I would have to buy the lexicon. Plus, the PR dictionary isn't available in other apps. That makes PR a crippled app to me.

[palmhiker]

Originally posted by bryus
Ok, here it is. How to Build a Palm Reader eBook (http://www.bryanshome.netfirms.com/build_palm_reader.html)

Excellent instructions! I have been using the DocInOut method, but have often longed for a more accurate way to do conversions.

Thanks for posting this!

[JulianL]

A big thanks to Byrus for his great "how to" guide. I feel exactly the same as Byrus regarding formatting, I just didn't enjoy reading very basic text -> doc conversions with no fancy formatting, for some reason even just having bold chapter headers adds to the sense of occasion when reading an ebook. Commercially formatted ebooks started me reading again.

I'd would like to share a bit of my personal philosophy (as a fan of Palm ereader format) though. Although I would use converted Guttenberg texts for books that I couldn't buy commercially, I would almost always make a point of purchasing a commercial version of a book if it was available and reasonably priced.

Why do I spend money on something I could get for free? Well, it's a bit like living in a small town, if you don't use your local stores then they will go out of business and close, or at the very least not be able to expand and offer you a wider range of goods. I have become a huge fan of commercial ebooks and, with ereader as my personal format of choice, I care passionately about the success of ereader.com and the breadth of material and publishers that it is able to attract. If it takes me 20 hours to read a Dickens novel and I can buy it from ereader.com at $2.95 (the classics are very cheap to buy as commercial products although you can pay more for versions that include explanatory notes and comments) then that's less than $0.15 an hour which isn't a big price to pay for entertainment and it keeps the wheels turning at ereader.com and gives them just a tiny bit of extra money and favourable purchasing statistics to use to maintain and expand their operations.

As I say, just my perspective as a passionate ebook (and ereader.com in particular) fan. I have no connection with the company except as a customer.

- Julian

[ptc]

Well put JulianL! I feel the same way, and I'm happy to support the ebook medium with my purchases. But I still purchase a lot of printed books too. Mainly because I like to be able to share a good book after I'm done with it. Most everyone I usually share books with don't read ebooks :-(

[wuchitech]

If you need iSolo, Mobipocket, HTML (Zipped), Adobe, Rocket or MS-Reader (sorry, no PalmReader) formatted eBooks, try http://www.blackmask.com/

This site has all of the guttenberg texts plus many more available. They also have a DVD available with 12,000 e-books in the format of your choice. I was suprised to find two copies of each eBook on the DVD - the format I chose (Mobipocket) and a backup in HTML.

[Adrenochrome]

You can actually highlight an entire page if you want to, but it only pulls "p. 332: "Please go back ofer yo.." and nothing more into the note. It really isn't practical for copying more than a word or two.
Hmm. I use Pro and can highlight and copy an entire page. When I paste it, it shows up with a bracketed addition that tells what book it came from. While there is a copy limitation, reducing the font size lets you scoop up a good amount of text.

[bryus]

Hmm. I use Pro and can highlight and copy an entire page. When I paste it, it shows up with a bracketed addition that tells what book it came from. While there is a copy limitation, reducing the font size lets you scoop up a good amount of text.

This is a pretty old thread.

I believe this is a result of the big overhaul when it became eReader.

[DTM]

I've written a guide to using the Palm Markup Language with eReader's DropBook utility. The guide includes a Word macro to automate most of the conversion (it's an update to the old word2pml macro). With it, you can convert a Gutenberg text to a nicely-formatted eReader file in about 20 minutes. It's all free. The Memoware link is below, or just go there and search for Palm Markup Language Reference Guide.

http://www.memoware.com/?screen=doc_detail&doc_id=13409&p=contributor_id^!19684~!