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Prop documents in Kindle format — Parallax Forums

Prop documents in Kindle format

base2designbase2design Posts: 78
edited 2010-11-03 22:14 in Propeller 1
Hello all,

I just purchased "Programming and Customizing the Multicore Prop..." book in Kindle format (yipee).

This made me wonder if it would be possible to get other docs from Parallax in .mobi format (specifically the "Propeller Manual" and the "Propeller Education Kid Labs".

I know I can download and view .pdf files on the Kindle, but my 46 year old eyes aren't up to the task and the constant scrolling around is kind of a bummer when the doc is zoomed.

Let me know how I can foster this effort.

By the way, I'd like to sell my paper copy of Harprit Sandhu's "Programming the Propeller..." so I can buy the .mobi version. Any takers? I'll beat the best price you find on Amazon.

Thanks!

-joe

Comments

  • bdickensbdickens Posts: 110
    edited 2010-11-03 11:10
    you can send PDF documents to the Kindle direct. Just email them to your address and it shows up pretty well.

    Thanks
  • bdickensbdickens Posts: 110
    edited 2010-11-03 11:10
    and there is a zoom for those of us over 50 with marginal eyesight.
  • RsadeikaRsadeika Posts: 3,837
    edited 2010-11-03 11:30
    Amazon only converts personal .pdf documents, since the manual has a copyright, I doubt very much if they will convert it. If Parallax were to send the document in for conversion, that is a different story.

    Ray
  • base2designbase2design Posts: 78
    edited 2010-11-03 11:51
    Thanks for the tips.

    Zooming .pdf files is a hassle when I'm on the treadmill...

    The conversion process is okay, but it totally flubs some .pdf files (tables get really messed up).

    Anyway, I'd volunteer some time to find out how to get into a more kindle friendly layout if anyone at Parallax is interested (or listening).

    Regards,

    -joe
  • base2designbase2design Posts: 78
    edited 2010-11-03 12:03
    Here are a few examples of the wrinkles the .pdf to .azw conversion introduces.

    Amazing that it works at all, but still not a flawless process.
    k1.JPG
    600 x 800 - 106K
    k2.JPG
    600 x 800 - 96K
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2010-11-03 12:12
    base2design,

    Haven't tried this, but it sounds promising...

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/autokindle

    ..."Even though the Kindle Supports PDF this is still an extremely useful tool. As far as i can see the Kindle doesnt attempt to wrap a PDF to the screen. It literally shrinks 1 page of the PDF to the screen, in many cases this creates text that is so small it is unreadable. You make the text bigger but it forces you to horiztonally as well as vertically scroll the PDF. This software converts the PDF to HTML (which the Kindle can wrap properly) and than to mobi. Great piece of software!"
  • base2designbase2design Posts: 78
    edited 2010-11-03 14:05
    Thanks Beau,

    I just tried AutoKindle... it had lots of problems with the table of contents... I'm betting the word to pdf conversion is making the TOC hard to identify.

    Overall, the Amazon service produced a better format, but I'll bet we could do better starting with a more structured file than pdf.

    According to another converter that I haven't gotten to cooperate yet (Calibre), here's the order of "goodness" for source file to kindle output quality (from the Calibre FAQ).

    "What are the best source formats to convert?
    In order of decreasing preference: LIT, MOBI, EPUB, HTML, PRC, RTF, PDB, TXT, PDF"

    Regards,

    -joe
  • base2designbase2design Posts: 78
    edited 2010-11-03 14:08
    Just to beat a dead horse:

    I've made an assumption that Parallax uses MSWord as it's doc editing program. Would it be possible for some brave Parallax soul to either make the .doc file available to me to experiment with .... or ... save the file to HTML format (which I believe MSWord allows)?

    Don't know if this is the right forum for this or not.

    Tell me to shut up if this is bugging the real work here.

    -joe
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2010-11-03 15:06
    I'm presently formatting a book for the Kindle ("Acting is Living" by my friend/coach, Cliff Osmond). What I've found is that there is no getting around some work to make it look good on the Kindle. Internally, it's simple HTML with a couple odd extensions (e.g., to force a new page). Still, there is no automated process that removes bad tags, etc., especially if you export from bloatware like MSWord.

    The good news is that you can create .HTML files in any editor and you can use Mobi Pocket Creator (it's free) to create a properly formatted Kindle book that includes a graphics, TOC, author/copyright info, etc. No need to upload anything to Amazon; simply compile the file and copy to your Kindle and share with friends.
  • base2designbase2design Posts: 78
    edited 2010-11-03 18:30
    So Parallax... how much trouble would I get in if I copy/paste the Propeller Manual into an HTML format?

    I guess if you don't know about it...

    ...but is there any interest in a HTML formatted version?

    -joe
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2010-11-03 20:54
    This is a good idea. I vote they let you do this.
  • MakerMaker Posts: 1
    edited 2010-11-03 22:14
    There is a really nice program called Calibre, it has some built in tools that do awesome conversions, and its compatible with a bunch of readers. Its kind of like a third party Itunes for E-readers.

    Check it out, not sure if it will solve your problem.
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