Database Users

[HOW-TO] create ebooks from PDF

I haven't contributed much to this forum, therefore, I decided to make this how-to thread for those of you who would like to be able to read PDF files in ebook readers (i.e kindle). I should also mention that the same technique can be used for .doc and other file formats but since most of the books are in .pdf format on the web, I decided to make this thread for those of us who enjoy reading books on our devices but would rather have the ebook version of those books so we can use them in ebook readers.
Advantage of turning pdf files into ebook formats (.epub):
1) you can easily transfer them to your nook or kindle or ipads and read them when you dont have your TF handy!
2)The greatest satisfaction of all for me is when I go to turn pages I would love to see the actual page curling animation! which can not be used with regular pdf readers.
3) ebook readers give you the advantage of selecting night/day which in turn makes it much easier to read at night.
4) A single .pdf book can exceed 30Mb but the same book in ebook format is only 170 Kb! its good for those of us with space limitations.
- first of google or locate on ur device the .pdf file of the book you would like to turn into an ebook.
- now head over to www.epub2go.com (using your mac, linux or pc) make a free account first then
- go ahead and either upload the file or give it's URL on the homepage of epub2go. give it a minute to turn the files into ebook, then it asks you if you'd like to send it to your iphone or just view/save on your computer, choose the latter one. It asks you where you would like to save it, give it a destination and remember it!
-now at this stage I email the .epub file as an attachment to myself (to read on my TF)....at this stage your ebook is ready, if you'd like to read it on your ipad,kindle,nook etc, you would just need to transfer the file to your device and enjoy it! (I know with ipads you can just drag and drop the file in itunes 'books' interface)
-on your TF download FBreader app.
-download the .epub file you emailed yourself and save it. (note: your email client should save the attachments in 'Download' directory in your SD card).
-open up the FBreader app and on the first page tap on 'File tree'
-locate SD card then 'Download' folder... you should see your file listed there.
-ENJOY!!
Hopefully this was helpful
Let me know if you got any questions

Nice job. Added to ultimate thread. Personally I prefer Calibre, as you dont have to register and you don't have to upload anything. It also converts to a massive range of formats:
Input Formats: CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, EPUB, FB2, HTML, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ
Output Formats: EPUB, FB2, OEB, LIT, LRF, MOBI, HTMLZ, PDB, PML, RB, PDF, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ
Link here if anyone's interested in trying it: http://calibre-ebook.com/

I also prefer calibre, you have got quite a lot of different options while creating ebooks and is very easy to use.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

Good to know about the Calibre.
One challenge I have is that I wanna create ebooks that can be read in TF's own MyLibrary app, I would to be able to read the ebooks just like the ebooks that came stock on MyLibrary basically you can see two pages on the screen and you get the actual full page curling effect when you try to flip pages.
I tried reading the ebooks I created on MyLibrary to see if I get the same effect as the books that came stock with the TF but it was unsuccessful.

peyman_2002 said:
I tried reading the ebooks I created on MyLibrary to see if I get the same effect as the books that came stock with the TF but it was unsuccessful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What specifically is different with Calibre converted ebooks. Is it some feature / function that you're not able to use?
Thanks

I've been using ePubBuilder, it supports intelligent chapter splitting, white space cleaning, import from UMD, SND, PDF, TXT and a ton of other format. Add book cover and description at book creation and saves it in a format that makes it easily editable in the future. I'm not sure if its available in English yet, but I saw this language setting in options.
Sent from my Transformer TF101

Another +1 for Calibre here

Calibre, hands down.

does the calibre recognizes your TF? when I connect my TF to my PC, calibre won't recognize it even as an SD card.

MobiPocket Creator is also good.

Calibre's great, been using it since my old Sony-PRS 500, currently using it with an Android phone, and hope to soon be using it for my Transformer. I've been using Aldiko on my phone and have no complaints, hope it makes the jump to tablet ok, or that Honeycomb has a good native Epub reader.

I have tried to open an ebook, i made with calibre with "MY Library", but it want not open. If i tab the book in "My Library" the app closes.

sr-ha said:
I have tried to open an ebook, i made with calibre with "MY Library", but it want not open. If i tab the book in "My Library" the app closes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly my problem! I really like the MyLibrary interface.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App

seshmaru said:
Calibre, hands down.
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Click to collapse
With Calibre, one thing I haven't figured out is to get it to handle the table of content correctly in PDF ebooks. Anyone has any hints?

peyman_2002 said:
does the calibre recognizes your TF? when I connect my TF to my PC, calibre won't recognize it even as an SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With calibre you can do internal web publishing, and point your transformer's browser via wifi to your computer and from there download your epub.
I use fbreader as my primary reader. To get fbreader to successfully download the books I always have to install aldiko.
Here's the web page that better details calibre internal web publishing.
http://en.flossmanuals.net/e-book-enlightenment/ch025_calibre/
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

I also think that Calibre is the best software there is for preparing files for a phone or tab, but as an aside, Zinio is now avaiable for Android.

+1 Calibre here. Been using for months for my Kindle

Another +1 Calibre user.
Have thousands of books in Calibre library that transfer easily to the Ipad, Kindle and Android.
Transformer should arrive Tuesday and Calibre will definitely be used.
Another good thing about Calibre is that it is free and is updated CONSTANTLY and is customizable to how you want your epubs to be formatted.
You never know what new feature might drop any day.

Thanx sooo much this helped me out alot

Great thread! I've been reading and rereading.
Question that maybe some of you have already solved(s). Text to Speech apps.
One of the main reasons I wanted the TF is to at sometime not to have to replace my Kindle DX, which I really enjoy. I'm half and half on reading and listening on driving, but it seems the apps are few for this...only found 2 of them.
I'm familiar with years of working with Calibre and Mobipocket and I'm through my learning curve with an SD card to transfer from my computer/e-mail the different formats.
Here's the two apps I found:
ezPDF Reader - I may have to go back to this, couldn't figure out how the TTS works. Yet, I'm not crazy on PDF format for book reading....guess Calibre spoiled me.(s)
Moon+Reader Pro - $4.89 and worked with yesterday. I wouldn't suggest anyone try this yet,had to delete. I've already wrote for a refund and haven't heard back. The book reading part seemed fine and when I did the TTS and got out, my screen started blinking real fast, continuously (never happened before)....I gave it 3-4 minutes to see if it stopped, it didn't.
As soon as I deleted it, everything came back to normal and my screen has remained fine. Pretty sure it only started with the TTS.
Any suggestions on apps for reading and TTS...maybe more will come along in the future. And I did ask Moon+Reader Pro if they do an update, let me know - I'd like to try it again, but can't risk it now.
Thanks

Getting ebooks into MyLibrary

I dont know if there is a better way but I was annoyed at trying to import books into the MyLibrary app. I wanted a bookshelf experience similar to my ipad for my library of thousands of ebooks. What I found was using Calibre to set up a server with all my books and pdfs and then accessing it with the browser allowed me to choose to open it in MyLibrary. It said MyLibrary crashed but when i went in the book was on the bookshelf and worked fine.
Anyone have an easier way that still uses MyLibrary?
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

While I use calibre to create the books I've never used it to organize. My books were stored on my laptop in a folder. And when I plugged in my tablet to the laptop, it showed up under My Computer. I just used windows explorer and moved copies over, as if it was an external drive. I don't have thousands of ebooks, maybe only about 20 right now. But after I moved them and went to My Library, My Library found all of them. I have both epub and pdf. I them have to sort them all to my various bookshelfs. Not sure if maybe your method also does the sorting, because if so, I would say with thousands of ebooks, you might not want to do it my way.

oops, just reread and saw you were doing more complex things like setting up content server and stuff then what I know. Ignore my response I am only simple beginner user right now with only a few books. Most likely you already tried what I did or what I did isn't what you are looking for.

Where did you put them when you copied them over? I tried that and it didn't work, that's why I went the more complicated route
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

madpoet said:
Where did you put them when you copied them over? I tried that and it didn't work, that's why I went the more complicated route
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can put them anywhere!!! Just afterward have My Library import them into the bookshelf!! What is the issue?!!! I have 700 books on my virtual shelf. With that number there is a bit of lag but otherwise its fine.

madpoet said:
Where did you put them when you copied them over? I tried that and it didn't work, that's why I went the more complicated route
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally put them in: Computer\Transformer TF101\Device Storage\Books
However, I think they can be somewhere else too. I can't recall for sure, but I think I created the Books folder.

Big Thanks for this thread. This is one situation that was driving me nuts with how to transfer books from my computer to the Transformer.
The SD micro card I finally got down pat, but sometimes it's just easier to only do one here and there at a time while hooked up to my computer.
So it's "MyComputer\Transformer TF101\Device Storage\Books" and I had to copy/paste the book I want in that folder...this was where I was getting hung up not being able to directly send it to the Transformer. And it works!
So far I see Moon+Reader displays the ePub nicely and looks like MyLibrary likes the PDF. I have about 4 other book readers to check out how they display.
But, I finally got a book from my computer on the Transformer directly-whew
Thanks!

ereader that support colored fonts

I'm fairly new to all of this so forgive me if this is a stupid question.
I'm using uSD cm7 on my NC and loving it. I frequently use word documents with colored text for presentations. I found a software (calibre) that converts documents to epub format but I lose the colored fonts when I view it in aldiko. I've got a friend who is doing the same thing only on an Ipad and his colors stay. Am I doing something wrong or should I be using a different ereader or converter?

calixt0 said:
I'm fairly new to all of this so forgive me if this is a stupid question.
I'm using uSD cm7 on my NC and loving it. I frequently use word documents with colored text for presentations. I found a software (calibre) that converts documents to epub format but I lose the colored fonts when I view it in aldiko. I've got a friend who is doing the same thing only on an Ipad and his colors stay. Am I doing something wrong or should I be using a different ereader or converter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are talking about Microsoft Office documents (doc, docx, ppt,pptx, etc.) you can get the app called DocumentsToGo or QuickOffice. This way you won't have to convert them into epubs. I personally recommend QuickOffice it's better looking
Edit: Scratch QuickOffice since the one in the market works only with version 3.0 (honeycomb) and up. I got my copy from someone who posted it in the forum, which was extracted from another device...maybe a search could find the post.
Second edit: Check out this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=934916&highlight=Notion+Ink you can get a working version of QO for the nook there.

jgaf said:
If you are talking about Microsoft Office documents (doc, docx, ppt,pptx, etc.) you can get the app called DocumentsToGo or QuickOffice. This way you won't have to convert them into epubs. I personally recommend QuickOffice it's better looking
Edit: Scratch QuickOffice since the one in the market works only with version 3.0 (honeycomb) and up. I got my copy from someone who posted it in the forum, which was extracted from another device...maybe a search could find the post.
Second edit: Check out this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=934916&highlight=Notion+Ink you can get a working version of QO for the nook there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually prefer using something easy like a book. I may just end up going back to the nook color software that is easy to use and works like I want it to. I can't get the nook app to find my loaded ebooks only stuff from Barnes and Noble

calixt0 said:
I actually prefer using something easy like a book. I may just end up going back to the nook color software that is easy to use and works like I want it to. I can't get the nook app to find my loaded ebooks only stuff from Barnes and Noble
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Click to collapse
Ok, this is how I got my epubs working in the Nook:
sdcard/Nook/My Documents
I dropped my epubs in that folder, then went into the nook app and refreshed (they should be under "My files"
Hope this works.

jgaf said:
Ok, this is how I got my epubs working in the Nook:
sdcard/Nook/My Documents
I dropped my epubs in that folder, then went into the nook app and refreshed (they should be under "My files"
Hope this works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I can't get my downloaded books or epubs to show in the nook app on the android side of my uSD card cm7. when I tried putting my epubs in the my documents folder of nook it wouldn't allow it.
Please help.

calixt0 said:
Ok I can't get my downloaded books or epubs to show in the nook app on the android side of my uSD card cm7. when I tried putting my epubs in the my documents folder of nook it wouldn't allow it.
Please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you transferring your files? If your are moving them from inside the nook using a file manager, then use Root Explorer and when in the documents folder press the button that says mount R/W and try to paste the files that way.

jgaf said:
How are you transferring your files? If your are moving them from inside the nook using a file manager, then use Root Explorer and when in the documents folder press the button that says mount R/W and try to paste the files that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using the usb cable. I got it now thanks. not sure what different happened but finally it worked.

[Q] Calibre Help Please

Yes i'm new but been a lurker for awhile
Anyway, the developers and posters are so amazing in what they do here I thought that I would ask a question about Calibre if thats ok....if its in the wrong area or has been asked already I sincerely apologize. My question is that I have quite a few books (1000+) that I have gathered through out the years and I have put them all on my Fire using Calibre, unfortunately I am very anal and would like all of them to show up under books but as of now only a little show in books and the majority of them show up in Docs....any easy way to fix this in Calibre? If anyone takes the time to help me I would greatly appreciate it, thank you very much...

Anyone hing not in mobi, Kindle puts in docs.

The Anthem said:
Anyone hing not in mobi, Kindle puts in docs.
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Click to collapse
They are all Mobi formatted

if you download the kindle app for android, you can put the .mobi formatted books into the kindle folder it creates on your SD card and read them that way.

Lkr721993 said:
if you download the kindle app for android, you can put the .mobi formatted books into the kindle folder it creates on your SD card and read them that way.
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Click to collapse
Im just on a rooted stock rom, I want to use the stock reader not a app from the market if at all possible but I just want them all to be under the Books heading instead of both Books and Docs. But thanks for the info

HuskerStorm said:
Im just on a rooted stock rom, I want to use the stock reader not a app from the market if at all possible but I just want them all to be under the Books heading instead of both Books and Docs. But thanks for the info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a solution for you, but I have been looking into this myself.
In the Stock Kindle Fire Book app the books that have been downloaded to your device show up in /sdcard/Books. For each book there is a .prc and a ,mbp file. Also, there is a file in /sdcard/Books/covers without an extension which corresponds to each Book.
I converted a book to .prc and put it in the Books folder but it, unsurprisingly, didn't show up in the books menu. I am going to continue to play around with it when I get a chance. Let me know if you get anywhere with it.

HuskerStorm said:
Yes i'm new but been a lurker for awhile
Anyway, the developers and posters are so amazing in what they do here I thought that I would ask a question about Calibre if thats ok....if its in the wrong area or has been asked already I sincerely apologize. My question is that I have quite a few books (1000+) that I have gathered through out the years and I have put them all on my Fire using Calibre, unfortunately I am very anal and would like all of them to show up under books but as of now only a little show in books and the majority of them show up in Docs....any easy way to fix this in Calibre? If anyone takes the time to help me I would greatly appreciate it, thank you very much...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to reconvert them. This should help you.
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39...books-show-up-under-books-on-the-kindle-fire/

scarsofthumper said:
You have to reconvert them. This should help you.
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39...books-show-up-under-books-on-the-kindle-fire/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. I was over thinking the problem. I hadn't seen the above post til just now but it looks good. I converted a book I wrote in html formatted for kindle with Calibre into .mobi format, moved it to sdcard/Books and it shows up in the Stock Kindle Fire Books App. (I did have to reboot for it to show up)

Anyone know how to use the Kindle App?

I am trying my best to understand the Kindle App...I have just made an account..I have some Ebooks in all possible formats..but I dont know how to navigate to the files...
Also when I right click in the app, all I get is Cloud and Device and Kindle Store options. No 'Downloaded' option anywhere...
Basically, just wanted to know if we can read our own books on it?
TX!

You can only read kindle ebooks purchased on the amazon account you're signed in with.
X10man
Sent from my U20i using xda premium

you can navigate with the arrow keys or the roller on the mouse.

lumpaywk said:
you can navigate with the arrow keys or the roller on the mouse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no no...i need to know how to read my own .epub and/or .lit files through the app.

circleofomega said:
no no...i need to know how to read my own .epub and/or .lit files through the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I have found that the desktop version of the kindle app is way more useful then the metro one
Sent From My YP-G1 running ICS build 3.5

circleofomega said:
no no...i need to know how to read my own .epub and/or .lit files through the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google a program called calibre (free) which can convert most ebook formats to kindle format.
Once converted, double click on the converted file and it should open up automaticaly in the kindle program.

circleofomega said:
no no...i need to know how to read my own .epub and/or .lit files through the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I am waiting for the Nook app because I have a physical Nook (plus it reads A LOT more formats) but if you have a physical Kindle and that is why you want to stick with Kindle, you indeed have to convert your ebooks to AZW format.
If you just want to read your ePub files in Metro, I really like BookReader. Search for it in the Windows Store.

dragon_76 said:
Personally I am waiting for the Nook app because I have a physical Nook (plus it reads A LOT more formats) but if you have a physical Kindle and that is why you want to stick with Kindle, you indeed have to convert your ebooks to AZW format.
If you just want to read your ePub files in Metro, I really like BookReader. Search for it in the Windows Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. No I don't have a Kindle. I too like the Nook app a lot. Strangely they discontinued the app on Android haven't they?
Sent from my RaZr 4X HD...

Kindle doesn't read EPUB or LIT files, so yeah, you'll need a tool like Calibre if you want to use those files. However, if you have .MOBI or .PRC files, the Kindle app should be able to open them, but I haven't yet figured out how. On other Kindle apps - even the one for WP7, where you aren't *supposed* to have filesystem access - there's a "kindle" folder in the app's data directory, into which you can put compatible ebook files. However, a few minutes search hasn't turned up a comparable location on Win8.

GoodDayToDie said:
Kindle doesn't read EPUB or LIT files, so yeah, you'll need a tool like Calibre if you want to use those files. However, if you have .MOBI or .PRC files, the Kindle app should be able to open them, but I haven't yet figured out how. On other Kindle apps - even the one for WP7, where you aren't *supposed* to have filesystem access - there's a "kindle" folder in the app's data directory, into which you can put compatible ebook files. However, a few minutes search hasn't turned up a comparable location on Win8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know about windows 8 but in windows 7 if you double click on your .MOBI or .PRC file it will prompt your kindle application to open up and display them no matter were they are stored.

I've just installed my windows 8 upgrade last night and installed the kindle app.
It doesn't appear to work as in windows 7 however, If you enable 'hidden folders' in programme files on your main drive, a folder 'windows apps' becomes visible.
I would guess that the kindle folder lies in this hidden folder and, if you insert your kindle format books into it, they will be displayed in the kindle app.
Unfortunately, to open the 'windows apps' folder requires different permissions and, so far, I have not been able to fathom out how to open this folder and test this.

bobsie41 said:
I've just installed my windows 8 upgrade last night and installed the kindle app.
It doesn't appear to work as in windows 7 however, If you enable 'hidden folders' in programme files on your main drive, a folder 'windows apps' becomes visible.
I would guess that the kindle folder lies in this hidden folder and, if you insert your kindle format books into it, they will be displayed in the kindle app.
Unfortunately, to open the 'windows apps' folder requires different permissions and, so far, I have not been able to fathom out how to open this folder and test this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look it up. Its pretty simple actually.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

bobsie41 said:
Don't know about windows 8 but in windows 7 if you double click on your .MOBI or .PRC file it will prompt your kindle application to open up and display them no matter were they are stored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can email the file to your kindle address (find it online on Amazon in settings), the file should automatically download when you sync...
---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:15 PM ----------
astrodomine said:
You can email the file to your kindle address (find it online on Amazon in settings), the file should automatically download when you sync...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked this option is not yet available for Windows 8, works fine on android and iPhone apps... hard luck

astrodomine said:
You can email the file to your kindle address (find it online on Amazon in settings), the file should automatically download when you sync...
---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:15 PM ----------
I just checked this option is not yet available for Windows 8, works fine on android and iPhone apps... hard luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that buddy. Doesn't work.
Sent from my RaZr HD.