eBook Conversion Online Service

ricmac · 11-30-2004, 06:35 PM

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker.

There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to *all* of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me.

I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest is giving it a go.

So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea?

But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?

Alexander Turcic · 11-30-2004, 09:04 PM

I don't know of any such service. I know that ebook stores that support multiple ebook formats offer you the conversion process; but then you have to publish your book with them.

Sounds like an intriguing idea!

Bob Russell · 11-30-2004, 09:34 PM

Here's something along those lines. I haven't tried it, but it claims to convert from content at a URL to palm doc format... http://online.colum.edu/palmconvert/
But the content looks like it has to be online to be converted (as opposed to using an online tool to convert local content on your pc).

It seems to be using the code from the old pilot.screwdriver.net that stopped working some time ago.

sas · 12-01-2004, 01:54 PM

Here is another one, but again only Palm .doc

ricmac · 12-01-2004, 10:13 PM

Thanks everyone. Sounds like there is not a general-purpose online conversion service and probably little demand for it either.

Gatton · 01-06-2005, 12:55 PM

Anyone know what happened with ebook express? They are still there at:

http://www.ebookexpress.com

But now it's just a bookstore. I seem to recall they used to have an online convert option. You would upload your text file and optionally an image to use as the cover and it would create a MS Reader .lit file for you to download. I can't seem to find it now.

There is a URL according to google of:

http://lit.ebookexpress.com/

But it doesn't work. I remember using it quite a bit before I got iSiloX.

Bob Russell · 01-06-2005, 02:25 PM

Looks like you can do conversion to .lit with the free Content Software Development Kit from MS.

Also check out http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/default.asp for more MS info and tools on MS Reader.

Unregistered · 04-10-2006, 10:20 AM

Lets do what you dream!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricmac

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker.

There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to *all* of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me.

I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest is giving it a go.

So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea?

But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?

DTM · 04-12-2006, 09:17 AM

I don't know if this is quite what you're looking for, but Manybooks already has loads of books in several formats. They will also accept text file versions of books that they will convert and make available for free.

They're located at http://manybooks.net/

eduj · 06-11-2006, 08:03 PM

Can anyone explain to me why I can't convert a book I downloaded that has a .lit.zip ending on it? I tried to unzip it with Winzip-nothing happened and so I can't convert the .lit to a text file. I never came across that before. TIA. I'm at jpbrunnert@yahoo.com

mike-13 · 10-05-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricmac

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker.

There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to *all* of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me.

I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest is giving it a go.

So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea?

But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?

Very recently i have came across one website http://www.itglobalsolution.com/mobi...n-services.htm. Actually I was looking to convert my pdf document to mobipocket and MS reader but due to large number of images and other formatting thing i was not able to convert them properly, so i took the service of the above company and they converted my pdf book to ebook book in very good looking ebook in very reasonable price. I definitely would like to recommend you to take their service for your ebook conversion.

mike-13 · 10-05-2007, 09:40 AM

Hi,
I know such company, their website address is http://www.itglobalsolution.com/mobi...n-services.htm. I took their service for ebook conversion to convert my pdf format book to mobipocket and MS reader. Actually my pdf book was little complicated with many images and other formatting thing due to which i was not able to convert my pdf book to ebook in proper way, so i took the help of above company and they converted my pdf book to good looking ebook in very reasonable price with very good layout and formatting. I really would like to recommend anybody to take service of this company.

JSWolf · 10-05-2007, 11:43 AM

if someone sent then an ebook with DRM, could they convert it and send back an ebook without DRM?

HarryT · 10-05-2007, 12:26 PM

That would be illegal. It's arguably legal to do your own format conversion of a book that you've bought; it's definitely NOT legal to get someone else to do it for you!

JSWolf · 10-05-2007, 01:02 PM

So then what good is this service? If the books are DRMless then I can do my own conversion.

11-30-2004, 06:35 PM	#1
ricmac Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Device: Palm T2	eBook Conversion Online Service Hi all, Does anyone know of a good online service for converting text (preferably HTML, but can be plain text too) into common eBook formats: e.g. MS Reader (LIT), eReader (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), Plucker. There are various pieces of software you can download to do conversions, but none I know of handle conversions to all of the popular eBook formats. And to be frank, I don't want the hassle of downloading and configuring a bunch of software (although I already have Plucker Desktop). I'd much rather have 1 website to go to that does all the conversions for me. I've actually thought to myself in the past that it would be a good business to do - offer an online web service that converts things into a range of eBook formats. However I concluded that there doesn't seem to be much of a business case for it right now - although Performance Quest is giving it a go. So I'm thinking perhaps it would be better done as an Open Source project, because such a service would benefit everyone in the eBook community and help popularise eBooks etc. Is anyone interested in that idea? But first things first, are there existing conversion services available online (and not as a downloadable piece of software)?

01-06-2005, 12:55 PM	#6
Gatton Groupie Posts: 150 Karma: 368 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2021, assorted Fire tablets.	ebook express? Anyone know what happened with ebook express? They are still there at: http://www.ebookexpress.com But now it's just a bookstore. I seem to recall they used to have an online convert option. You would upload your text file and optionally an image to use as the cover and it would create a MS Reader .lit file for you to download. I can't seem to find it now. There is a URL according to google of: http://lit.ebookexpress.com/ But it doesn't work. I remember using it quite a bit before I got iSiloX.

01-06-2005, 02:25 PM	#7
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Free Microsoft SDK for .lit Content Creation Looks like you can do conversion to .lit with the free Content Software Development Kit from MS. Also check out http://www.microsoft.com/reader/developers/default.asp for more MS info and tools on MS Reader.

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11-30-2004, 09:04 PM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I don't know of any such service. I know that ebook stores that support multiple ebook formats offer you the conversion process; but then you have to publish your book with them. Sounds like an intriguing idea!

11-30-2004, 09:34 PM	#3
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Here's something along those lines. I haven't tried it, but it claims to convert from content at a URL to palm doc format... http://online.colum.edu/palmconvert/ But the content looks like it has to be online to be converted (as opposed to using an online tool to convert local content on your pc). It seems to be using the code from the old pilot.screwdriver.net that stopped working some time ago.

12-01-2004, 01:54 PM	#4
sas Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 42 Join Date: Mar 2003 Device: T650 & T/T3	Here is another one, but again only Palm .doc

12-01-2004, 10:13 PM	#5
ricmac Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Device: Palm T2	Thanks everyone. Sounds like there is not a general-purpose online conversion service and probably little demand for it either.

04-12-2006, 09:17 AM	#9
DTM Intentionally Left Blank Posts: 172 Karma: 300106 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Royal Oak, MI, USA Device: Nook STR	I don't know if this is quite what you're looking for, but Manybooks already has loads of books in several formats. They will also accept text file versions of books that they will convert and make available for free. They're located at http://manybooks.net/

06-11-2006, 08:03 PM	#10
eduj Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2006 Device: EBM-911	Can anyone explain to me why I can't convert a book I downloaded that has a .lit.zip ending on it? I tried to unzip it with Winzip-nothing happened and so I can't convert the .lit to a text file. I never came across that before. TIA. I'm at jpbrunnert@yahoo.com

10-05-2007, 09:40 AM	#12
mike-13 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: mobipocket	Hi, I know such company, their website address is http://www.itglobalsolution.com/mobi...n-services.htm. I took their service for ebook conversion to convert my pdf format book to mobipocket and MS reader. Actually my pdf book was little complicated with many images and other formatting thing due to which i was not able to convert my pdf book to ebook in proper way, so i took the help of above company and they converted my pdf book to good looking ebook in very reasonable price with very good layout and formatting. I really would like to recommend anybody to take service of this company.

10-05-2007, 11:43 AM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,510 Karma: 136565392 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	if someone sent then an ebook with DRM, could they convert it and send back an ebook without DRM?

10-05-2007, 12:26 PM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	That would be illegal. It's arguably legal to do your own format conversion of a book that you've bought; it's definitely NOT legal to get someone else to do it for you!

10-05-2007, 01:02 PM	#15
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,510 Karma: 136565392 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So then what good is this service? If the books are DRMless then I can do my own conversion.

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