Has anyone got a step by Step guide on converting LIT to LRF?

Peridot · 09-25-2008, 02:53 PM

Hi I am a owner of a new sony reader in the uk. I've been downloading the adobe pdf books which i am able to read fine but have difficulties with the font sizes. It seems to be the general advice is to download the LIT version from places like fictionwise and books on board and then convert it. Has anyone got a step by step guide on how to do this. I am not very technical on the computer but i just wanted to see if it works and if it's easy enough i will do this in future rather than getting the adobe PDF books.

All help and advice is much appreciated.

kesey · 09-25-2008, 03:19 PM

Peridot, the answer is a definite yes. First go to http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/

Have a nose around, and then download Calibre. I appreciate that you will want to get up and running quickly. Calibre does the job quietly, without any fuss.

Have a go at it, and if you get into bother read the manual at http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/user_manual/
and particularly the FAQ at: http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/user_manual/faq.html#faq

There is a massive thread on the topic of lit to lrf here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11618

The chances are you will be able to get going without too much reading of the above: I think the User Manual and the FAQ will have you converting to beat the band. If not the Calibre thread above has all the questions ever asked, plus a few more.

PsyDocJoanne · 09-25-2008, 04:15 PM

Hi Peridot,

The resources that kesey provided to you will be very helpful, I think.

However, I still found it to be a bit of a challenge, despite all the help I got via old threads and members of this board. Once you've done it successfully once, it's easy and works as smooth as silk.

If you run into problems, don't hesitate to PM me, I'd be glad to help you out!

DrMoze · 09-25-2008, 04:38 PM

Here's a simple, abbreviated, and (from my memory) maybe not exactly accurate step-by-step:

1) Download and install Calibre, and run the program

2) Drag the .lit file into Calibre's window. Click once on it to highlight it.

3) Make sure the author and book title are OK. (They usually are with .lit files.) If not, click on the "Edit metadata" button on top of the Calibre window and edit, then save.

4) Click the "Convert" button near the top right. Usually the default options give you good, readable ebooks when converted. If not, you can e-convert and tweak things later.

5) After the hourglass in the bottom right corner stops, click on the right side of the "Save book" button on top, and select "save lrf only" in the drop-down menu.

6) Pick a place to save your lrf file, then open it in the Sony sw to see how it looks or load it directly onto your Reader.

That's it! (I don't use Calibre to manage my library, which is why I separately save the lrf file in steps 5&6.)

If the .lit has DRM, use the Convert Lit (CLit) utility, described elsewhere on these forums. There's a small GUI program for CLit as well.

CaptainIncognito · 09-25-2008, 05:40 PM

Hi Peridot

Welcome to the forums!

One last thing to add to the excellent directions given is that you can also use calibre to convert your pdfs so you can change the text size which is mighty handy!

A

sherman · 09-25-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMoze

If the .lit has DRM, use the Convert Lit (CLit) utility, described elsewhere on these forums. There's a small GUI program for CLit as well.

If you don't want to use a command line app, then ConvertLIT GUI does a perfectly good job of "downconverting" lit files...

JSWolf · 09-25-2008, 07:59 PM

Forget the GUI. Not worth it. It's good to learn to use the command line. All the other DRM removers are command line only. So it will help. That said, find the site for ConvertLIT, read the readme file that comes with it on how to set it up. Once done, use ConvertLIT to remove the DRM.

Now you have multiple choices as to what to do withthe DRM free LIT. You can use Book Designer to load it and edit it. Or you can use Calibre to convert. Calibre's lit2lrf is actually easier to use. Now if you want to explode the LIT into it's component parts, use lit2oeb from Calibre as there are bugs in ConvertLIT's exploding. They are minor and most of the time it won't affect you, but lit2oeb overcomes these bugs.

Valloric · 09-25-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Now if you want to explode the LIT into it's component parts, use lit2oeb from Calibre as there are bugs in ConvertLIT's exploding. They are minor and most of the time it won't affect you, but lit2oeb overcomes these bugs.

Really? Could you give us an example of these bugs? I explode LIT files with Clit all the time (for editing in BD), but I didn't know it was bug-ridden. If I found a formatting problem in the resultant file, I always assumed it was in the source LIT file.

I would appreciate it if you could list a few of these bugs.

JSWolf · 09-25-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valloric

Really? Could you give us an example of these bugs? I explode LIT files with Clit all the time (for editing in BD), but I didn't know it was bug-ridden. If I found a formatting problem in the resultant file, I always assumed it was in the source LIT file.

I would appreciate it if you could list a few of these bugs.

Supposedly there are occasions where some letters are separated where they should not be. And one bug I have encountered is a failure to explode malformed LIT files. Lit2oeb does work in these cases where ConvertLIT fails and when ConverLIT fails, you cannot convert that LIT file.

MarciaCat · 09-25-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Supposedly there are occasions where some letters are separated where they should not be. And one bug I have encountered is a failure to explode malformed LIT files. Lit2oeb does work in these cases where ConvertLIT fails and when ConverLIT fails, you cannot convert that LIT file.

That's a problem I had/still have with one of the two Star Trek:COE books(Signs From Heaven by Phaedra M. Weldon)that I had to strip and convert. It also has an unusual change of text size where each chapter starts out like this for the first paragraph and then changes to this for the rest of the chapter. That was with the downconvert option from convertlit. I can live with the letter separation easier than the shrinking text size. The explode version didn't do that but it came through without a table of contents, chapter headings off to the left side and no cover. Maybe I should try Book Designer.

RWood · 09-26-2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valloric

Really? Could you give us an example of these bugs? I explode LIT files with Clit all the time (for editing in BD), but I didn't know it was bug-ridden. If I found a formatting problem in the resultant file, I always assumed it was in the source LIT file.

I would appreciate it if you could list a few of these bugs.

One problem I have noticed is that it inserts a space after an italic word and before a period. Thus "spaceship." becomes "spaceship ."

gwynevans · 09-26-2008, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Forget the GUI. Not worth it. It's good to learn to use the command line. All the other DRM removers are command line only.

You keep saying that, so I'm wondering if this is just an extreme view-point, or if you're talking about the "LitConverter.exe" GUI rather than the "ConvertLIT GUI\ConvertLIT.exe"? It seems to me that the latter does a worthwhile job, especially considering that it can integrate with the Windows Explorer-UI. I do happen to know my way around a command-line, but it seems to me that it's worth it and would be even more so for people who weren't familiar with a CLI.

HarryT · 09-26-2008, 01:05 PM

Gwyn,

I was using command line systems before Windows was a gleam in Uncle Bill's eye, but still I find the ConvertLIT GUI to be a lot more convenient to use than the command line. I'm with you, mate!

kesey · 09-26-2008, 01:38 PM

I've been using command line for a long long time also...going back to my lovely Sirius. I used to love quick and dirty ways of getting things done. Now however, good GUI beats command line 99% of the time as far as I am concerned. This may have to do with the fact that age is playing dingbats with my memory of individual command line functions.

Getting back to the original posters request, I recommend that he tries the GUI version of Calibre. If things are not working out, I would be happy to converse via pm until they get sorted.

JSWolf · 09-26-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwynevans

You keep saying that, so I'm wondering if this is just an extreme view-point, or if you're talking about the "LitConverter.exe" GUI rather than the "ConvertLIT GUI\ConvertLIT.exe"? It seems to me that the latter does a worthwhile job, especially considering that it can integrate with the Windows Explorer-UI. I do happen to know my way around a command-line, but it seems to me that it's worth it and would be even more so for people who weren't familiar with a CLI.

The reason is to help people learn to use the command line. They other tools for stripping DRM do not have a GUI. So if you can learn to use ConvertLIT via the command line, you might be ok with the others should you have them and use them. The problem we have today is that the GIU (Windows, Linux, OS X) has not helped learn how to use a command line. And sometimes a command line is actually easier to use as in the case of ConvertLIT. I find it easier to use from a command line then the GUI.

09-25-2008, 02:53 PM	#1
Peridot Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Sony PRS505	Has anyone got a step by Step guide on converting LIT to LRF? Hi I am a owner of a new sony reader in the uk. I've been downloading the adobe pdf books which i am able to read fine but have difficulties with the font sizes. It seems to be the general advice is to download the LIT version from places like fictionwise and books on board and then convert it. Has anyone got a step by step guide on how to do this. I am not very technical on the computer but i just wanted to see if it works and if it's easy enough i will do this in future rather than getting the adobe PDF books. All help and advice is much appreciated.

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09-25-2008, 03:19 PM	#2
kesey Enthusiast Posts: 71 Karma: 490394 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cork Device: Kindle Keyboard	Peridot, the answer is a definite yes. First go to http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/ Have a nose around, and then download Calibre. I appreciate that you will want to get up and running quickly. Calibre does the job quietly, without any fuss. Have a go at it, and if you get into bother read the manual at http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/user_manual/ and particularly the FAQ at: http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/user_manual/faq.html#faq There is a massive thread on the topic of lit to lrf here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11618 The chances are you will be able to get going without too much reading of the above: I think the User Manual and the FAQ will have you converting to beat the band. If not the Calibre thread above has all the questions ever asked, plus a few more.

09-25-2008, 04:15 PM	#3
PsyDocJoanne Loves her 505 and her Z4! Posts: 157 Karma: 631 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Weston, FL Device: Sony PRS-505	Hi Peridot, The resources that kesey provided to you will be very helpful, I think. However, I still found it to be a bit of a challenge, despite all the help I got via old threads and members of this board. Once you've done it successfully once, it's easy and works as smooth as silk. If you run into problems, don't hesitate to PM me, I'd be glad to help you out!

09-25-2008, 04:38 PM	#4
DrMoze Booknut Posts: 858 Karma: 2852 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida! Device: Sony Reader 500/505/300/350, Nook Glowlight Plus (6")	Here's a simple, abbreviated, and (from my memory) maybe not exactly accurate step-by-step: 1) Download and install Calibre, and run the program 2) Drag the .lit file into Calibre's window. Click once on it to highlight it. 3) Make sure the author and book title are OK. (They usually are with .lit files.) If not, click on the "Edit metadata" button on top of the Calibre window and edit, then save. 4) Click the "Convert" button near the top right. Usually the default options give you good, readable ebooks when converted. If not, you can e-convert and tweak things later. 5) After the hourglass in the bottom right corner stops, click on the right side of the "Save book" button on top, and select "save lrf only" in the drop-down menu. 6) Pick a place to save your lrf file, then open it in the Sony sw to see how it looks or load it directly onto your Reader. That's it! (I don't use Calibre to manage my library, which is why I separately save the lrf file in steps 5&6.) If the .lit has DRM, use the Convert Lit (CLit) utility, described elsewhere on these forums. There's a small GUI program for CLit as well.

09-25-2008, 05:40 PM	#5
CaptainIncognito Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: PRS505	Hi Peridot Welcome to the forums! One last thing to add to the excellent directions given is that you can also use calibre to convert your pdfs so you can change the text size which is mighty handy! A

09-25-2008, 07:59 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,395 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Forget the GUI. Not worth it. It's good to learn to use the command line. All the other DRM removers are command line only. So it will help. That said, find the site for ConvertLIT, read the readme file that comes with it on how to set it up. Once done, use ConvertLIT to remove the DRM. Now you have multiple choices as to what to do withthe DRM free LIT. You can use Book Designer to load it and edit it. Or you can use Calibre to convert. Calibre's lit2lrf is actually easier to use. Now if you want to explode the LIT into it's component parts, use lit2oeb from Calibre as there are bugs in ConvertLIT's exploding. They are minor and most of the time it won't affect you, but lit2oeb overcomes these bugs.

09-26-2008, 01:05 PM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Gwyn, I was using command line systems before Windows was a gleam in Uncle Bill's eye, but still I find the ConvertLIT GUI to be a lot more convenient to use than the command line. I'm with you, mate!

09-26-2008, 01:38 PM	#14
kesey Enthusiast Posts: 71 Karma: 490394 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cork Device: Kindle Keyboard	I've been using command line for a long long time also...going back to my lovely Sirius. I used to love quick and dirty ways of getting things done. Now however, good GUI beats command line 99% of the time as far as I am concerned. This may have to do with the fact that age is playing dingbats with my memory of individual command line functions. Getting back to the original posters request, I recommend that he tries the GUI version of Calibre. If things are not working out, I would be happy to converse via pm until they get sorted.

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