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ePub + The opensource eBook standard with no portable reader

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August 7, 2009 - 12:18pm
#1
bigpallooka
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ePub + The opensource eBook standard with no portable reader

EPUB (electronic publication) is an e-book standard, by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), which consists of three file format standards (files have the extension .epub), described below. It supersedes the Open eBook standard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB

There is a portable compiler eCub available.

https://portableapps.com/node/9219

There was a project to portablise FBReader although no action has been taken for some time. I would be happy to test as I read copious amounts of eBooks and desperately need a portable reader.

https://portableapps.com/node/10150
https://portableapps.com/node/11807

Otherwise I would be happy to hear of any projects or even plug-ins or add-ons for other portable applications that would enable me to read this format. The standard has great possibilities but NEEDS a portable viewer! It seems strange to me that OpenOfficeOrg isn't compatible (a topic I will be bringing up in their forums.) There was a plugin for Firefox but it is incompatible with current releases and numerous request for updating have been ignored.

Regards

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August 8, 2009 - 11:36am
bigpallooka
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My continuing efforts to get a portable reader

I placed a request in the OpenOfficeOrg Writer forum to get some attention regarding the absence of compatability with this opensource format. Apparently the old opensource eBook format of ,odf was compatible in past versions of writer but the new version isn't.

This was my post.

http://www.oooforum.org/forum/viewtopic.phtml?t=87430&sid=d1c0ef8df610a8...

I am curious as to how I can find out if there are any plans to include this open standard in Writer. It seems that it would be a natural inclusion to be able to read and publish from writer in this format. Alternatively how would I go about making the suggestion to the development team? It is an option available in Atlantis Word Processor which is no longer freeware and obviously not open-source. My most pressing need is for reading and compiling ePub eBooks from a portable device which is why I use oOo Writer in the open-source PotableApps.com suite.

Any comments, work-around or advice appreciated.

[Duplicate post in OpenOffice.org Portable forum removed by mod JTH]

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August 10, 2009 - 3:24pm
(Reply to #2)
bigpallooka
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Duplicate removed

Sorry if I cross-posted JTH. I don't remember doing that. I thought I just edited a previous post to update the information linking it to this discussion etc.. Is that the same thing?

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August 9, 2009 - 8:01pm
Xandl
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Hello, this might be a silly

Hello,

this might be a silly idea, but in the meantime, you could use an older version of portable firefox plus the plugin, only as an ebook reader, maybe with a wrong proxy configured.

Ciao,
Xandl

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August 10, 2009 - 3:20pm
(Reply to #4)
bigpallooka
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Thanks Xandl

That had actually occurred to me and is what I'll do if no better alternative comes up. I've had some small interest in the oOo writer forum so I hope it goes somewhere. It would be ideal to be able to write, edit, read and publish THE opensource standard eBook from 1 opensource application.
Regards

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November 5, 2010 - 12:18pm
(Reply to #5)
bigpallooka
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Just an update...

I thought it might be worthwhile updating the situation. While I still don't see any official action several useful plug-ins/add-ons have been developed for oOo that make the publication of ePub documents possible. Search the oOo site.

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November 9, 2010 - 5:33am
(Reply to #6)
Poopie McGhee
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I do that...

I use Firefox and epubreader... I just go to Gutenberg, and when I click the link for a book in epub, it opens in it and stores it... It makes a bookmark to your library, and you can add files you already have to it somehow (haven't tried it yet, I'm on a fresh Xubuntu install and have no epub files)...

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November 10, 2010 - 8:27am
(Reply to #7)
bigpallooka
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Agreed...

... I think this is the best option for portable readers at the moment.

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November 5, 2010 - 2:51pm
solanus
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Calibre

There's an application in development test stage called Calibre:
https://portableapps.com/node/20518
It is a pretty comprehensive solution for e-books.
You can maintain a library of e-books, import and export from external reader devices, convert between formats, etc.
But also to your request, it has a viewer so you can read your e-books on your PC, which is why I have it.

It's a little behind in the version, but it works OK. I'd love it if prapper picked it up again, and it became an official app. It would be a natural fit.

I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.

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November 7, 2010 - 2:01am
(Reply to #9)
bigpallooka
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Yes it is now a very good program

I have 4380 books in my calibre library now which I use in conjunction with my Kobo reader. At the time of the original post calibre wasn't quite where I was happy using it and while it has it's own method of running portable I would prefer to be able to use a simple viewer with my portableapps. There are a few more options as plug-ins but a dedicated viewer would be great for those who don't care to have their library managed for them.

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