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Post by erichca on Jan 5, 2004 22:53:41 GMT -5
Hi all.
I've been working on a little project that is close to an alpha stage--basically it is a program that takes any Gospelink 2001 book and converts it to a yanceyware book.
The crux of what it does is right now is: 1) Uses the "Explorer.mdb" file to discover all the GospelLink 2001 books available. 2) Allows you to pick 1 or more books to convert to yanceyware friendly format. 3) Talks to the proxy server installed by GospelLink and requests all the sections of the book in HTML. 4) Saves the HTML into a nice yanceyware friendly directory tree.
Potentially, I can then automate Decaf's program to clean up these HTML files and add hyperlinks to the scriptures.
You would then be able to copy these HTML files to your handheld--or if Bryce releases a YBK convertor or someone reverse engineers the YBK format and provides a convertor, you could have a single YBK created to transfer to your hand held.
Obviously, I can't distribute books created in this way--but if you already own Gospelink, you could use this utility to create yanceyware books for your own personal use.
Thoughts? Interest Level?
I'm basically doing this because I want to convert my gospelink content to yanceyware reader friendly content--but depending on interest I could try to make this utility available more widely.
E.
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Post by Terry LaMantia on Jan 5, 2004 23:43:47 GMT -5
I'd be interested in doing some testing.
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Post by erichca on Jan 6, 2004 7:57:26 GMT -5
YanceyLink Alpha Available --------------------------------- I don't have a web site to post it to--so for now you'll have to request it from me via e-mail and I'll e-mail it to you (it's a 42k zip file).
This utility will create Yanceyware EBooks from any book in your Gospelink library. The books get created in the c:\books directory for now.
It requires the latest version of the .NET runtime--available through windows update. (http://www.windowsupdate.com).
You must be a registered user of Gospelink to use this utility. Gospelink must be running on your machine before you launch this utility. Do not distribute e-books you create using this utility to other people who do not own the gospelink library.
This alpha has only been slightly tested--on the book "Abundant Life".
Some stripping of the HTML is being done, but eventually I need to do more formatting or possible interface this with XPresso. Formatting is all done using CSS files which aren't supported by pocket IE--until I figure out how to process the CSS when I create the HTML, the amount of formatting you see will be limited.
There are all sorts of other limitations and problems I'm sure--send mail to erichca@hotmail.com if you find one.
E.
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Post by FroelichD on Jan 6, 2004 11:56:23 GMT -5
This sounds like a great application. I'd be interested in using it.
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Post by NateBan on Jan 6, 2004 17:01:07 GMT -5
Some of us have been looking into some way to do just what your program does. I'd be very excited to check it out. I'll send you an email.
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Post by erichca on Jan 6, 2004 18:57:33 GMT -5
If someone has a web site that they can put it on--this would be easier than e-mailing it around.
Also, in further news--I now have it converting all the scripture links in the gospelink books to yanceyware friendly scripture links. I have most of the garbage stripped out automatically so the books look pretty good--just browsing Articles of Faith right now--footnotes work great as well as all scriptures are hyperlinked just fine. I may be able to do additional fine tweakin and formatting--but I'll rely on you custom content experts to give me tips on how to improve it once you start playing with it.
I'm currently running a final test run to check for any last problems--I currently am generating book 149 out of 1240--gulp. Can anyone say time to buy a bigger memory card?
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Konglong
Full Member
http://www.ldschinese.com/library
Posts: 165
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Post by Konglong on Jan 6, 2004 19:40:17 GMT -5
What exactly does your program do? You mentioned a proxy. I have 1998 Gospelink. Was there that big of a difference between the two? Can your program convert Folio nfo files? Do you plan on creating a standalone converter that does not need any other software to be installed?
Thanks
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Post by erichca on Jan 6, 2004 20:00:02 GMT -5
It *only* works with GospeLink 2001. It has no notion of NFO files. I am not aware of any tools that can crack NFO files and I'm not planning on writing a tool that will do this.
Basically GospelLink 2001 consists of a proxy web server that is started on your machine that the GospelLink 2001 UI talks to. My utility talks to the proxy too and gets all the GospelLink content that way. Then I have a bunch of code that strips un-needed tags, converts scripture links, builds an index, and builds all the other files required to make a YanCEyWare book.
The utility itself is very simple--just check the books you want to convert and click on the Convert button. Everything is automatic after that. Once the utility is done running you have a fully formatted and ready to go YanCEyWare book--just copy the directory tree created over to your PocketPC YanCEyWare library directory and you are ready to go.
This utility is designed to not expose to you as a user any details of creating a YanCEyWare book--it should just be a click and go experience.
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Post by Terry LaMantia on Jan 6, 2004 23:23:13 GMT -5
OK -- So I got it and tried the Enyclopedia of Mormonism as my first conversion (thought I'd start small ) Incredible! 5 minutes later, a fully formatted and linked book jumped out the other side! Tonight, the 20 books I've been keeping EZReader around for are getting converted and EZReader is going out the door. Only 3 issues came up (alpha, huh -- I can't wait for beta.) 1. It kept hitting my firewall - why is it looking on the 'net? 2. No dialog box to show the conversion was complete. The progress bar just stopped. 3. The <nf> tag is set correctly for the index page, but incorrectly for the actual chapters. The chapters should have <nf>=0 so when you link to a scripture, you get a pop-up window instead of a full-screen. But, I can live with all of that -- thank you for a major contribution to the YanCEware community!!!
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Post by erichca on Jan 6, 2004 23:37:31 GMT -5
Cool!
I tried the encyclopedia too--it should have created about 1643 html pages if it worked right.
Regarding your issues.
1) It talks to the proxy server that is set up by Gospelink--this is on port 49152 (connects to http://localhost:49152. The only reason there would be traffic outside your local machine is maybe you picked the option where GospeLink connects to the gospelink site content on the internet?
2) It should show a dialog box when it is complete--it sounds like it might have hung. I noticed some problems tonight (an exception dialog was appearing) with really big books like the encyclopedia and Mormon Doctrine. I have a change in the code to be more robust with large books. It should pop up a new window called "Results" when it is done--look in your list of open windows to see if you see it. When you click "OK" on the buton in the Results window, the progress bar will clear and the Convert button will be re-enabled.
3) Whoops--this is an easy fix, I'll fix this in the next drop. I didn't quite understand what nz did.
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Post by Terry LaMantia on Jan 6, 2004 23:43:03 GMT -5
Let me know when you have the next version ready and I'll be happy to help test.
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Post by Terry LaMantia on Jan 7, 2004 0:50:51 GMT -5
OK - V1.1 works great. . . No hang problem, I tried converting 4 books at once and it worked perfectly. The scriptures show in a pop-up window and I got the completion dialog. Looks really good! Only problem now is I'm going to need a much larger SD card
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Post by markale on Jan 7, 2004 12:19:19 GMT -5
thanks for the file. It worked great did not have a problem.
thanks
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Post by KingPong on Jan 7, 2004 17:14:00 GMT -5
If someone has a web site that they can put it on--this would be easier than e-mailing it around. I'd be happy to provide space. If you still need it just send it to kingpongg-REMOVE-@yahoo.com. remove the -REMOVE -from the address
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Im interested in testing this
Guest
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Post by Im interested in testing this on Jan 7, 2004 21:16:39 GMT -5
I'm interested in trying this out. You can send me the file at drogers@bu.edu
Thanks
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