I've just purchased and downloaded a pdb format ebook from Powells.com under the mistaken belief that my reader supported this format.

I've tried a couple of other readers but with no success.

Can anyone recommend another reader known to work with pdb formats?

Thanks,

Jim

I've only found one way to read purchsed eBooks on my Zaurus, although I'm sure there are others. Anyway, here's what I do:

1. Buy the book in MS Reader .lit format.

2. Use the utility Convert Lit to change to HTML files. (Convert Lit is a free download www.convertlit.com)

3. Compile the book to Mobipocket format using the free mobipocket publisher (www.mobipocket.com)

4. Read on my 860 using Just Reader.

It's a bit of messing about, but worth the effort.

Have you tried OPIE Reader it reads .pdb files and is what I use on my 5500
with ROM 2.38.

Or by the book, download eMule, search for the cracked version. Use that instead.

At this point, I should point out my textbath program. I wrote it to reformat text files for easy reading, putting the text into proper paragraphs and stuff. I find it incredibly useful.

You can get it here. I've got a zaurus version as well, if anybody wants it. I haven't put it at that URL though.

thanks for all your responses.

dh : In future I shall try downloading MS Reader format or PDF format.

qman : I have tried Opie Reader but with no success.

Fromwithin : I looked at the home page for eMule but it appeared to be a download/filesharing program not an eBook Reader. Have I missed something?

Jim

No, you haven't missed anything. The point was that you can probably download the eBook that you bought in a different (ie more readable) format using something like eMule.

Just in case you are not aware: PDB files are not necessarily all the same format. If you look at the first part of the file, you should see something like "ToGoToGo" or "zTXT". These tell you the actually format of the PDB file. I think Opie-Reader can read them all apart from iSilo format. Here are some possible formats that may be name as a .pdb file:

BVokBDIC = BDicty
TEXtREAd = DOC
DB99DBOS = DB (Database program)
vIMGView = FireViewer/ImageViewer
PmDBPmDB = HanDBase
InfoINDB = InfoView
ToGoToGo = iSilo
JbDbJBas = JFile
JfDbJFil = JFile Pro (no longer used)
DATALSdb = LIST
Mdb1Mdb1 = MobileDB
PNRdPPrs = Peanut Reader
DataSprd = QuickSheet
TEXtTlDc = TealDoc
InfoTlIf = TealInfo
DataTlMl = TealMeal
DataTlPt = TealPaint
DataPlkr = Plucker
dataTDBP = ThinkDB
TdatTide = Tides
ToRaTRPW = TomeRaider

I personally store all of my eBooks as simple gzipped text files, or if converting from an HTML file with links, I use Plucker format (both readable by OpieReader).

The problem is that a lot of these formats have some kind of digital rights management built in, which Opie Reader and Just Reader will not support. I suspect this is why you can't read your purchased book

I would recommend sticking with MS format, because the nice convert lit people have hooked into MS Reader so that you can convert .lit files that have DRM built in, so long as your copy of MS Reader has been "activated."

Once you have converted your .lit file to open ebook standard, you can do what dh suggested, or you can use JPluck to convert to .pdb, which both Opie Reader and Just Reader can now deal with, since the copy protection has now been removed.

There is a rumour on the convert lit FAQ that Opera supports the open ebook standard directly, although I haven't tested this on the Z and can't say it that version of Opera includes that support.

Mike.

Justreader on my Z can read PDB formatted e-books.

PDB is normally the Palm container format. The subformat within may be specific for a reader program.

Sorry to here that OPIE Reader didn't work, did it install and run OK and just wouldn't load/read the ebook or did it fail to install and run at all?

BTW whats the name of the ebook thats given you problems?


Regards,
Qman....

I'm the opie-reader developer. I suspect that if you *bought* the pdb it is probably DRM protected via some proprietary scheme and therefore won't be readable by anything other than the reader program it was originally intended for. The only places I've found unencrypted ebooks to buy (which will work with opie-reader) are the Fictionwise multiformat books.

Almost all *free* ebooks I've found will work if in an open format.

BTW, some iSilo books can be read in opie-reader. I think unprotected iSilo3 is okay but I don't use that format so I may have the version numbers wrong. Generally I use the mobipocket version of the multiformat books from Fictionwise (but you need the current unstable build for it to work on all Fictionwise mobipocket books - email me if you need it).

I've just checked out Powells and you almost certainly have an encrypted book. Your best bet is to swap it for the MSReader .lit file (if they will let you), install MSReader and then visit http://www.convertlit.com/ to get the tool required to convert it to OEB. Then you can use JPluck, or the Plucker Desktop or even the MobiPocket Publisher (with the latest unstable opie-reader) to get a version formatted for the Zaurus.