How to make an EZReader ebook for Handheld PC Pro Device

I have a NEC MobilePro 880 device (MIPS processor, Handheld PC Pro, Windows CE 2.11). This device is relatively old and does not support even Pocket PC 2000 software.

I have found that the best scripture reader software is still the EZReader Software from Axiom Technologies. I have installed the available ebooks from the pda/handheld page for EZReader Archive.

I would like to know if it would be possible to get a hold of some software that will allow me to create new ebooks for current conference reports and other files from the church's website. One possibility would be to convert a current format into EZReader format (from yanceyware or mobipocket format to EZReader format). Another possibility would be to convert from html to EZReader format.

Is there any possibility that I could get some information on how to create an EZReader ebook?

Thanks in advance for any help,

I'm the author of the EZReader program (I was the owner of Axiom Technologies). If there is any interest in the community, I could post the code for people to use. I don't have any time to write converters from other formats to EZReader format but others may.

Tom

Tom,

You mentioned that there an't (and you don't have time to write) converters from other formats to EZReader. How about visa versa? Do you know of anyone who has gotten the EZReader files into another format (i.e., eReader)?

Alternatively, do you know any way to get the LDS scriptures in a reader for the iPhone? I was loath to give up the convenience of having the scriptures always in my shirt pocket with my Palm Pilot. I know I can get it via the internet but it isn't nearly as convenient. Your reader program was great.

marcwj wrote:Tom,

You mentioned that there an't (and you don't have time to write) converters from other formats to EZReader. How about visa versa? Do you know of anyone who has gotten the EZReader files into another format (i.e., eReader)?

Alternatively, do you know any way to get the LDS scriptures in a reader for the iPhone? I was loath to give up the convenience of having the scriptures always in my shirt pocket with my Palm Pilot. I know I can get it via the internet but it isn't nearly as convenient. Your reader program was great.

I am not aware of any converters. Sorry

Tom

marcwj wrote:Alternatively, do you know any way to get the LDS scriptures in a reader for the iPhone? I was loath to give up the convenience of having the scriptures always in my shirt pocket with my Palm Pilot. I know I can get it via the internet but it isn't nearly as convenient.

There are a few iPhone apps that you can download from the iTunes store that are really well done. I have tried two of them.

One is free and is called "The Scriptures" by Lee Falin. It only allows you to search and browse the Scriptures right now. It is really well done and I think the developer hopes to enhance this feature set and maybe even add more content.

I also found a paid application selling for $15 called "Scriptures" by AccuText, LLC. It seems to be run by like one or two guys and has a really good support for questions or bugs (the support site is run by a third-party). This application gives you the Scriptures, Conference Talks, RS/Priesthood Manual (Teachings of Joseph Smith), text from the Hymns, Book of Mormon Study Guide & Teacher's Manual (Sunday School), For the Strength of Youth, Family Proclaimation, the Living Christ, and even the Constitution! And the developer informed that he would be committed to giving free updates and new features without additional fees. Unfortunately, this Scriptures app doesn't do more than just search and browse either.

I decided to go with the purchased app because of all the content (and future content) provided. But the free one was just as good.

tomw wrote:I'm the author of the EZReader program (I was the owner of Axiom Technologies). If there is any interest in the community, I could post the code for people to use. I don't have any time to write converters from other formats to EZReader format but others may.

Tom

First of all, Tom, I'd like to thank you for the work on the EZReader. I used it long ago on my first PDA and miss it.

Secondly, would you be averse to allowing me to look at your source code? My personal intention would be to use that as a basis for some Python code that I could use to convert EZReader PDBs via calibre, which is the best eBook manager for the Sony E-Reader. (calibre.kovidgoyal.net) I would be quite happy to contribute my work back to you, or post it up as public domain, whichever you prefer.

geekatcmu wrote:First of all, Tom, I'd like to thank you for the work on the EZReader. I used it long ago on my first PDA and miss it.

Secondly, would you be averse to allowing me to look at your source code? My personal intention would be to use that as a basis for some Python code that I could use to convert EZReader PDBs via calibre, which is the best eBook manager for the Sony E-Reader. (calibre.kovidgoyal.net) I would be quite happy to contribute my work back to you, or post it up as public domain, whichever you prefer.

I'd be happy to share. But I must warn you that EZReader used a proprietary compression algorithm that is not well documented and so trying to understand how to grab data and convert it may be tough.

Tom

I've actually had pretty good luck doing this kind of thing in the past. And this time there will be at least *some* reference material. Reverse engineering data formats with neither documentation nor code is ... somewhat difficult.

geekatcmu wrote:I've actually had pretty good luck doing this kind of thing in the past. And this time there will be at least *some* reference material. Reverse engineering data formats with neither documentation nor code is ... somewhat difficult.

Contact me privately and I'll make it available.

Tom

Tom,

I'd like to update EZ Reader. Would you open source your code for that?


Michael.

meffordm wrote:Tom,

I'd like to update EZ Reader. Would you open source your code for that?


Michael.

Sure, contact me privately and I'll provide access.

Tom

Thanks Tom for your ez reader program. I have many books and literature I created in the ez reader format that I got from lds.org, however, I no longer have the ez reader software from lds. org. Is the program still available? If not is there a way to covert my ez reader palm files to the ereader format?

Regards,
db

u224457 wrote:Thanks Tom for your ez reader program. I have many books and literature I created in the ez reader format that I got from lds.org, however, I no longer have the ez reader software from lds. org. Is the program still available? If not is there a way to covert my ez reader palm files to the ereader format?

Regards,
db

Are you interested in the Palm OS .prc installer for the EZ Reader? If so, contact me privately and I can email this to you.

I would love to see an EZ Reader converter, I used it on my old PDAs and phones, but recently got an IPhone for Christmas. I used it for the scriptures but also have some gospel library books in the format that I have not completed reading. I hope someone is able to come up with a converter. I am a computer scientist, but haven't done a great deal of programming lately and don't have a great deal of free time, but If I could assist in the development, I woud love to help. Rick

EZ Reader fans,

Those before me said they would like to convert LDS material from the EZ Reader format to other formats (including eReader). What success have you had so far?

I use the EZ Reader because I have an old Palm device, and because it is the only handheld scripture application with hyperlink footnotes to the Topical Guide and other LDS resources. If you are aware of another for Palm OS 5.2, please let me know.

Thankfully, the Church still distributes the publications made available in the EZ Reader Archive. Today I went to get the Book of Mormon Class Member Study Guide; I was surprised to find it missing from the list. A quick web search landed me on this thread. Is anyone aware of where I can find this valuable resource?

Thank you,

James Carroll

Hi, Tom.
I have several books in the EZreader format and would love to be able to convert them for use on an ebook reader. The guy who wrote the code for PDB file conversion with Calibre says he would be willing to attempt adding this format to Calibre if "the format is documented." (See this thread: http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showth ... post909859) Can you make this possible?

I know this is a very old thread - 16 years old - but did anyone ever figure out how to convert from EZReader to anything else?

rodmckenziejr wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 12:44 am I know this is a very old thread - 16 years old - but did anyone ever figure out how to convert from EZReader to anything else?

I don't know a lot about EZReader, but from what I've gathered, I think it's an old Palm Pilot app that uses the .pdb (Palm database) file format. Maybe one of these tools would do the trick:
https://superuser.com/questions/96641/pdb-file-viewer-or-reader-tools

The link above to the "EZ Reader Archive" on the Church website is broken, but I was able to find it via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. The page has links to download a reader, and several books in .pdb format:
https://web.archive.org/web/20100602114537/http://www.lds.org/handheldlibrary/0,6461,342-1,00.html