[bookshare-discuss] Re: txt files
- From: "Silvara" <silvara@xxxxxxx>
- To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 2 Oct 2004 20:06:21 -0400
The purpose of my message was not to discourage people from submitting txt
files that they already scanned. I agreed that we should not lose access to
such books. The reason I posted was to encourage people to save new scans as
rtf, if *at all possible.* I have used Microsoft Word, Word Pad and even
tested out note pad. There is an option in Word XP to save txt with lay out.
However, when I tried to save, it said it needs a converter. So apparently
this converter is not automatically installed. I now use K1000 as my editor
and it keeps formatting in txt files.
I just conducted a little test with txt. I created the file in Word and
saved it as plain txt which is the only option that it allows. I then opened
this same file in K1000, all the page breaks were gone. I then put in the
page breaks and saved it in txt. I opened this file in Word and the page
breaks were there. I edited it and saved it. I again opened the file in
K1000 and the page breaks were gone again. This suggests to me that if the
file is initially saved in plain txt without formatting, it doesn't matter
what program is used to open the file.
Sorry for the long post.
Grace
----- Original Message -----
From: <talmage@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 3:32 PM
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: txt files
> Hi silvara,
>
> Typically it is not a capability issue that the end user is able to
> select. It is either, or not, a feature of the program the validator
> chooses to use to access the file. When you say you have experienced not
> seeing any page breaks in txt files, I would have to ask, what program
have
> you been using to access the txt file? As far as the preferred format,
yes
> it is obvious that Bookshare prefers RTF files, but if that means you
don't
> wish to have books that people have scanned in the past to be submitted,
> I'd have to disagree.
>
> Dave
>
> At 03:14 PM 10/2/2004, you wrote:
> >Even if txt has the capability of saving formatting attributes such as
page
> >breaks, as a validator I have not seen people using such capabilities.
The
> >reality is that we see txt files without any formatting attributes. There
is
> >a difference between actuality and reality. Additionally, even though
> >bookshare accepts other formats, the preferred format is rtf. Also if a
> >submitter's txt file is capable of saving formatting he or she should
> >consider that the validator may not be able to do the same, and save the
txt
> >as rtf for bookshare. I understand that this is not an absolute
requirement,
> >but I have come across many txt files that left a lot to be desired.
> >
> >Just my $0.02, for whatever its worth.
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: <talmage@xxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2004 10:01 AM
> >Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Advance copies of books
> >
> >
> > > Hi Cindy,
> > >
> > > Some of these txt books that are showing up are because I and others
are
> > > probably going through our old collections of scans looking for
suitable
> > > books for submissions.
> > > Before Bookshare came along, and before I got a newer copy of
Openbook, I
> > > always saved to txt and wasn't too worried about the publisher's info,
> >book
> > > jacket, and maintaining format.
> > > What I do now from time to time is go back through my collection and
try
> >to
> > > fill out series if I have a book that has the necessary info and isn't
in
> > > bad shape.
> > > I know a lot of people don't like txt files, because there is a
> > > misconception that txt files don't maintain page breaks, italics,
> > > etc. They can in fact contain these attributes, but it is a factor of
> >what
> > > you are using to edit the file. I.e. word processors are notoriously
bad
> > > at keeping them, because they want to compel you to use their native
> > > format, and don't want to spend too much time on imported formats.
The
> > > best way to validate a txt file is to find a text editor for your
computer
> > > platform that maintains these attributes, and doesn't immediately
reformat
> > > the file to some other format like RTF.
> > >
> > > HTH
> > >
> > > Dave
> > >
> > > At 09:51 PM 10/1/2004, you wrote:
> > > >-Marissa,
> > > >
> > > >You bring up a good point that to my knowledge (and
> > > >I've been here about one and one-half or two years, I
> > > >think) hasn't been mentioned here before. Maybe it
> > > >just doesn't come up very often. That is, that advance
> > > >copies (proof, or preview) of books can't be sold. I
> > > >gather from your post that that would hold true for
> > > >Bookshare as well as for any bookstore.
> > > >
> > > >Since I live in L.A., I we get donations of advance
> > > >copies of books that were sent to movie producers and
> > > >agents, and we can't sell them. Also, I've noticed on
> > > >paperbacks the notice that book with the covers torn
> > > >off aren't supposed to be sold; they supposedly were
> > > >extras that should have been returned to the publisher
> > > >and for which, presumably, the bookseller was
> > > >re-imbursed. I wonder if some of those books have been
> > > >scanned and that's why sometimes scanners have trouble
> > > >finding the publisher and copyright info.
> > > >
> > > >Cindy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >__________________________________________________
> > > >Do You Yahoo!?
> > > >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> > > >http://mail.yahoo.com
> > >
> > >
>
>
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