I want to write convertor from HTML to newton books. This will:
- run on PC/Mac,
- be written in Perl,
- use HTML::FormatRTF or a similar perl module,
- most likely use bookmaker and NTK.
You can consider this an "offline browser" of sorts.
Is anyone interested? Maybe someone'd like to help?
Suggestions for a better name are welcome.
Why? There's nothing particularly wrong with NewtsCape, but:
- I want to make some pretty big books (compsci books, 500+
letter-size pages, with illustrations etc)
- the speed of NC even on 2100 (read, convert to book, save as
package) is way too slow for me.
- uploading
- I was never able to make NC produce a "composite" book seamlessly.
Eg consider that two books may each have ch01.htm, so if you leave
these "partial books" behind, they'll clash.
I have a number of problems with bookmaker:
1. I can't make it produce a large-size book (for the 2100 screen).
Can someone help?
- I'm thinking of debugging it to see where the "normal | help size"
listbox sets the page size, and patching those values.
2. There's a number of undocumented aspects. I have a bunch of
questions, but for now:
- what are the "btn" args of message
:SetStatusButtons({left: [btn1, btn2], right:[btn]})
- how do I start a new column/row in a table?
- can one force bookmaker to not produce the useless border around the
book window, so the full screen can be used?
3. I'm not overly keen on bookmaker: the RTF + "dot command language"
mix is esoteric and not terribly appealing. So I might just rewrite
its functioanlity (the layout engine) in Perl.
4. Is there any documentation on the interfaces of the builtin
bookreader? Eg are the following limitations:
- max 12 vertical strips on a page
- max 1 layout on a page
- can't have text and image on the same line
due to bookreader or bookmaker?
I think that Steve Weyer could be a priceless source of information
about these issues. But I'd fully understand if he's hesitant to
release it...
Cheers! Vlad
-- This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries List FAQ/Etiquette/Terms: http://www.newtontalk.net/faq.html Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Mon Dec 02 2002 - 22:02:53 EST