eBook line break reformatter

Background

Some eBooks, like the Rocket eBook, can't handle PDF files but only plain-text or HTML. As these "real" eBooks (not talking of PDAs) are not widespread yet, most literature is still distributed as PDF files, which are not so easy to convert.

With some PDFs, it is possible to export the content to a text document with the Adobe Acrobat reader. With others, you need to use some third-party application like GhostView to extract the text of the PDF to a file. The resulting file can then be imported into the Rocket eBook (REB).

The disadvantages of these text files are:

The line breaks are set to the width of the PDF page size. There is no difference between paragraphs and simple line wraps. The REB in contrast has no fixed line breaks (except at end of paragraph) and does this dynamically depending on the font size and screen orientation
The page numbering at the bottom is included in the plain text file

Info

This program does a simple line break reformat of a plain-text file. All lines shorter than a given number of characters are treated as "end of paragraph", and a CR/LF is placed in the output file. All lines that exceed this size are treated as flowing text, and the CR/LF at the end of the line is removed. Instead, a single space is inserted. Page numbers (lines that are shorter than 5 characters and contain only numbers) can be removed as well.

Example

Note the different line wraps, and try different sizes of your browser window.

Input file

"Yes, you have! Twice now. My pardon. I give it you. In fact I will go so far as to send you on this adventure. Very amusing for me, very good for you and profitable too, very likely, if you ever get over it." "Sorry! I don't want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Good morning! But please come to tea any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Come tomorrow! Goodbye!" With that the hobbit turned and scuttled inside his round green door, and shut it as quickly as he dared, not to seen rude. Wizards after all are wizards.

Output file

Screenshot

A screenshot is available here.

Download

Version: ebbreak 1.1
OS: Windows (95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP)
Download: ebbreak.zip (zip file, 223 kB, simply extract and run)

Changes

2003/09/17 - Version 1.1
Major code rewrite. Some bugs have been resolved, such as no spaces were added between joined lines. Page numbers are now detected and removed more properly.

Remarks

This software is freeware.
Please send any comments or questions to .