Mobile eBook reading is not as simple as it seems if you don’t have the required applications. Maximizing symbian phone is my rule of thumb, I don’t think that’s possible without these two applications.
FExplorer 1.17 – is a third party file manager such as creating extra folder for eBook storage, transferring files from one folder to another, distinguishing file formats with their real icon, opening file with the right application and transfering files via bluetooth. Some of these tasks cannot be accomplished by built-in file manager of many symbian phone. Some eBook application’s library folders are situated inside the system folder, this folder is not accessible by a built-in file manager.
WinRAR – is a decompressing and compressing mobile tool. I’ve tried many applications with same purpose, this one is the best based on my experience. You’ll never know that you need this application not until you encounter some hindrance without it. For instance, if you don’t have a computer and you just had downloaded an eBook not knowing that its compressed as zip or rar. What if you’re searching for that file for a long time. See? Without an extracting mobile tool is a hindrance already. It is simple but you’ll never know until you experience that and I did. One more thing with this application is you can compress already read eBooks to save space on your memory.
We have the liberty to choose the mobile applications that suits our needs. As long as it serves the same purpose, it would be fine. Familiarize yourselves with these two applications, you can use them not for eBook files but to other files such as audios, videos, games and many more mobile files.
The complete documentation of java eBook conversion using mjBook can be view here, you can find the complete list of java enabled phones here. Aside from eBook, mjBook is also capable of converting your pictures into a digital photo album… hmmn, I can’t wait to try that too. Yeah, I admit I did have a great time using this software.
The first important thing to do is prepare your text format file. View it on your notepad, edit if necessary. If you want to have tags on your java book for easy page searching… this is the process you should do. Add <p1> for introduction, <p2> for chapter and <p3> for section before the word. (example: <p2>Chapter 1) Do this to all chapters and parts you want to tag. This is just an option, if you didn’t do the process, you still have the first page, last page, % position and the bookmarks on the navigation option of finished java eBook. I prefer to do it anyway. You have to set tag <img picture_file_name> to have a picture on your ebook like book cover. (example: <img d:\books\pictures\bookcover.png>) Make sure that you use png format.
Open the mjBook software (see screenshot), at the upper right portion, choose your phone screen resolution. I choosed 176*208 for my 6630.
Input other details such as eBook name, Author and other information. Select the prepared txt file on “source text file”. Checked the tags analysis if you put the <p>‘s in your text file.
The “max size of text path” default is 90,000 bytes or 90kb. Text file size bigger than 90kb will split your file into many java eBooks. I did convert a 799kb text file, just imagine how many java Ebook it made. To mobile phones with lower or limited memory, this is the solution to read the eBook partially. I’ve set it to 1000000 bytes or 1mb just to make sure it would not split my eBook.
Fonts! Choose “MS Windows and phone fonts” for a variety of fonts available, then choose your font, font style, font size, font and background color. Click wordwrap. Choose your desired layout, portrait or landscape.
Images. The flash screen image will be shown only on start up of the java eBook. The 2nd one is for the icon, it can be seen on java eBook menu (upper part) and at the phone’s menu.
Yesterday’s entry regarding java eBooks made me wonder if I could really made adjustments on java eBook. The answer is NO. You cannot made adjustments to a converted java eBook BUT if you have the original txt format file, you can make changes on how your eBook would be. My conclusion yesterday proved me right… that the quality of the original source file is a plus factor to obtain a great output. I’ve made my own eBook with few trials and errors. I guess, the java eBook file I’ve downloaded before didn’t used the file conversion software I’ve discovered yesterday or maybe he didn’t made enough configuration on converting the file.
I came across to this mjBook 4.7 software last night, it is a recently updated free software. At first, I thought it was a mobile application, I’ve transfered the zip file right away on my 6630 last night. Silly! Anyway, I’ve used it this morning and run a few trials. I happen to have a txt format file so I used it. I’ve mentioned from my earlier entry that this java format eBook doesn’t need a reader, it is an executable file meaning an eBook is equivalent to one mobile application. I’ve modified the font, font color, font style, background color, and icon. I feel great with this software. On mobile, you can still make some settings configurations.
This software can make java eBook compatible with alljava enabled devices. So, mobile application compatibility is not a problem anymore with this software. When converting a file make sure that you choose the right mobile resolution. With this software, java eBook is indeed NOT a No-No to me.
I’ve downloaded a java eBook ages ago and managed to install it on my phone. If I didn’t browsed on my folders this morning, I almost forgot that it’s installed on my phone. Java ebooks are executable files on symbian phones, the exact counterpart of exe eBook files on computer. These files doesn’t need any application or software to read them. Java or jar files are converted primarily for java enabled mobile phones. The “Harry Po” icon at the screenshot below is a java eBook, it doesn’t looked appealing compared to other eBook icons. Let’s face it, the icon is also a plus factor to mobiles phones. Have you imagined what would it looked like if you’ve installed several java eBooks with these icons?
Screenshot of the book itself is on the right side. I admit, it took me a while to figure it out on how to use it. It did open on full screen, it tooked me a while to search for the settings. Just click the zero “0″ key for the settings. At the settings page (shown below), use your cursor and move from left to right to change your settings. I’ve closed the eBook many times when I navigate to “Info” or 6 key. The only thing I like is the “Goto” – “Go Chapters“… the only page that’s not hard on my eyes and for easy chapter scan. It depends on the theme you’re using.
For java eBooks, if you’re not desperate to read that eBook, I guess you won’t download it. First of all, I find it isn’t “user-friendly”. You can change the font size but not the font color and background. Did you notice the first screenshot above, the eBook itself? The lines are broken at a certain level then continue on the next line, we should also reconsider the quality of the original file format before it was converted. Well, I hope I have spare time for java conversion and find it myself if there’s a way to adjust the things I don’t like. What’s the use of mobile reading if you’re frowning while reading? At the moment, java eBook is a No-No for me.
I assumed that you have a symbian phone and FExplorer installed. I always count on FExplorer when it comes to eBook manipulation. For the record, FExplorer v1.17 is a free third party file manager.
I always do this, checking the eBook file and to which application it suits best. It is as simple as assigning an application to a certain eBook format or file extension. The process is almost the same with the “right click” – “open with” on computer. What makes it different on FExplorer is that you are assigning a certain file extension the application it should open permanently not unless you change it or you’ve reformated your symbian phone.
How to do it? (take a look at the screenhots)
open FExplorer
go to the file, example “Inday.prc”
click Option > File > Open with
choose the application you want for that format
click Option > Save
Check it if you followed it right, on the FExplorer, go to the file that you’ve previously assigned then click. If the assigned application opens with that file, you’re doing great. You can do this to other eBook formats or other file extension name, just make sure to close opened application when not needed otherwise you will encounter memory full (depends on symbian phone you’re using).
Mobile eBook reading is not as simple as it seems if you don’t have the required applications. Maximizing symbian phone is my rule of thumb, I don’t think that’s possible without these two applications. 
