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Export from Readerware
Readerware Export Wizard
Readerware export allows you to export the data in your Readerware database to a number of different formats:
- CSV, (Comma Separated Value) - This is a standard data interchange format, use it to transfer data to other programs and databases.
- TAB Delimited - Another standard data interchange format
- HTML - The universal language of the web, you can export your Readerware database to HTML to create web pages. Readerware will build an HTML table displaying all the selected rows and columns. When Readerware creates the HTML table it uses a style sheet, rware.css, which is distributed with the product. The style sheet controls various formatting options such as the colors, font styles etc. To display correctly you must copy the rware.css file to the same location as the exported HTML file. You can customize the style sheet, change the font or color of the HTML title, the background colors used in the table etc. You can also create more advanced HTML pages using the Readerware Report Writer.
- Palm - You can transfer your database to your Palm device for use with Readerware Palm Edition a lightweight edition of Readerware that runs on Palm OS devices. Readerware will create a file called readerware.pdb. Here is a tip, select your Palm HotSync Add On directory to create the database in. This will make it easier to actually transfer the file to your Palm. Start your Palm Desktop, click on the Install button. Click on Add and select readerware.pdb using the file selection dialog. Then click Done. Start the HotSync from your Palm as normal. Now when you start Readerware on your Palm, your new database is loaded automatically.
- iPod Notes - You can transfer your Readerware database to your iPod and have it with you when you shop. Readerware can export your data right to your iPod, just connect it and then select your iPod on the File Selection page of the wizard. To access your database on your iPod, select the Notes function and then Readerware.
- Generic UIEE (Universal Information Exchange Environment) - A common format used to exchange book information. It is used by several book sites.
- Amazon UIEE - A non-standard version of the UIEE format used by Amazon.
- BookHound - You can transfer your database to BookHound from Bibliopolis.
- HomeBase 2.0 - You can transfer your data to HomeBase from Advanced Book Exchange Inc. You can also upload the exported file to the ABE web site. To import this into HomeBase, select File->Import / Export->Import from the HomeBase menu. Select the merge or zap option and click OK. Select the file you created in Readerware. Here is a tip, if you plan to regularly transfer files between HomeBase and Readerware, save the file in the HomeBase export directory. Then when you try and import the file into HomeBase it will be right there. Readerware will remember the location when you create your next export
There are a number of reasons for using Readerware export:
- Transfer you database to Readerware for the Palm or your iPod, take your database with you on your next trip to your favorite book stores.
- Create your own web pages to publish your collection online.
- Transfer data to online book sellers and auction sites.
- Transfer data to other programs or databases
Exporting
These are the basic steps:
- Pick the format you want to export to
- Select the file you want to export to
- Select the books you want to export
- Select the database columns you want to export
- Run Readerware export
- Check the results
Format Selection
This is the first page of the Readerware export wizard. The first step is to select which format you want to create the file in. Your choices are:
- CSV, (Comma Separated Value)
- TAB delimited.
- HTML
- Palm
- Generic UIEE, (Universal Information Exchange Environment)
- Amazon UIEE
- BookHound
- HomeBase 2.0
File Selection
You need to tell Readerware the name of the file you wish to create and where it should be located. You can either enter this in the file name field or click on the Browse button and select the file from the file selection dialog.
If you check the Always replace existing file check box Readerware will automatically overwrite this file if it exists. This is useful if you are doing regular export runs to the same file. If this is not checked, Readerware will display a confirmation dialog before overwriting an existing file.
Book Selection Page
There are two choices when selecting which books to export:
- Current Search Results - The books returned by the last search are exported. You need to search for the books before starting the Readerware export wizard. You can control exactly which books are exported, for example you can search by category, then date entered etc.
- All Books - This will export all books in the database.
Column Selection Page
Some formats determine the columns that are exported, for example Amazon UIEE format defines which columns need to be included in the exported file. In this case the column selection page is not displayed.
There are two ways to select the database columns you want to export
- Current View Columns - The columns currently displayed in the search results table will be exported. Readerware views are extremely flexible. You can define any number of views and control which columns are included in each view and the order. If you have a regular export you want to run, create a view for the export containing exactly the data you want. Then just select the view before starting the Readerware export wizard.
- Selected Database Columns - If you select this option the list of database columns is enabled. You select exactly which columns you want to export and the order. Columns listed with a green check mark are exported, those listed with a red cross are not. Double click on any entry to toggle its state. To change the order of the columns, select an entry in the list and use the up and down arrows to change its location in the list.
Verification Page
Next up is the verification page. This is your last chance to change your settings prior to running Readerware export. A quick summary of your choices is listed. Click on Next if you are ready to go. Click on Back if you want to change your choices.
Export Running Page
When you reach this page, Readerware export is running. You will see a progress bar that will update as Readerware exports the data to the file. Immediately below the progress bar is a Cancel button which you can use to interrupt the export.
When the export completes, click on the Next button to proceed to the final page of this wizard.
Export Complete Page
This page displays the overall export statistics:
- Books Processed - The number of books written to the export file
- Errors - The number of books that could not be written.
Normally this is all the information you need to ensure your data was exported correctly. If user logging is enabled, Readerware also creates a log file called rwuser.log. This file lists each book and any error messages. You can view this log file in any text editor.
When you are done, click the Finish button to exit the export wizard.
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