Basics of the project

Finally getting around to posting again. Today, I thought I would post a general outline for the project. What I am hoping to accomplish is to develop a eBook reader that will utilize the RTF file format to allow for font and text format. As of right now there are a few eBook reader already released to the homebrew community (DS Reader, DSlibirs, Read More), but only one (DSlibris) allows for font formatting. This is done by using XHTML as a file format. I have read forum posts about people having issues converting their eBooks into XHTML and wishing for an easier format to work with. I decided that RTF (Rich Text Format) would an easier way to do this. Most word processors can save in RTF, making it easier for people to convert existing files into this format. Also, their are less tags used in RTF then XHTML, which should make it easier to parse.

I also hope to add PDF like functionality to the reader by modifying the RTF file format into a custom file format that allows for chapter "tagging" without needed the extra horsepower to open and read PDF files, which that DS just doesn't have.

Right now, I have the basic idea of the program down. I have also come up with steps that I need to take to keep the project on track and show the progress I have made.

1. Create basic text reader program
2. Allow text to be read while holding DS in "book style" (Holding the DS on its side)
3. Add in ability to read in RTF format
4. Create custom GUI interface for user

If these goals are reached in a timely manner, I will try coming up with a custom file format to implement PDF-like functionality into the reader.

I am currently working on getting text read from a file and displayed on the screen. I have found a function that will display text to the screen and auto-wrap the text once it reaches a pre-defined length. This will greatly help because once I know how many characters will fit on the screen using a specific font and font size, I can just break the file down into chunks that will fit on a screen. As of right now, I am just using a the default font provided by the libraries I am using just to simplify the testing process. I'm hoping by this time next week, I will be able to display the text with the proper spacing and allow the user to "turn pages" for files that contain more text than can be displayed on the screens at once.

I am going to try and record video of this "test" and post it to the blog. If anyone knows of a way for me to record my actions on my monitor under Linux (which means I can't user Hypercam or FRAPS), please give me a heads up. Worse comes to worse, I should be able to get a Hypercam working on my laptop under Windows. I would rather test under the same environment that I develop under, but you do what you have to do.

And so it begins.......

I have finally finally gotten my blog account open and can now start posting my progress as I develop and program a eBook Reader for the Nintendo DS (or NDS). I am doing this as a Senior Project and as such, many of the posts will be about coding issues, weekely progress and such. I will also be posting others things for others who take a look at this blog.

Well, that's it for today. I'll be posting a bunch of info tomorrow after I get some sleep.