Findings regarding Document.dat

[y2kspy2]

Well, I stayed up quite late last night trying to figure out a way to get the document.dat working properly. I was attempting to convert the official strategy guide for final fantasy 9 (images and all) into a usable format. In the process of doing so, I found several things.

First of all, the maximum size of the pictures is 480X480. There doesn't seem to be a size limit on the PNG files. However, the pictures I was using had an original resolution of 3470X2784, so I ended up cropping every page in half and then resizing it to 480X480. This left me with a strategy guide that was about 416 pages long, yet fairly readable.

Sadly, the POPS emulator seems to be capped at 100 pages, since if I attempt to go past that PNG image, the images all dissapear and I get the "There is no software manual to display." message. From that point on, until I delete and resave the document.dat, I will continue to get that message. However, the first 100 pages work fine. This off course, could just be a problem with my images, since I was converting from ultra high-res jpegs to pngs. I'll probably do some more testing tonight.

If anyone finds anything else, please post it here. We can try to consolidate information on the document.dat.

If someone could confirm the 100 page cap, that would be nice.

[Ooops]

Nicely summed up, beyond that what about gathering infos and manuals converted by users ? I've nothing to add about document format so here's a converted manual: X-Com UFO Defense (SLUS00141) with FAQS from GameFAQS.com.

Edit: file removed, author's permission required.

[grit]

Nicely summed up, beyond that what about gathering infos and manuals converted by users ? I've nothing to add about document format so here's a converted manual: X-Com UFO Defense (SLUS00141) with FAQS from GameFAQS.com.
Make a new thread for PSX manual uploads. :)

[katsika]

Hey y2kspy2
i want to have the official strategy guide of ff7 in my psp too.What is the best way to convert the pdf to png?Also i ve installed bookr but it shows the guide as white pages,why?

[y2kspy2]

Just to add something, it seems as if the document viewer actually recognizes the fact that I have 416 pages in the PNG file. However, as I said before, it cuts off at 100. When I get home from school, I'll do some more testing to see if I cant get it to work.


Hey y2kspy2
i want to have the official strategy guide of ff7 in my psp too.What is the best way to convert the pdf to png?Also i ve installed bookr but it shows the guide as white pages,why?

Most likely the reason that Bookr can't load the PDF file is that the high quality images are too much for the PSP to handle. That or the PDF is incompatible with bookr. As far as converting the PDF to PNG format, you can use something like:

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Utilities/File_Cataloging_Utilities/PDF_To_Image_Converter.html (This Link)

My recommendation for picture resizing/renaming is a freeware program called Faststone Image Viewer which can be found at http://www.faststone.org (here). This viewer is extremely powerful and pretty easy to use. Have fun!

And keep in mind that if your guide is over 100 pages (which it probably is), it wont work!

[Ooops]

About sharing converted FAQS/manuals, I'll try this site: http://popsdb.twystneko.com/index.php. Don't know who hosts it though.

[y2kspy2]

I'm requesting a mod response regarding the legality of posting our own converted strategy guides and the like here. I want to make sure I'm not breaking any rules before I turn this into a manual thread.

[katsika]

Thnx for the reply!
The problem is also that the document.dat is maybe not the best solution.bookr has rotation,zoom in/out,go to xx page etc,which do not exist in document.dat.So my question is how i can make the pdf to be viewable by bookr.

[Ooops]

I'm requesting a mod response regarding the legality of posting our own converted strategy guides and the like here. I want to make sure I'm not breaking any rules before I turn this into a manual thread.

Good idea, I just saw that gamefaq.com materials are submitted to copyright and fair use and doesn't tolerate plagiarism. I'll ask in their boards if the PSP conversion is OK for them.

[Chilly Willy]

Thnx for the reply!
The problem is also that the document.dat is maybe not the best solution.bookr has rotation,zoom in/out,go to xx page etc,which do not exist in document.dat.So my question is how i can make the pdf to be viewable by bookr.

The advantage of DOCUMENT.DAT is you can pull it up in the emulation. The emulation pauses while you read the doc, then resumes when you're done. You can't do that with bookr.

[y2kspy2]

Thnx for the reply!
The problem is also that the document.dat is maybe not the best solution.bookr has rotation,zoom in/out,go to xx page etc,which do not exist in document.dat.So my question is how i can make the pdf to be viewable by bookr.

Do me a favor and upload your guide to rapidshare or something, then PM me the link. I'll work with it and see if I can get it working. I have a nagging suspicion that it won't work, but we can always try.

Also, as far as Gamefaqs guides, I wasn't as worried about those as I was about my own scanned strategy guides that I have at home. I would love to upload them if they're allowed, since they are in awesome high def quality.

[y2kspy2]

Keeping this up in hopes of a mod reply.

[katsika]

Ok y2kspy2 check your pmbox

[y2kspy2]

Yep, I got it, downloading now

[StoneCut]

Sadly, the POPS emulator seems to be capped at 100 pages, since if I attempt to go past that PNG image, the images all dissapear and I get the "There is no software manual to display." message. From that point on, until I delete and resave the document.dat, I will continue to get that message. However, the first 100 pages work fine. This off course, could just be a problem with my images, since I was converting from ultra high-res jpegs to pngs. I'll probably do some more testing tonight.

If anyone finds anything else, please post it here. We can try to consolidate information on the document.dat.

If someone could confirm the 100 page cap, that would be nice.

I have exactly the same problem. I spent a couple of hours today hand-converting a walkthrough and now I have 80 pages I can't use ... :(

[y2kspy2]

Yeah, so I was right. I'm curious as to if this limit can be changed, but that is a question better left to the likes of dark_alex, in his infinite wisdom.