Here's an Abiword/RTF File Workaround

[jakfish]

When Abiword saves in *.doc format, it really makes a rtf file w/ a doc ending.  This is not a problem for MS Word and other word processors, but it's a problem for some.  I wanted to swap docs b/w my epc and a Nokia E90, a phone that uses QuickOffice.  QuickOffice doesn't have rtf capability, and this is what I did to get around it:

1) on the epc/abiword, save file as a rtf

2) go to http://apps.phplivedocx.org/convert/rtf-to-doc/ (edit: use firefox browser)

3) convert rtf file to doc file on an micro sd card (this is a free procedure but file must be under 1.5mb)

4) put the card in the Nokia (or other rtf-incapable machine) and open the file

Other than the tedious steps, the drawback is you need an internet connection.  If you don't have wifi/ethernet connection, you could copy rtf file to Nokia, then, in the Nokia with a gprs/3g/data connection, go to http://apps.phplivedocx.org/convert/rtf-to-doc/ and go through the steps of conversion.

In order to do this on the Nokia, you need Opera Mobile installed.  Neither Nokia's Web or Opera Mini can do the final downloads.  But Opera Mobile is a free app.

This is the most arcane of workarounds, so I can't imagine it'll be of use to many users, but you never know...

Jake

[wicknix]

Neat. Tedious might be tedious, but a work a round is a work a round.
Would this be of any use you think?

http://packages.debian.org/etch/unrtf

[jakfish]

Ooh, that looks interesting.  Does unrtf need compiling for 3mx Ultra, or can a user unzip, drop it into a directory, and use?

Further good news, at least for Nokia users.  QuickOffice is free for s-60 series Communicators (the E90, for example), but poking around on the web, I found this http://www.mobisystems.com/product.html?p=8&pid=24&l=1&i=1, OfficeSuite 4.  It will open abiword files made on the epc without the user even needing to convert to rtf first (OfficeSuite has rtf capability, regardless of file extension).

Once OfficeSuite is installed on the Nokia, simply pop the micro sd card containing abiword docs, and OfficeSuite will open then without complaint.  Once the files are saved in OfficeSuite, they open fine as *.docs in QuickOffice.

The great thing is that OfficeSuite 4 sells for only $9.99 USD, some of the best ten dollars I've spent.

So now the epc and the Nokia E90 are almost a working tandem.  The only thing is, 3mx Ultra won't look at the Nokia's files on the micro sd via usb cable.  That's odd b/c on Puppy Linux, I connect the phone and the sd card appears as a drive on the desktop.

That may be a kernel thing, since Puppy usess a 2.6.* kernel.  So for now, users have to physically swap the card.

Jake

[wicknix]

I could repack unrtf as an .xap. Should work fine since its required deps are already in Ultra.

As for your phones SD card not being recognized, yes a kernel/module thing. The default kernel was only built with the modules/drivers needed for the machines internal hardware to work and generic usb stuff like mice, keyboards and thumb drives (also eliminates bloat and slower boot time). If you can find out what module needs to be built i'm sure somebody on here would gladly build it for you.

Cheers

[wicknix]

You can now test unrtf. It's uploaded to 3mx.taita.co.uk in the 'other' folder.

Cheers.

[jakfish]

unrtf downloads and installs fine, apparently.  Many thanks.

Despite googling, I can't find a way to make an actual output file for the rtf file.  For example, in console, "unrtf --html ~/documents/P_05.rtf" will show a huge screen printout of unrtf's conversion and says it's been successful, but I can't find a P_05.html  file.  I've tried putting the file in root and in a subdirectory.

http://www.gnu.org/software/unrtf/unrtf.html  That's the best background I can find, but not helpful for an output.  UNLESS, one is supposed to copy the screen's output (how does a user do that?) and paste it into an html editor.

But no, that doesn't make sense given that there's a postscript file choice and there's no ready editor for that.

Jake

Edit: SOLVED, thanks to http://www.uluga.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1391050&page=3
The console command to make output html file: unrtf --html P_05.rtf > test.html