Baen Free CD index

User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

After downloading and unzipping the Baen Free Cds, an easy way to manage the disc content was wanted. Favorites and clicking from win explorer were tried but something both descriptive and easier to navigate was called for. A simple index web page was created and saved to the hard drive then linked in favorites. Later, images were added. Some minimal content listings were added for a few CDs. If anyone is interested, I'll continue. You can take a look at the current list at:

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen_index.htm

The images won't load but there are placeholders. If you want to see or use the end result, here is what to do.
Create a directory of your choice (called mine "Baen")
Save the web index page to that directory
Create a subdirectrory called Free_CDs
(I also have Webscriptions and Free_Library directories)
Within "Free_CDs create the following subdirectories:
01_Honorverse
02_Aldenata
03_Drake
04_Dragons
05_Scepter'd_Isle
06_Wind_Rider
06b_Saganami
07_Looking_Glass
08_Ghost
09_At_All_Costs

Next, you need to copy the files to the appropriate directories. Some of the CDs such as 01_Honorverse create a directory when unzipped so it is best to do the unzipping in a temp directory. If a directory is created, rename it as above and copy it to the Free_CDs" directory ignoring the overwrite warning. If the files are created without a directory, copy them to the appropriate directory.

Additional note: When a series of novels has an addition on a later CD, I plan on adding that in the original series listing. For instance, CD 1 listing also links to CD 2, 6b and 9 for more Honor Harrington stories.

Suggestions are most welcome. I may (or may not) add links for all the Baen Free Library novels, at least the ones I download. May have another version with cover pictures and brief synopsis of each novel.


Why have I done this? Well, I wanted an easier way to access the free CD content and I was getting bored waiting for the next Were God story! :-)

--
Were_Fan
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

I've added the image for the first CD.

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen_index.htm

--
Jim
Spec8472
Weavespinner
Posts: 1536
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Spec8472 »

Looks like a good idea - If you don't mind, I'll nick it once complete, and whack it up on files.plebian.net :P

BTW: You use "/" as a path seperator for URLs. eg: http://example.com/folder/file.htm

You're using "\" instead, which causes the images and links to break. eg:
jbstolin.home.att.net/Free_CDs\01_Honorverse\On Basilisk Station/On_Basilisk_Station.htm
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

Spec8472 wrote:Looks like a good idea - If you don't mind, I'll nick it once complete, and whack it up on files.plebian.net :P

BTW: You use "/" as a path seperator for URLs. eg: http://example.com/folder/file.htm

You're using "\" instead, which causes the images and links to break. eg:
jbstolin.home.att.net/Free_CDs\01_Honorverse\On Basilisk Station/On_Basilisk_Station.htm
Hmmm, the mix and match of / and \ works ok from my hard drive with IE6. I checked after reading your message and it doesn't work with Netscape. Don't know about other browsers

The fixed / only version has been uploaded. However, only the first CD "Honorverse image has been uploaded since this is made to work from a hard drive. NONE of the links will work for the same reason. Instructions will be added to the page.

Suggestions are most welcome. An alternative version with book covers is also being worked on. Considering short reviews also.

Anyone is free to "nick" the basic page for their personal use. That is why it has been uploaded.

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen_index.htm

--
Were_Fan/Jim
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

OK, I've made some changes and uploaded some images. Please remember that the links to the stories won't work since I haven't uploaded several gigs of files. :-) This is made to run from your hard drive.

Would some of you kind folks please check the link and tell me what you think?

Thank you.


http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen_index.htm

--
Jim/Were_Fan
Spec8472
Weavespinner
Posts: 1536
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Spec8472 »

Were_Fan wrote: Please remember that the links to the stories won't work since I haven't uploaded several gigs of files. :-) This is made to run from your hard drive.
Feel free to link the images and files to http://files.plebian.net/baencd/, if you want.

I've added jbstolin.home.att.net to the allowed-list of direct-linkage :)
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

If you are reading this thread, please leave a comment about the Baen Free CD index.

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen/Baen_index.htm
Spec8472 wrote: Feel free to link the images and files to http://files.plebian.net/baencd/, if you want.

I've added jbstolin.home.att.net to the allowed-list of direct-linkage :)
Spec, there doesn't seem to be any interest in the free CD index since only you have responded out of 227 views. I'll leave the current version up for a while but won't be putting up a completed version unless there is some interest shown.


12-20-05 Now has online and hard drive link example.
First book has direct links to HTML,MS reader, Mobipocket, Rocket and rich text formats. Reviews or other links may be added.

12-18-05 Book cover version shown at top
First five books of first CD are chown

The link has been changed to get all the Baen stuff in a single directory but the old link will redirect.

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen/Baen_index.htm

--
Jim/Were_Fan
User avatar
Shadowhawk
Child of Niami
Posts: 776
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:17 am
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Shadowhawk »

Were_Fan wrote:If you are reading this thread, please leave a comment about the Baen Free CD index.
First of all, I think that the book cover format takes up too much space. Perhaps if the book cover was downsized... but I think even then.

The per CD format would be nicer if there would be direct links to all the format... or choose always HTML (to read on-line) and OTHER (to select the version).

P.S. It is nice to have links to Honorverse books which appeared only on further CDs... but I think that you have missed some.
I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. *I* TURN UP ONLY ONCE.
(Terry Pratchet, "Feet of Clay")
J-Man5
Mi'Shara
Posts: 622
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2004 10:36 pm

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by J-Man5 »

I have all the CD's but haven't had a chance to load them YET! This looks handy though. May give it a try over the holiday weekend.

J-Man5
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

Still need comments on the Baen Free CD index. Like, dislike, cool, crappy, useful, won't use ... doesn't matter ... just say something.

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen/Baen_index.htm
Shadowhawk wrote:
Were_Fan wrote:If you are reading this thread, please leave a comment about the Baen Free CD index.
First of all, I think that the book cover format takes up too much space. Perhaps if the book cover was downsized... but I think even then.
Yeah, book covers take up WAY too much space. There are 20 to 50 novels per CD. One would need to page down several times just to see a single CD's contents. If anyone wants to see what this looked like, the book cover version has been moved to the end of the page.
The per CD format would be nicer if there would be direct links to all the format... or choose always HTML (to read on-line) and OTHER (to select the version).
Got them! There are several versions of links to look at for the first book of the first CD. Also added review and purchase links that were found on baen.com web site. Javescript was considered to switch online/offline but Javascript might be disabled. A simpler solution is follows.

Plans are to get a new web site and upload all the free CDs. The directories will be identical to my hard drive setup so seperate online/offline links will not be needed. Unfortunately, my AT&T web site won't allow spaces in directory names Another web site will also relieve the bandwidth load on free CD mirror sites.

P.S. It is nice to have links to Honorverse books which appeared only on further CDs... but I think that you have missed some.
The Shadows of Saganami, the first book of the Saganami Island series, was missed. All eleven Honor Harrington novels plus several anthologies and a "Honor universe" spinoff. Please let me know if you see others.


--
Jim/Were_Fan
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

J-Man5 wrote:I have all the CD's but haven't had a chance to load them YET! This looks handy though. May give it a try over the holiday weekend.

J-Man5
Load at least one CD. Take a look at the index. It is not complete except for the first CD but it will give you a general idea of each CD's contents.

http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen/Baen_index.htm

There is a lot of great FREE scifi on those CDs. I started with There Will be Dragons, a Council Wars novel on the 4th disk. Read all the Council Wars novels then got hooked on the Honor Harrington series on the first CD. Read all ten Honor novels on that CD plus the latest one on the 9th free CD. I still have 20 or so novels left to read on the first CD!

A web site with the free CDs plus the index is planned. It will make it simpler to maintain the index since the web site and hard drive directories will be the same.

<a href="http://jbstolin.home.att.net/Baen/Baen_index.htm">Baen index</a> ... checking to see if HTML is working ... yup.


--
Jim/Were_Fan
User avatar
Shadowhawk
Child of Niami
Posts: 776
Joined: Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:17 am
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Shadowhawk »

Were_Fan wrote:Unfortunately, my AT&T web site won't allow spaces in directory names .
What filesystem doesn't allow spaces in files and directory names :?:

You might use either '_' (underscore) at the cost that it ceases to be compatibile with Baen CD's, or perhaps use '%20' (URL encoded space) would suffice.
I AM DEATH, NOT TAXES. *I* TURN UP ONLY ONCE.
(Terry Pratchet, "Feet of Clay")
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

Shadowhawk wrote:
Were_Fan wrote:Unfortunately, my AT&T web site won't allow spaces in directory names .
What filesystem doesn't allow spaces in files and directory names :?:

You might use either '_' (underscore) at the cost that it ceases to be compatibile with Baen CD's, or perhaps use '%20' (URL encoded space) would suffice.
I don't know if it is the file system not allowing spaces in filenames. I suspect it is the software interface. Neither AT&T's nor Insight Broadband's web pages allow spaces within the filename. Both ISP's use PWP - Personal Web Pages.

--
Jim/Were_Fan
User avatar
Were_Fan
Katzh-dashi
Posts: 149
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:31 pm
Location: NorAm, Earth, SOL, Milky Way, GalacZip 314-159-265-358-979

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Were_Fan »

NEW URL is:

http://www.ilcomps.com/Baen/Baen_index.htm

The Baen Free CD index is 99% complete. All CDs have been uploaded so the stories can be read online but the index will also work from your hard drive (intructions provided). After indexing the first few CDs, I wrote a program to do most of the details for the rest. Links to all novels on each CD are up and include several formats. Dead tree Amazon links are included to keep this legal from a tax standpoint. ;-)

This all hosted on a new high bandwidth web site provided by my company, Illinois Computer Service. I'm working on a promo to get $50 worth of dead tree Baen books for anyone purchasing high speed web hosting. Contact me if interested or find the secret link but still contact me. :-o

There are also links to Baen Free Library which is a bunch of novels on the Baen web site. Lists of the Baen Webscriptions are provided in date, title and author order. It is a bit difficult to find what you want on the Baen Webscription and is also a bit on the slow side. The Webscription lists were done by another program.

Have fun reading! The first CD has almost 40 complete novels!

--
Jim/Were_Fan
Illinois Computer Service
http://www.ilcomps.com
Spec8472
Weavespinner
Posts: 1536
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2003 12:00 am

Re: Baen Free CD index

Post by Spec8472 »

Were_Fan wrote:Dead tree Amazon links are included to keep this legal from a tax standpoint. ;-)
Baen have said that it's legal to share the CDs for non-commercial purposes. I'd think they would have a problem with it being used to promote a company, or to earn you $$ for Amazon referrals.

As for bandwidth - both my files.plebian.net, and the baencd.thefifthimperium.com site won't be having bandwidth issues in the future - We've both been upgraded to plans with over 1.6TB of bandwidth.
Locked