Codex by James Scholes is now on my web site

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Richard Turner

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May 3, 2022, 7:14:24 PMMay 3
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Codex by James Scholes

Thanks to Alan Lemley for discovering that James Scholes web site seems to be no more. Never fear, I had kept the last version of the Codex installation file so please read on.

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Here is a little section from his old web site. A few years ago, I wrote a tutorial which guided people through the installation and configuration of software for the purposes of gaining access to books purchased from the Amazon Kindle Store. The guide proved popular, but it required heavy use of the command line, making it unsuitable and daunting for quite a lot of people, not to mention that it was an absolute nightmare to troubleshoot if anything went wrong. Which it frequently did.
Subsequently, in 2014, I started to develop a small prototype application to make the process easier and more intuitive, not only for people wanting to read Kindle eBooks, but also for me when people needed help. I named it Codex, a word used from the 16th century onwards to denote, now ancient, manuscripts in book form. In the second half of 2015, I finally rewrote that prototype to include the functionality I wanted it to have from the start, and the software is now publicly available to download.
Please note, that you can only convert books you have purchased and only for your use--you cannot share them with others without violating the copyright laws and cheating the author out of their tiny royalties.
In order to convert your Kindle books with Codex, you will need to install Kindle For PC version 1.17, which you can get here:
KindleForPC-installer-1.17.44183.exe

Since it appears that James Scholes no longer has a web site and I am unable to find out anything about what may have happened, I'm offering his Codex 2.1.1 version that I had downloaded in August of 2018. That appears to be the last version. I know it works with the Kindle for PC version 1.17 linked to on my web site above.

I will try and give an explanation of how to use the app, but since the web site is gone that previously had the information, this is coming from my memory and experience. I'm open to edits or additions.

after you have installed the Kindle for PC version 1.17, and logged into it wiht your Amazon/Kindle ID, be sure to not allow it to update the software! Then, install Codex from the link below.

When you download a book with the Kindle for PC, take note of where the download folder is located and find the . .azw file, which will have a meaningless name like: "B079DYG6L7-EBOK.azw."
Now, bring up the context menu with Shift+f10 or the applications key and press the letter x. This will open the codex conversion screen.

I arrow down once to the convert to submenu and right arrow.
I get the following options:
* Kindle
* Microsoft Word 2007
* ePub
* Compressed HTML
* Mobipocket
* PDF
* Rich text format
* Plain text

I hav no idea what to do with Compressed html files that end up with an extension of htmlz. However, I use the ePub option and books read great in Voice Dream Reader and retain all the headings, chapters, etc. Once you pick a format to convert your Kindle book to, press enter and wait for it to tell you it is done.

Then I tab to open folder, which takes you to the default folder Codex created when it was installed where you can then copy your converted file wherever you wish.

That is what I can tell you. Here is the download link for the Codex program.

Codex-2.1.1-setup INSTLALATION FILE

 

Richard

 

 

My web site; https://www.turner42.com/

 

Woody Anna Dresner

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May 3, 2022, 8:55:59 PMMay 3
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Hi Richard,

I'm getting a 404 File Not found error when I follow the link to download Codex.

Thanks,
Anna


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Alan Lemly

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May 3, 2022, 10:41:22 PMMay 3
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Hi Anna,

 

Below is a Dropbox download link to a Codex version 2.0 setup file.:

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxh48497qnhx9u4/Codex-2.0-setup.exe?dl=1

 

I have to confess that I have yet to install Codex on my windows 10 computer but I did install the above on my Windows 7 computer with no issues.

 

Alan

Richard Turner

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May 3, 2022, 11:10:43 PMMay 3
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Alan and Anna,
The 2.0 version doesn't work as well; but have you tried a right click and save file as?
I will fix it by the morning.
I may just put both the Kindle and Codex files in a zip file so people can grab them both at once.





Richard
“What we think or what we know or what we believe is in the end of little consequence. The only thing of consequence is what we do” ~ John Ruskin


On May 3, 2022, at 7:41 PM, Alan Lemly <wal...@gmail.com> wrote:



Alan Lemly

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May 3, 2022, 11:37:36 PMMay 3
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Richard,

 

Thanks. You are correct that right clicking and selecting save link as worked fine with Firefox to download Codex 2.1.1 from your website.

 

Alan

Alan Lemly

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May 3, 2022, 11:43:59 PMMay 3
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Hi Richard,

 

When I right clicked and chose to Save link as on your Codex 2.1.1 link, I got a file named Codex 2.1.1 setup with no extension. When I attempted to rename it with a .exe at the end and execute it, I received a file is corrupt error message. I’ll wait till tomorrow and try again.

 

Alan

Woody Anna Dresner

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May 4, 2022, 12:01:38 AMMay 4
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Hello Alan and Richard and Malcolm,

Thank you all for your help. Alan, I had no problems downloading your Codex link. I needed sighted help to sign into the Kindle app because the only thing I could do myself was select the Amazon store. Fortunately, the app was accessible once I was signed in. I was able to download my book and convert it. There is real text there, alleluia! It's going to take some editing to make it easy to read because (not surprisingly) the Hebrew came out as gibberish, but it should be workable. Thanks again to all of you!

All the best,
Anna


Alan Lemly

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May 4, 2022, 12:16:40 AMMay 4
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Hi Anna,

 

I just love a story with a happy ending. So glad you were able to get everything installed and the book converted. Good luck with your additional editing and getting everything as you like.

Richard Turner

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May 4, 2022, 12:25:37 AMMay 4
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Anna and Allan,

OK, now if you want the slightly more recent version of codex, it works on my site now.

 

Funny thing, when you don’t put the entire file name in the html link code; things don’t work.  Duh!

 

I just tested it and it works now.

 

I’m glad you got the file converted. 

James Scholes did the version 2.1 in 2016 to fix some issues that I cannot quite remember the details of, but for future reference if 2.0 doesn’t work, try 2.1.

 

Later,

 

Richard

 

 

My web site; https://www.turner42.com/

 

Alan Lemly

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May 4, 2022, 1:04:18 AMMay 4
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Thanks, Richard. I can confirm that I successfully downloaded Codex 2.1.1 by right clicking your link and saving as to my Downloads\Software folder. The installation worked smoothly.

Richard Turner

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May 4, 2022, 9:13:03 AMMay 4
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Hi Alan,

I think now that I have the whole file name in the html code, it would download even if you simply hit enter on it.  At least, it does with Edge.

 

I had fixed the link last night after realizing the .exe got left off in the link code.  In too much of a hurry, I was.

 

 

 

Richard

May the Fourth be with you.

 

 

My web site; https://www.turner42.com/

Casey Wollner

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May 4, 2022, 9:14:20 AMMay 4
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Hi where do we find this file on your web page?

 

From: vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Richard Turner


Sent: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 11:25 PM
To: vip...@googlegroups.com

Richard Turner

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May 4, 2022, 9:17:21 AMMay 4
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ON the Useful apps page, down several headings where you can find the Kindle 1.17 and the Codex 2..1.1 installation files.

The Useful Apps page is linked off my home page https://www.turner42.com

 

 

Richard

 

 

My web site; https://www.turner42.com/

 

Alan Lemly

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May 4, 2022, 10:20:19 AMMay 4
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Hi Richard,

Today is the perfect day for Yoda speak. May the 4th be with you. Thanks for all the help with Codex.

Alan

Sent from my iPhone with Outlook for iOS
From: vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Richard Turner <richard...@comcast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 8:12:35 AM
To: vip...@googlegroups.com <vip...@googlegroups.com>

Richard Turner

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May 4, 2022, 10:23:09 AMMay 4
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You are most welcome.

 

And, if you have any tips, or anyone else, that I didn’t cover in my few paragraphs on my site, please do share.

 

Later,

 

Richard

 

 

My web site; https://www.turner42.com/

 

Woody Anna Dresner

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May 4, 2022, 4:45:18 PMMay 4
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Thanks, Richard. The link worked great. I would add a couple of tips to your instructions:

I needed sighted help to sign into the Kindle app. I couldn't get to the fields for entering my email address or password. I tried JAWS, NVDA, and Narrator with no luck.

Also, to turn off updating, open a book in the Kindle app, and tab to Options. Press Enter. In the first section of Options, which is general, tab to a check box about automatic updating. Make sure to uncheck it.

HTH, and May the 4th be with you all!
Anna


Richard Turner

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May 4, 2022, 5:25:10 PMMay 4
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Thanks Anna,

Those are perfect tips that I ought to have added.  I will do that soon.

 

Thanks again,

Woody Anna Dresner

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May 4, 2022, 5:45:00 PMMay 4
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You're welcome, richard. Thanks so much for sharing these programs and tips.

Best,
Anna


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