Convert ADOC to FB2

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ADOC vs FB2 Format Comparison

Aspect ADOC (Source Format) FB2 (Target Format)
Format Overview
ADOC
AsciiDoc Markup Language

Lightweight markup language designed for writing technical documentation, articles, books, and more. Created as a more powerful alternative to Markdown with support for complex document structures, cross-references, and publishing workflows.

Documentation Technical Writing
FB2
FictionBook 2.0

XML-based e-book format developed in Russia, widely popular in Eastern Europe. FB2 stores both content and metadata in a single XML file, making it easy to process and convert. Known for excellent Cyrillic support and rich metadata capabilities.

E-Book XML-Based
Technical Specifications
Structure: Plain text with semantic markup
Encoding: UTF-8
Format: Human-readable text
Compression: None
Extensions: .adoc, .asciidoc, .asc
Structure: XML document
Encoding: UTF-8 (excellent Cyrillic)
Format: Open XML standard
Compression: Optional ZIP (.fb2.zip)
Extensions: .fb2, .fb2.zip
Syntax Examples

AsciiDoc uses intuitive markup:

= Book Title
Author Name
:toc:

== Chapter One

This is a paragraph with *bold*
and _italic_ text.

[source,python]
----
def hello():
    print("Hello!")
----

NOTE: This is a note.

FB2 uses XML structure:

<FictionBook>
  <description>
    <title-info>
      <book-title>Book Title</book-title>
      <author>
        <first-name>John</first-name>
        <last-name>Doe</last-name>
      </author>
    </title-info>
  </description>
  <body>
    <section>
      <title>Chapter</title>
      <p>Content here</p>
    </section>
  </body>
</FictionBook>
Content Support
  • Document structure (titles, sections)
  • Text formatting (bold, italic, monospace)
  • Lists (ordered, unordered, definition)
  • Tables with advanced formatting
  • Source code blocks with syntax highlighting
  • Admonitions (NOTE, TIP, WARNING, etc.)
  • Cross-references and links
  • Images and diagrams
  • Includes (file inclusion)
  • Variables and attributes
  • Rich metadata (author, genre, series)
  • Text formatting (bold, italic, strikethrough)
  • Hierarchical sections
  • Embedded images (Base64)
  • Epigraphs and annotations
  • Poems and citations
  • Footnotes and comments
  • Table of contents (auto-generated)
  • Cover image support
  • Series and sequence info
Advantages
  • Human-readable source
  • Version control friendly (Git)
  • Powerful documentation features
  • Single source, multiple outputs
  • Built-in table of contents
  • Cross-reference support
  • Modular document structure
  • Active community and tools
  • Excellent Cyrillic/Unicode support
  • Rich metadata schema
  • Single file format (self-contained)
  • Easy to parse and convert
  • Popular in Eastern Europe
  • Free and open format
  • Wide e-reader support
  • Small file sizes
Disadvantages
  • Learning curve for advanced features
  • Less known than Markdown
  • Requires toolchain for output
  • Not directly viewable
  • Complex syntax for some features
  • Limited CSS styling options
  • Less popular outside Eastern Europe
  • No JavaScript/interactivity
  • Complex tables not well supported
  • Declining market share globally
Common Uses
  • Technical documentation
  • Software manuals
  • Book authoring
  • API documentation
  • Scientific papers
  • Knowledge bases
  • Online help systems
  • Fiction e-books
  • Russian literature
  • Library collections
  • E-book distribution
  • Personal e-libraries
  • Translated literature
  • Free e-book archives
Best For
  • Technical writers
  • Documentation teams
  • Book authors
  • Developers writing docs
  • Fiction authors
  • Russian-language publishing
  • E-book libraries
  • Readers in Eastern Europe
Version History
Introduced: 2002 (Stuart Rackham)
Current Version: AsciiDoc (Asciidoctor)
Status: Active development
Evolution: Asciidoctor (Ruby), AsciidoctorJ (Java)
FB2.0: 2004 (original release)
FB2.1: 2009 (minor updates)
Status: Stable, maintenance mode
Origin: Russia (FictionBook.org)
Software Support
Asciidoctor: Primary processor
Pandoc: Universal converter
VS Code: AsciiDoc extension
Other: IntelliJ, Atom, Sublime Text
Calibre: Full support (read/write)
FBReader: Native FB2 reader
CoolReader: Popular FB2 reader
PocketBook: Native FB2 support

Why Convert ADOC to FB2?

Converting AsciiDoc documents to FB2 (FictionBook 2.0) format enables you to distribute your content to readers in Eastern Europe, particularly Russia and surrounding countries where FB2 is the dominant e-book format. FB2's excellent Unicode and Cyrillic support makes it ideal for multilingual content.

AsciiDoc's structured markup translates well to FB2's XML-based format. Document sections become FB2 sections, formatting is preserved, and metadata like author and title are properly mapped. The conversion produces well-formed FB2 files compatible with popular readers like FBReader, CoolReader, and PocketBook devices.

FB2 is unique in that it stores both content and metadata in a single self-contained XML file. This makes FB2 files easy to manage, share, and process. The format supports embedded images (Base64 encoded), footnotes, epigraphs, and rich author/publication metadata.

The conversion is particularly useful for technical writers and authors who want to reach the large Russian-speaking e-book market. Many free e-book libraries and distribution platforms in Eastern Europe use FB2 as their primary format.

Key Benefits of Converting ADOC to FB2:

  • Eastern European Market: Reach millions of FB2 readers
  • Cyrillic Support: Excellent Unicode and multilingual handling
  • Self-Contained: Single XML file with embedded resources
  • Rich Metadata: Author, genre, series, and annotation support
  • Wide Compatibility: Works on FBReader, CoolReader, PocketBook
  • Small File Size: Efficient XML format with optional compression
  • Free Format: Open standard with no DRM requirements

Practical Examples

Example 1: Technical Book

Input AsciiDoc file (techbook.adoc):

= Python Programming Guide
John Smith
:toc:
:icons: font

== Introduction

Welcome to Python programming.

== Getting Started

=== Installation

Download Python from https://python.org[python.org].

[source,python]
----
print("Hello, World!")
----

NOTE: Python 3.9+ is recommended.

Output FB2 file (techbook.fb2):

FB2 e-book with:
- Proper title-info metadata
- Author name structured (first/last)
- Hierarchical sections preserved
- Code blocks as formatted text
- Notes as annotations
- Ready for FBReader, CoolReader
- Works on PocketBook devices

Example 2: Fiction with Metadata

Input AsciiDoc file (novel.adoc):

= The Mystery of Code
Jane Writer
:doctype: book
:description: A thrilling tech mystery

[preface]
== Author's Note

This story is fictional but inspired by real events.

== Chapter 1: The Bug

The error message appeared at midnight...

[quote, Anonymous Programmer]
There are only two hard things in computer science:
cache invalidation and naming things.

Output FB2 file (novel.fb2):

Fiction-ready FB2:
- Book title and author in title-info
- Annotation from description
- Preface as separate section
- Chapters properly structured
- Epigraph from quote
- Perfect for fiction readers
- Library-ready format

Example 3: Translated Documentation

Input AsciiDoc file (manual_ru.adoc):

= Руководство пользователя
Команда разработки
:lang: ru
:toc:

== Введение

Добро пожаловать в наше приложение.

== Установка

=== Требования

* Windows 10 или выше
* 4 ГБ оперативной памяти
* 500 МБ свободного места

IMPORTANT: Требуется подключение к интернету.

Output FB2 file (manual_ru.fb2):

Russian FB2 document:
- Perfect Cyrillic rendering
- Language tag preserved
- Requirements as list
- Important callout as emphasis
- Native reader experience
- Ideal for Russian readers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is FB2 format?

A: FB2 (FictionBook 2.0) is an XML-based e-book format developed in Russia. It stores book content and metadata in a single XML file, making it easy to process and convert. FB2 is extremely popular in Eastern Europe and Russia, with excellent Unicode and Cyrillic support.

Q: Which e-readers support FB2?

A: FB2 is widely supported by: FBReader (Android, iOS, Windows, Linux), CoolReader (Android, Windows), PocketBook devices (native support), ONYX BOOX devices, Moon+ Reader, and Calibre (conversion and reading). Many Russian and Eastern European e-readers have native FB2 support.

Q: Will my code blocks be preserved?

A: Yes, code blocks from AsciiDoc are converted to properly formatted text sections in FB2. While FB2 doesn't support syntax highlighting colors, the code structure and monospace formatting are preserved. FB2 readers typically display code blocks with appropriate styling.

Q: Are images included in the FB2 file?

A: Yes! Images referenced in your AsciiDoc document are embedded directly in the FB2 file as Base64-encoded binary data. This makes FB2 files completely self-contained - no external files needed. The embedded images work on all FB2-compatible readers.

Q: Can I use FB2 on Kindle?

A: Amazon Kindle doesn't natively support FB2. However, you can convert FB2 to AZW3 or MOBI using Calibre, or use our direct ADOC to AZW3 converter for Kindle. Alternatively, the Kindle app on some platforms may support FB2 through plugins.

Q: Is FB2 good for technical documentation?

A: FB2 works well for technical documentation with text, images, and structured content. However, for complex tables or interactive content, EPUB or PDF might be better choices. FB2 excels at text-heavy content with moderate formatting requirements.

Q: What metadata is preserved in FB2?

A: FB2 has rich metadata support including: title, author (first name, last name, middle name), genre, annotation (description), date, language, series name and number, publisher info, and cover image. The conversion maps AsciiDoc attributes to appropriate FB2 metadata fields.

Q: Can I compress FB2 files?

A: Yes, FB2 files are commonly distributed as .fb2.zip - a ZIP archive containing the FB2 file. This significantly reduces file size (often 50-70% smaller). Most FB2 readers can open both .fb2 and .fb2.zip files directly without manual extraction.