Convert FB2 to INI

Why Convert FB2 to INI?

Converting FB2 ebooks to INI configuration format is useful when you need to extract metadata and text content into a simple, structured format for data processing, automation scripts, or custom applications. INI files are extremely easy to parse and work with across virtually all programming languages and platforms.

FB2 (FictionBook 2) is an XML-based ebook format popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. While excellent for reading fiction with rich formatting, FB2's XML structure can be overkill for simple data extraction tasks. Converting to INI format strips away the complexity, leaving you with clean key-value pairs organized in sections.

INI files have been the de facto standard for configuration files since the 1980s. Originally introduced by Microsoft for Windows applications, the INI format has proven so practical that it's now used across all platforms. The simple section-based structure with key-value pairs makes it ideal for storing application settings, metadata, and simple datasets.

Key Benefits of Converting FB2 to INI:

• Simplicity: Plain text format readable by humans and machines
• Universal Support: Parse INI files in any programming language
• Metadata Extraction: Book info organized in clear sections
• Easy Editing: Modify values in any text editor
• Lightweight: Minimal file size and processing overhead
• Platform-Independent: Works on Windows, Linux, macOS
• Configuration Ready: Use extracted data in applications

Practical Examples

Example 1: Metadata Extraction

Input FB2 file (book.fb2):

<title-info>
  <book-title>The Great Adventure</book-title>
  <author>
    <first-name>John</first-name>
    <last-name>Smith</last-name>
  </author>
  <genre>science_fiction</genre>
  <date>2024</date>
</title-info>

Output INI file (book.ini):

[metadata]
title = The Great Adventure
author_first = John
author_last = Smith
author_full = John Smith
genre = science_fiction
date = 2024
format = FictionBook 2.0

Example 2: Chapter Structure

Input FB2 sections:

<section>
  <title>Chapter 1: The Beginning</title>
  <p>It was a dark and stormy night.</p>
</section>
<section>
  <title>Chapter 2: The Journey</title>
  <p>The adventure continues...</p>
</section>

Output INI structure:

[chapter_1]
title = Chapter 1: The Beginning
content = It was a dark and stormy night.

[chapter_2]
title = Chapter 2: The Journey
content = The adventure continues...

Example 3: Configuration Use Case

Input FB2 metadata:

<annotation>
  <p>An epic tale of adventure</p>
</annotation>
<lang>en</lang>
<sequence name="Series Name" number="1"/>

Output INI for application config:

[book_info]
description = An epic tale of adventure
language = en
series = Series Name
series_number = 1

[settings]
encoding = UTF-8
source_format = fb2

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is FB2 format?

A: FB2 (FictionBook 2) is an XML-based ebook format created in Russia in 2004. It's designed for storing fiction with rich metadata including author info, genres, cover images, and structured content. FB2 is extremely popular in Eastern Europe and CIS countries, supported by readers like FBReader, Cool Reader, and Calibre.

Q: What is INI format?

A: INI (Initialization file) is a simple configuration file format consisting of sections (in brackets) and key-value pairs. Originally used by Windows for system settings, it's now a universal format for configuration files across all platforms. INI files are human-readable plain text.

Q: What data is preserved during conversion?

A: The conversion extracts book metadata (title, author, date, genre), chapter titles, and text content. These are organized into INI sections with key-value pairs. Complex formatting, images, and rich text styling are simplified or removed since INI is a plain text format.

Q: What happens to images in FB2?

A: Images cannot be stored directly in INI files. During conversion, image references may be noted in the INI file (e.g., "cover_image = image1.jpg"), but the actual image data is not included. INI is designed for text-based configuration data only.

Q: How can I use the resulting INI file?

A: INI files can be parsed in virtually any programming language. Python has configparser, PHP has parse_ini_file(), Java has Properties class, etc. You can use the extracted metadata for cataloging, database import, automation scripts, or custom applications.

Q: Can I convert INI back to FB2?

A: While technically possible, it's not practical. INI files lack the rich structure and formatting of FB2. You would lose all XML structure, images, and advanced formatting. The conversion is designed for data extraction, not round-trip conversion.

Q: What tools can read INI files?

A: Any text editor can read INI files (Notepad, VS Code, Sublime Text, etc.). For programmatic access, every major programming language has built-in or standard library support for parsing INI files. No special software is required.

Q: Is the conversion lossy?

A: Yes. Converting from FB2 (rich structured ebook) to INI (simple configuration format) is inherently lossy. You lose formatting, images, complex structure, and styling. The conversion is meant for extracting text and metadata, not preserving the complete ebook experience.