Convert FB2 to RST

Why Convert FB2 to reStructuredText?

Converting FB2 ebooks to reStructuredText format is useful when you want to repurpose fiction content for technical documentation, extract text for Python projects, or prepare content for Sphinx-based documentation sites. RST's plain text format makes it easy to edit, version control, and convert to various output formats including HTML, PDF, LaTeX, and EPUB.

FB2 (FictionBook 2) is an XML-based ebook format extremely popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. It excels at storing fiction with rich metadata including author information, cover images, annotations, and structured chapters. However, FB2's XML structure makes manual editing cumbersome, and the format is primarily designed for reading rather than content creation or modification.

reStructuredText (RST) is the official documentation format for Python and the foundation of Sphinx, the most popular Python documentation generator. By converting FB2 to RST, you gain the ability to edit content in any text editor, integrate with Python documentation workflows, track changes with Git, and generate multiple output formats from a single source using Sphinx or Docutils.

Key Benefits of Converting FB2 to reStructuredText:

• Editable Source: Plain text format easy to modify in any editor
• Python Ecosystem: Native format for Python documentation
• Sphinx Integration: Build documentation sites with themes and extensions
• Multi-Format Output: Convert to HTML, PDF, LaTeX, EPUB via Sphinx
• Version Control: Works perfectly with Git and other VCS
• Directives: Extensible markup with custom directives
• Cross-References: Powerful linking and referencing system

Practical Examples

Example 1: Book Chapter Conversion

Input FB2 file (book.fb2):

<section>
  <title>Chapter 1: The Beginning</title>
  <p>It was a dark and stormy night.</p>
  <p>The wind howled through the trees.</p>
  <emphasis>Important text</emphasis>
</section>

Output reStructuredText file (book.rst):

Chapter 1: The Beginning
========================

It was a dark and stormy night.

The wind howled through the trees.

*Important text*

Example 2: Metadata Preservation

Input FB2 metadata:

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

Output reStructuredText header:

====================
The Great Adventure
====================

:Author: John Smith
:Date: 2024
:Version: 1.0

Example 3: Structured Content

Input FB2 with annotations:

<annotation>
  <p>This book tells the story of...</p>
</annotation>
<epigraph>
  <p>"To be or not to be"</p>
  <text-author>Shakespeare</text-author>
</epigraph>

Output reStructuredText:

.. note::

   This book tells the story of...

.. epigraph::

   "To be or not to be"

   -- Shakespeare

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 reStructuredText?

A: reStructuredText (RST) is a lightweight markup language created in 2002 by David Goodger. It's the official documentation format for Python and widely used with Sphinx for generating documentation websites. RST uses plain text with simple formatting rules that can be converted to HTML, PDF, LaTeX, and other formats.

Q: Will chapter structure be preserved?

A: Yes! FB2's section and title elements are converted to RST headings with appropriate underlines (= for top level, - for second level, etc.). The hierarchical structure of your book is maintained, making the output easy to navigate and edit.

Q: What happens to images in FB2?

A: FB2 stores images as Base64-encoded data within the XML. During conversion, images are extracted and saved as separate files, with RST image directives (.. image:: filename) pointing to them. This allows you to manage images separately from the text.

Q: Can I convert RST back to FB2?

A: Yes, but indirectly. You can use Sphinx to convert RST to EPUB or LaTeX, then use Calibre to convert to FB2. However, some FB2-specific metadata may need to be added manually. The conversion chain would be: RST -> EPUB -> FB2.

Q: What tools can I use to edit reStructuredText?

A: RST can be edited in any text editor. Popular choices include VS Code (with RST extension), PyCharm (built-in support), Sublime Text, Atom, or simple editors like Notepad++. Sphinx provides live preview and build commands for documentation projects.

Q: How do I convert RST to other formats?

A: Use Sphinx for full-featured conversions: `sphinx-build -b html source build` (HTML), `sphinx-build -b latex source build` (LaTeX/PDF). For simpler conversions, use Docutils: `rst2html.py file.rst output.html` or `rst2latex.py file.rst output.tex`.

Q: Is formatting preserved during conversion?

A: Yes! Bold, italic, and other text formatting from FB2 is converted to RST equivalents (**bold**, *italic*, ``literal``). Paragraphs, lists, and basic tables are also preserved. Some complex FB2 elements may be converted to RST directives or simplified.