Mobile  iPhone  Mag  Podcast Pocket Gamer  LOG IN | REGISTER  Twitter     Forum     Contact Us     RSS Feeds
All Formats
Mobile
iPhone
iPad
Android
Sony PSP
Nintendo DS
DSi
Game Boy
iPod
New to Pocket Gamer? Start here!
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
WHO ARE WE?
ADVERTISE
GAMES ARCHIVE
NEED HELP?
BUY GAMES
BUY MOBILE GAMES
BUY PSP GAMES
BUY DS GAMES
SPECIAL OFFERS
FREE STUFF
COMPETITIONS
MOBILE GAME DEMOS
PSP GAME DEMOS
DS GAME DEMOS
FRIDAY FREEBIE
OUR SITES
POCKETPICKS
POCKETGAMER.fr
POCKETGAMER.biz
OTHER SITES
FREE BINGO
BINGO SITES
ONLINE BINGO
CHINA WHOLESALE
INDUSTRY
MP_gdc10_pg_button
PARTNERS
Metacritic
GameRankings
Pocket Gamer on NewsNow
GamesTracker
dx.net
UK Mobile Pages Directory
GameZone - For Games, reviews, and cheats
 DS HOW TO GUIDES
 How to read books on DS
Turn over a new leaf
With the price of audio books ever increasing, why not switch back to that old favourite: the written word? But don't worry about having to carry books around with you. With DS Reader you can read any e-book (or text file) on your DS. It even has a great little bookmarking function to keep track of your progress.


Download files
The first step is to download the files you'll need. If you are a tidy little bod, you may want to collect them together in a folder on your PC. You need to download the following:

– DS Reader: DSReader.zip from here
– DLDI File System Patcher Software: dlditool-win32-gui.zip from here
– DLDI Driver File: from here

How to read books on DS 1




Unzip the DS Reader software
You'll want to do this into a folder on your PC.

1. Unzip the DSReader.zip file that you downloaded during Step 01.
2. Keep the folder to hand on your desktop or similar location.

How to read books on DS 2




Patch DS Reader software
Because DS Reader uses a generic file system library, it needs to be patched so it can access files on your particular homebrew card.

1. Extract the dlditool-win32-gui.zip Patcher software to a folder on your PC.
2. Run the dlditool32.exe program.
3. Click the DLDI File button and browse to the location of the DLDI driver file you downloaded during Step 01. Ensure you have downloaded the DLDI driver file for your particular homebrew card from the list provided here.
4. Click the Binaries button, browse to the folder on your desktop and select the DSReader.nds file.
5. You can now copy the following files to the root folder of your homebrew card:
– Game file: DSReader.nds
– TrueType font: arial.ttf (you could also download any other TrueType font you prefer)
– Sample Text: alice.txt (you can also copy across any e-book or text file)


How to read books on DS 3




Start DS Reader
You can now fire up the DS Reader software.

1. Remove your homebrew card or memory stick from your PC.
2. Insert your homebrew card into your DS.
3. Turn on the DS power and run the DSReader.nds file.
4. Be patient – the software will take a moment to load.


How to read books on DS 4





Set up DS Reader
Once the DS Reader software is loaded, you can set it up for use as follows:

1. Stroke the bottom screen upwards to open the menu.
2.Tap the Folder icon to open a file. This enables you to browse the files on the homebrew card. You can add books to read by copying the text file to your homebrew card. Browse to the required file and tap Open. The file will open.
3. Tap the Book icon to open files and work with bookmarks.
– If you are midway through a book, create a bookmark to enable you to continue later by tapping Save Bookmark, and then tapping a Save slot. If you've already created a bookmark, open books here rather than the Folder icon as you can continue reading from the same point. 
4. Tap the Font icon to adjust the fonts. You can adjust the size, style and background colour. Tap Load to use any TrueType font you have on your Homebrew card.
5. Tap the Screen icon to adjust the display. You can choose whether to view the book on either both or just one screen.
6. Close the menu with a downward stroke.


How to read books on DS 5





Get reading
Now you have set up DS Reader, you can grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy an evening or two's good reading.

1. Tap the Folder icon to open your book.
2. Advance pages by pressing the Left shoulder button or pressing the D-pad right.
3. Go back pages by pressing the Right shoulder button or pressing the D-pad left.
4. When you need a break, tap the Book icon to create a bookmark for later.

Further information can be found here. Don't miss our other DS How Tos.
How to read books on DS 6



Bookmark and Share
Reviewer photo
Andy Robertson 10/8/2007
Have your say!  
Joined:
Apr 2007
Post count:
244
danskmacabre | 10 August 2007
Does this software read PDF files?
Joined:
May 2007
Post count:
7
AndyR | 10 August 2007
No just rtf text files. Sorry.
Joined:
Apr 2007
Post count:
244
danskmacabre | 10 August 2007
nm, I can convert pdf to text files anyway.

nice app..
Joined:
Jan 2008
Post count:
1
TheKutts | 13 January 2008
How do I get the txt files onto the library of DS Reader?
Thanks
Joined:
Jan 2009
Post count:
2
wotcha | 14 January 2009
Homebrew card???? For instructions to be helpful you kinda need to explain the geek speak for us beginners.

Thanks
Joined:
Jan 2007
Post count:
98
joao | 14 January 2009
Fair enough, wotcha. Everyone is equal, everyone is welcome, of course.

Check out this article, then, which gives you a rundown of some homebrew cards but - crucially - also offers handy links to our introductory articles on the DS homebrew scene.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/DS/DS+Homebrew/feature.asp?c=6439

Hope it helps.
Joined:
Jan 2009
Post count:
2
wotcha | 15 January 2009
Thanks for the prompt response - yep that helps
Joined:
Feb 2009
Post count:
1
JAN | 2 February 2009
Does anyone know if you can load and play audio books on the DS?
Joined:
Feb 2009
Post count:
1
renamecor | 2 February 2009
Homebreww and R4DS/supercards are all very well for a certain type of DS owner, for others the concept of reading books on their DS is a great idea and all they want to do is spend a few quid to get the simple cartridge that plugs and thats it.

http://www.ndsbooks.co.uk have 100 classic books for £15 delivered.

However, this is a great article and I am one of those homebrew peeps - good article.
mickymoo | 9 March 2009
Can't get DSReader to read rtf files as suggested in the answer to the first question about pdf files. Copied pdf data and pasted into Word 2007 then saved in rtf format and tranfered over to DS kart but no joy. Reads plain txt files with no problem though. Any ideas please? TIA
Commenting is currently turned off. Please check back later.
View existing comments >>