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Questions and answers

 
 
 

Technical Details

 
 
 

In which formats are the media available?

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The following formats are currently used in the digital Library:
- with eBooks: PDF format and/or ePub format
- with eAudio books: WMA format
- with eVideos: WMV format
- with e-Paper: PDF format
 
 
EPUB (acronym for electronic publication) is an open standard for e-books, which supports DRM. E-books based on EPUB allow a dynamic adaptation of the text to the respective screen sizes of the eReaders and are particularly suitable for the display on end devices. This makes an enjoyable reading experience possible.

What do I need in order to open and play the media on my computer?

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The minimal requirements for Windows systems are:
- Operating system: Windows 2000 / XP/ Vista/ 7
- Windows Media Player 10 or higher
- Adobe Reader 8.0 or higher
- Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher
- Firefox 3.6.0 or higher

The minimal requirements for Macintosh systems for eBook use are:
- Mac OS 10.2.8 - 10.4.2 - + Adobe Reader 7.1.0
- Mac OS 10.4.3 - 10.5.3 - + Adobe Reader 8.x (9)

The minimal requirements for Linux systems for eBook use are:
- SuSe Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 + Adobe Reader 7.0.9 - 8.x
- Slackware Linux 10 + Adobe Reader 7.0.9 - 8.x
- Debian 4.0 Etch + Adobe Reader 7.0.9 - 8.x
- Ubuntu (Version 8.10 or higher)
The Adobe PDF Reader is required in all cases. Other PDF readers, such as kpdf, unfortunately do not work. Adobe Reader 8.1.1 is recommended for Linux. A compatibility list for Adobe is available. DiViBib GmbH cannot confirm support for Debian-based systems that deviate from this list. Unfortunately, this also applies to Ubuntu and its derivatives.
eBooks that require Adobe Digital Edition software in order to be opened cannot currently be opened under the Linux distributions mentioned, as there is no Linux version of the ADE software.


A broadband Internet connection (DSL, cable) is recommended for audio and video downloads. In addition to being usable on your computer, eAudio are also usable on many DRM-compatible MP3 players. The requirement for use is Windows Media Player Version 10 and higher.

We appreciate your understanding that while we currently are able to make our new range of titles available to most of our customers, for technical reasons we are as yet unable to do so for all of them. Additional development is envisaged, particularly for Linux. eBooks do function on Apple "MaxOS-X", using Adobe Reader 7.x to 8.x.
eAudio books and eMusic and/or eVideos do not function, even if Windows Media Player for Mac has been installed. Unfortunately, Apple’s own DRM system has not been released for third-party companies.

What does DRM mean?

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Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a technology that enables digital content to be equipped with certain protections. For instance, DRM ensures that the titles in the eLibrary cannot be copied at will; but rather, analogous to a book or another medium in a physical library, can be used by only one person at any given time. This makes it possible for physical loans to be transferred to the online world. Currently, however, there is no DRM that works with all operating systems, which is why we have opted for the DRM of market leader Microsoft, which is available to a relatively large proportion of our customers.
 

What is Adobe Acrobat Reader and where can I download it?

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Adobe Reader is a software program that facilitates the reading of and/or commenting on eBooks. As Adobe Reader is freeware, the software comes at no cost and can be downloaded and installed on your computer at any time by the provider or downloaded from the eLibrary (see symbol). Please note that you need Version 8 or higher of Adobe Reader in order to use our eBooks; some titles additionally require the Digital-Editions plug-in.
 

Where do I find the downloaded media on my computer?

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This depends on your browser settings:

1. As a general rule, when you are asked if you want to download a file, you are shown a choice for the storage location.

We recommend that you store files under “My Documents“ or in a sub-folder (e.g. „My Music“, if it is a music file).

2. It is also possible, however, that the storage location on the browser has already been pre- set. You will find the storage location on Firefox, for instance, by opening the Download Overview under “Extras“/”Downloads“.

Further down on the page, you will find a line that reads "All the files have been downloaded", and a folder icon. Open this folder by clicking on it.

3. With some eBooks, Acrobat Reader 8.0 first opens a download page for the add-on "Digital Editions", as this Reader requires an add-on for DRM-protected media, which must be downloaded additionally. When you install Digital Editions, existing book elements are automatically imported and are then available in Digital Editions.

What can I do if my Windows Media Player (Version 11) does not play the downloaded files?

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Windows Media Player 11 requires an upgrade of its security components in certain cases (updating of WMP 10 to WMP 11 in Windows XP and/or updating of Windows XP to Windows Vista and WMP 11). Part of these security updates are installed automatically, but one is not. You can find the required update page in English at the following URL: http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/crlupdate/en/crlupdate.html. Please follow the instructions, which are described using illustrated examples. Should no illlustrated instructions appear on this page, you might have "landed" on the German (non-functioning) page. You can find further information on this problem on Microsoft’s support pages:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919589/EN-US/.
 

I have borrowed a book for a second time, but when I attempt to open the file, Adobe Reader will not allow it, making reference to the expiration date of the first book loan. What can I do?

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If you have borrowed an eBook and Adobe Reader has added it to its collection of titles (in this case "Digital Editions"), it is not deleted automatically when the loan period expires. If you would like to borrow the same eBook again later, you should first delete it from the existing collection (see the image in the appendix). To do this, start Digital Editions and go to your "library". Then you may remove the eBook.

How do I play my eAudio books on another playback device?

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In order to play DRM-protected files, you need an MP3 player that meets Microsoft DRM Standard 10 or higher. To transfer files from the computer to the MP3 player, use the synchronizing function of Windows Media Player. You can generally find information on this in the user’s manual of the MP3 player. Unfortunately, eLibrary media currently cannot be used with an Apple iPod, as Apple employs a DRM system of its own.
 

My MP3 player does not play the downloaded WMA file (eAudio book or eMusic).

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The player must be "DRM-compatible", i.e. it must be able to play WMA files and support Microsoft DRM10. If this is the case, the user manual will contain a section of information such as "Playback of MP3, WMA/DRM10 files". DRM-compatibility is required for playing legal downloads (Musicload, MSN, etc.). Many MP3 players support this function. The Apple iPod, however, does not. The following should be taken into consideration when transferring files to a mobile device:
- If you copy an audio file downloaded from the eLibrary onto an MP3 player simply through USB and the Windows file explorer, the MP3 player will not play this file despite being DRM-compatible, as the transferred data does not include the license for decrypting the file.
- The files must always be "synchronised" on the mobile devices using Windows Media Player. Through this process, Windows Media Player ensures that the mobile device receives a readable license file in order to decrypt the audio contents.
For security reasons, the support for DRM9-compatible MP3 players has been deactivated. (Some devices play files past their loan period expiry date, which makes the digital Library vulnerable to legal issues with content providers.)
 

How do I transfer my eAudio books to another playback device?

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For security reasons, the access to the Internet by Windows Media Player may be partially deactivated. Under "Options" / "Data Protection" you find the option "automatically acquire the right to use media rights". This option must be selected, and the computer must be connected to the Internet when the eAudio book is opened for the first time.
 

Are log-ons to the eLibrary carried out via a secure connection?

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Only the entry application form is not transmitted in a secured way. The transfer of the access data takes place via a secured connection. Interested users can reassure themselves of this from the Action URL of the form(s). One example is that of an eLibrary in
Berlin: https s://www.voebb.de/w3/divibib/access.rdr
 

"I cannot find the PDF document on my computer/it is not being displayed, although I have downloaded it!"

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a) The loan process / download is possible only once.
After you have placed a media item into the Library Basket, it remains reserved for you for 30 minutes. In order to borrow the media in the Library basket, you must log in with your access data. Now you can download the borrowed media one at a time by clicking the "Download" button. For technical reasons, however, some eBooks currently are available for download only once. The browser must not be closed before the eBook has been downloaded. In contrast to the AV media and ePapers, these eBooks cannot be downloaded again (for example on another computer or if the first download has not worked).

b) The Add-On Digital Editions
If you are using Adobe Reader 8.0, the download page for the add-on Digital Editions opens before the document opens, as this reader requires an add-on for DRM-protected media, which you must download additionally. Adobe Reader 8 features new methods for opening and managing eBooks. You can thus read and manage eBooks and other publications using the free Adobe Digital Editions software. Digital Editions is a separate, web-based Rich Internet Application (RIA), which supersedes the eBook functions of earlier versions of Adobe Reader. When you install Digital Editions, existing book elements are imported automatically and are then available in Digital Editions. You can, however, import PDFs in Digital Editions one at a time. Tip: If you double-click on the icon of an eBook, Adobe Reader automatically launches the website for downloading Digital Editions. You may begin with the installation of the software from here.

c) Firewall Settings
When a borrowed document has been requested for the first time, Adobe Reader must access the Internet in order to verify the authorisation. If you have a firewall installed (e.g. Zone-Alarm), it must be configured accordingly.
 

"PDF documents cannot be downloaded. What is being downloaded is a 1 KB file ext.ebd.“ "The download button is missing, or the book that originally was an etx.ebd file now has no download button.“

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Both problems mentioned above have the same cause and can be traced back to the system of an external provider, which does not permit direct access to its content and encrypts the content itself with an older Adobe DRM solution (Adobe Content Server). The borrowing process works with an XMS metafile (ebx.etd or .acsm) that contains the URL of the License as well as that of the actual PDF document. If this is the case, one should not download the file with the help of "Save Under", but open it directly. The Adobe Reader installed on the User’s computer opens the file directly. After opening, it downloads the license file and then the corresponding PDF document (eBook). Downloading such a metafile again is not possible, as the corresponding authorisation proceeds very rapidly on the server and the loan process is considered completed. This is also the reason why you should open the file directly. The download page of these titles contains the tip that you must open the file directly.

 

How do you use titles in ePub format with iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch?

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eBooks in ePub format can be used with iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch with the "Onleihe" app. Instructions can be found here. Alternatively you can use eBooks in the ePub format without the Onleihe appbut by using the ‘BluefireReader’ app (Download here).
A requirement (as with the Onleihe app) is the installation of a free Adobe ID when you open the programme. (More on the topic of Adobe IDs can be found on the Adobe website).
To open an ePub document from the eLibrary with Bluefire Reader there are various options:

a) Download using a PC or Laptop (Windows or Mac OS)
1. The data file ending in ‘acsm’, which is offered when downloading an ePub title, should be saved onto the hard drive. This file can then be attached to an email and sent to the relevant device (iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch). When the email is opened on the end device, the message ‘Open with Bluefire Reader’ will appear. After opening (and entering your Adobe ID where neccesary), the title can be used on the end device for the duration of the loan period.
 
2. With Windows, the ePub data is usually found on the local data storage device. The computer should then be connected to the end device. You will need to use iTunes at this point (Download here). An exchange of data can be carried out using the Bluefire Reader app (see ‘file sharing’ under ‘synchronisation’ under the tab ‘Apps’). Attach the ePub to the Bluefire Reader documents. The ePub will then automatically be transferred to the connected end device and can be opened there using the Bluefire Reader. Further details can be found here (English language instructions).
The ePub will then automatically be transferred to the connected end device and can be opened there using the Bluefire Reader. Further details can be found here (English language instructions).
 
b) Download directly onto the end device
Using the ‘Safari’ browser on your end device, you can search directly for ePub titles in the eLibrary and – after verifying your user account – open them with the Bluefire Reader.

 

Using eBooks in ePub format with Android devices

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Using the Onleihe app for Android, you can use eBooks in ePub format on Android devices. Installation instructions can be found here.

 

The Windows Media Player will not play media with Windows 7

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With the new Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, it is possible that the Windows Media Player (WMP) will not play media which contain DRM- protected contents. The reason for this could be an error in the tool used by the manufacturer "Sysprep" to play the software on the computer. There is a Knowledge Base Article by Microsoft on this topic, with suggestions for solving the problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976590

Firstly, computer users should use Windows 7 to test the problems with playing media containing DRM-protected contents in order to find out whether their system is affected by this error. Go to the following link:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=166118

Download the file stored there, and open it with your Media Player. You will be prompted to download an update for your Media Player. Click ‘Allow’ and then ‘Update’ to carry out the procedure. If your computer now plays the downloaded data, then your computer is not affected by the error. If, however, you get an error message when trying to play the data, you should use the following ResetDRM tool to eliminate the error:

Important information: This tool deletes all Windows Media Player DRM licences on your current Windows 7 installation. You should only use the tool if all types of DRM-protected contents cannot be played. After using the tool, you will need to obtain new licences for all your DRM protected data.

Reset DRM Tool:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?LinkId=105000

Download this programme onto your hard drive. Use the right mouse click to select "Ausführen als Administrator" and the tool will carry out the rest of the procedure. Afterwards, download the test file again and if it can now be successfully played, the error has been corrected./div>
 
 
 

You can use streaming to obtain eAudios and eMusic directly from the App. Please note that when you go through the borrowing procedures you must decide whether you want to borrow the eAudio title using streaming (via the app) or as a download (via the website). During the loan period a stream can no longer be downloaded onto the computer via your media account. Equally, an eAudio title which has been downloaded can no longer be streamed.