pictods-python-cbds

Python script to generate basic .cbds files for ComicBookDS from CBZ/ZIP/CBR/RAR/images.

PictoDS is very old and can be difficult to run on modern systems, so this script tries to provide a simple command-line alternative for Linux/macOS.

This is not meant to be a perfect replacement for PictoDS, but it should be enough to generate basic .cbds files.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+

• Pillow

• rarfile

• For .cbr/.rar input: an installed RAR extractor supported by rarfile, such as unrar, unar, or bsdtar

Installation

Linux / MacOS

Install Pillow and rarfile with:

python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt

Or using your distro package manager if using Linux:

sudo apt install python3-pil
sudo dnf install python3-pillow

Also unrar tools (depending on your distro/macOS):

sudo apt install unrar
sudo dnf install unrar
brew install unrar

Windows

Open PowerShell in the project folder and run

py -m pip install -r requirements.txt

For Windows, install WinRAR, 7-Zip, or another tool that provides RAR extraction support and make sure it is available in PATH.

Usage

• On Linux/macOS, use python3 line
• On Windows, use the py line

Convert a CBZ:

python3 make_cbds.py comic.cbz
py make_cbds.py comic.cbz

Convert a ZIP:

python3 make_cbds.py comic.zip
py make_cbds.py comic.zip

Convert a CBR:

python3 make_cbds.py comic.cbr
py make_cbds.py comic.cbr

Convert a folder of images:

python3 make_cbds.py ./comic_pages -o comic.cbds
py make_cbds.py .\comic_pages -o comic.cbds

Manga / right-to-left mode:

python3 make_cbds.py manga.cbz --rtl -o manga.cbds
py make_cbds.py manga.cbz --rtl -o manga.cbds

Lower JPEG quality to reduce file size:

python3 make_cbds.py comic.cbz -q 80 -o comic.cbds
py make_cbds.py comic.cbz -q 80 -o comic.cbds

Supported input:

• .cbz
• .zip
• .cbr
• .rar
• Folder of images

Supported image extensions:

• .jpg
• .jpeg
• .png
• .webp
• .bmp
• .gif

Notes

The generated .cbds contains the folders expected by ComicBookDS:

• IMAGE
• SMALL_N
• THMB_N
• SMALL_R
• THMB_R
• NAME
• ComicBookDS_book.ini

Development

Install development dependencies:

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install -r requirements-dev.txt

Run tests:

python -m pytest -q

License

MIT