Zeit-Transfer

Automated tool to download "Die Zeit" EPUBs and upload them to Tolino Cloud.

Features

• Automated Download: Logs into "Die Zeit" Premium (via Selenium) and downloads the latest EPUB.
• Smart Download Check: Tracks downloaded issues in download_history.json to prevent duplicates.
• Cloud Upload: Automatically uploads the EPUB to Tolino Webreader.
• Test Mode: Includes a --test flag to bypass history checks for local debugging.
• Automated Execution: Configured for daily execution via GitHub Actions.
• Secure: Uses environment variables for credentials.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.9+
• A "Die Zeit" Premium subscription.
• A Tolino account (specifically Thalia DE linked).
• Chrome (for local Selenium runs).

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd zeit-transfer

2. Install dependencies:

   pip3 install -r requirements.txt

3. Configure credentials: Create a .env file in the root directory:

   ZEIT_USER=your_email@example.com
   ZEIT_PASSWORD=your_password
   ZEIT_LOGIN_URL=https://login.zeit.de/
   ZEIT_DOWNLOAD_URL=https://epaper.zeit.de/abo/diezeit/
   TOLINO_USER=your_tolino_email
   TOLINO_PASSWORD=your_tolino_password
   

Usage

Standard Run

Checks download_history.json. If the current issue date matches the last downloaded one, valid execution stops early ("SKIPPED").

python3 -m src.main

Test Mode

Ignores the history check and forces a download/upload cycle. Useful for debugging or verifying fixes without resetting the history file manually.

python3 -m src.main --test

GitHub Actions Automation

This repository includes a workflow .github/workflows/daily_transfer.yml that runs daily at 06:00 UTC. It handles:

1. Checking out the code.
2. Setting up Python and Chrome.
3. Running the script.
4. Committing the updated download_history.json back to the repository.

Required GitHub Secrets:

• ZEIT_USER
• ZEIT_PASSWORD
• ZEIT_DOWNLOAD_URL
• ZEIT_LOGIN_URL
• TOLINO_USER
• TOLINO_PASSWORD

Troubleshooting

• Login Failures: The script uses undetected-chromedriver to bypass bot detection. If login fails, check the screenshots in the directory (if running locally) or the Action logs.
• Timeouts: The script uses smart WebDriverWait (up to 20s). If the site is exceptionally slow, these might need adjustment in src/zeit_scraper.py or src/tolino_uploader.py.

Disclaimer

This tool is for personal use only. Use responsibly and respect the terms of service of the respective platforms.