Convert to what?

transmitthis · 06-11-2011, 04:22 AM

This may be a really silly question,

Just started using calibre a few weeks ago, and as yet I have not got a mobile reader, am looking at getting some form of android 7" tablet soon.

Question is, as I have a bit of time on my hands, and lots of ebooks in various formats in in various states of distress (Abbyy & Amber pdf's etc) I was wondering if I could start converting a few to other formats...

I was thinking about "epub" for the pdf,s and text html files, will leave any mobi files and lit as they are for now.

Is that something worth doing, of should I wait till I have a reader and see what android app I like and what format displays on it..?

Any advice welcome
Tks

Manichean · 06-11-2011, 04:59 AM

I would suggest using ePub if you want to fix the formatting of the books. You can then use Sigil to edit them. Also, as far as Calibre goes, ePub is the format for which the most features are supported.

transmitthis · 06-11-2011, 07:42 AM

Thanks Manichean, will have a play and convert some to epub then.

lestatar · 06-11-2011, 07:47 AM

^ yup. For sure test a few files, see the results, what you can do, etc...before you jump all-in and do a mass conversion.

+1 with Manichean and epub in your case with Android. MOBI is nice too IMO for sure but maybe think about LIT conversion at some point. LIT is, AFAIK, pretty dead and a major PITA.

transmitthis · 06-12-2011, 03:07 AM

Thanks lestatar.
the only thing I'm worried about is converting from one format - then having to convert back and in so doing loosing some formatting / structure.... but as I really don't have much experience on ebook players or readers I have no idea if that's a valid concern.

I know that converting from pdf to another format will only make it better, so I'll stick with that for now.

HarryT · 06-12-2011, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transmitthis

I know that converting from pdf to another format will only make it better, so I'll stick with that for now.

You'll probably find that converting from PDF to another format will require significant editing to make it readable. PDF is not an eBook format - a PDF file does not contain "text" as such, but merely instructions of the form "draw such-and-such a shape at these coordinates". As such, it's extremely difficult to extract meaningful text from a PDF document.

itimpi · 06-12-2011, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by transmitthis

Thanks lestatar.
the only thing I'm worried about is converting from one format - then having to convert back and in so doing loosing some formatting / structure.... but as I really don't have much experience on ebook players or readers I have no idea if that's a valid concern.

I know that converting from pdf to another format will only make it better, so I'll stick with that for now.

That is a valid concern, but as a rule converting between ePub and mobi formats goes very well with default settings. I do not notice any visible loss of layout/structure in the vast majority of cases. Having said that if you are worried you can always save a copy outside Calibre prior to converting, or revert to starting with the original PDF source.

transmitthis · 06-13-2011, 02:09 AM

Will do itimpi, always a good idea to have a backup

Thanks for the info Harry, will make sure I proof read and edit as I go.

06-11-2011, 04:22 AM	#1
transmitthis Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 1003542 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Google Nexus 7 16GB	Convert to what? This may be a really silly question, Just started using calibre a few weeks ago, and as yet I have not got a mobile reader, am looking at getting some form of android 7" tablet soon. Question is, as I have a bit of time on my hands, and lots of ebooks in various formats in in various states of distress (Abbyy & Amber pdf's etc) I was wondering if I could start converting a few to other formats... I was thinking about "epub" for the pdf,s and text html files, will leave any mobi files and lit as they are for now. Is that something worth doing, of should I wait till I have a reader and see what android app I like and what format displays on it..? Any advice welcome Tks

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06-11-2011, 04:59 AM	#2
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	I would suggest using ePub if you want to fix the formatting of the books. You can then use Sigil to edit them. Also, as far as Calibre goes, ePub is the format for which the most features are supported.

06-11-2011, 07:42 AM	#3
transmitthis Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 1003542 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Google Nexus 7 16GB	Thanks Manichean, will have a play and convert some to epub then.

06-11-2011, 07:47 AM	#4
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	^ yup. For sure test a few files, see the results, what you can do, etc...before you jump all-in and do a mass conversion. +1 with Manichean and epub in your case with Android. MOBI is nice too IMO for sure but maybe think about LIT conversion at some point. LIT is, AFAIK, pretty dead and a major PITA.

06-12-2011, 03:07 AM	#5
transmitthis Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 1003542 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Google Nexus 7 16GB	Thanks lestatar. the only thing I'm worried about is converting from one format - then having to convert back and in so doing loosing some formatting / structure.... but as I really don't have much experience on ebook players or readers I have no idea if that's a valid concern. I know that converting from pdf to another format will only make it better, so I'll stick with that for now.

06-13-2011, 02:09 AM	#8
transmitthis Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 1003542 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Google Nexus 7 16GB	Will do itimpi, always a good idea to have a backup Thanks for the info Harry, will make sure I proof read and edit as I go.

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