EPub conversion problem with Calibre

ittiandro · 11-07-2013, 10:36 PM

I have a bunch of e-books in Djvu format which I want to convert to EPUB for use with an Android tablet I just ordered. Since I couldn’t find any software converting directly from Djvu to EPub, I am trying do do it in two steps: converting from Djvu to to PDF and then to Epub with Calibre.
I tried many softwares ( PDF Lite, Nova PDF, A-Pdf to Djvu) . The conversion to PDF is OK, but I cannot get the final conversion to E-Pub in Calibre: the last (free) software I tried ( Boxsoft) looks very user friendly, but even with it I cannot convert to Epub. At least I am getting some symptoms of what is going wrong: when I load the viewer in Calibre , it takes a minutes or so for the Epub file to get loaded: it says “ loading e-book” then “ loading flow” and finally I get a page filled with black bars instead of the printed lines… Sometimes I also get a warning about a script problem..
Does anybody know what is the problem and how can I solve it? I don’t know if the problem is with Calibre or with software used to convert to PDF.May be I should find an alternative to Calibre.

Thank you for your help

Ittiandro

AnemicOak · 11-07-2013, 10:59 PM

Maybe this would work?

https://cloudconvert.org/djvu-to-epub

Xanthe · 11-07-2013, 11:28 PM

That looks interesting.

toddos · 11-08-2013, 02:01 AM

Djvu, being a format that stores images of pages rather than text, is not going to convert well to EPub. Converting Djvu to PDF doesn't magically convert the Djvu images to text. It just creates a PDF full of images. The only way you're going to get that converted to a usable epub is if you do OCR on the images (probably easiest to do once you've converted to PDF). Of course OCR is not perfect, so after you've done the conversion you'll have to go back through the book and edit all of the mistakes it made.

If your end goal is just to be able to read your Djvu books on your Android tablet, a much better solution is to get a Djvu reader for Android (I have no affiliation with that app, it was just the first hit when I googled for "android djvu reader").

HarryT · 11-08-2013, 03:51 AM

I'd recommend going back to wherever you bought your books from, and seeing if they supply them in a more "device-friendly" format. DJVU is great for things like magazines and comics, but it's really not a format that's intended for use with books.

Freeshadow · 11-08-2013, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddos

Djvu, being a format that stores images of pages rather than text, is not going to convert well to EPub. Converting Djvu to PDF doesn't magically convert the Djvu images to text. It just creates a PDF full of images. The only way you're going to get that converted to a usable epub is if you do OCR on the images (probably easiest to do once you've converted to PDF). Of course OCR is not perfect, so after you've done the conversion you'll have to go back through the book and edit all of the mistakes it made.

+1 on that

Footnote: yet another thinking that calibre is some kind of magic wand.

AlexBell · 11-09-2013, 12:27 AM

Would you consider converting the DejaVu to HTML? It isn't easy, but I've done it a couple of times.

11-07-2013, 10:36 PM	#1
ittiandro Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 24500 Join Date: Nov 2013 Device: JuliusvonJD	EPub conversion problem with Calibre I have a bunch of e-books in Djvu format which I want to convert to EPUB for use with an Android tablet I just ordered. Since I couldn’t find any software converting directly from Djvu to EPub, I am trying do do it in two steps: converting from Djvu to to PDF and then to Epub with Calibre. I tried many softwares ( PDF Lite, Nova PDF, A-Pdf to Djvu) . The conversion to PDF is OK, but I cannot get the final conversion to E-Pub in Calibre: the last (free) software I tried ( Boxsoft) looks very user friendly, but even with it I cannot convert to Epub. At least I am getting some symptoms of what is going wrong: when I load the viewer in Calibre , it takes a minutes or so for the Epub file to get loaded: it says “ loading e-book” then “ loading flow” and finally I get a page filled with black bars instead of the printed lines… Sometimes I also get a warning about a script problem.. Does anybody know what is the problem and how can I solve it? I don’t know if the problem is with Calibre or with software used to convert to PDF.May be I should find an alternative to Calibre. Thank you for your help Ittiandro

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11-07-2013, 10:59 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Maybe this would work? https://cloudconvert.org/djvu-to-epub

11-07-2013, 11:28 PM	#3
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	That looks interesting.

11-08-2013, 02:01 AM	#4
toddos Guru Posts: 695 Karma: 822675 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo Aura, Nokia Lumia 920 (Freda)	Djvu, being a format that stores images of pages rather than text, is not going to convert well to EPub. Converting Djvu to PDF doesn't magically convert the Djvu images to text. It just creates a PDF full of images. The only way you're going to get that converted to a usable epub is if you do OCR on the images (probably easiest to do once you've converted to PDF). Of course OCR is not perfect, so after you've done the conversion you'll have to go back through the book and edit all of the mistakes it made. If your end goal is just to be able to read your Djvu books on your Android tablet, a much better solution is to get a Djvu reader for Android (I have no affiliation with that app, it was just the first hit when I googled for "android djvu reader").

11-08-2013, 03:51 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'd recommend going back to wherever you bought your books from, and seeing if they supply them in a more "device-friendly" format. DJVU is great for things like magazines and comics, but it's really not a format that's intended for use with books.

11-09-2013, 12:27 AM	#7
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Would you consider converting the DejaVu to HTML? It isn't easy, but I've done it a couple of times.

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