best way to convert PDF to ePUB - what do you think?

easyrider · 04-01-2010, 03:18 PM

I found today a good way to convert PDF to ePUB
It's in 3 steps:

1. mobipocket creator: PDF -> html
2. mobipocket creator: html -> PRC
3. Calibre PRC -> ePub

That converion makes usable TOC

I use mobipocket because conversion Calibre PDF ->ePub - doesn't look good to me

I've tried almost 10 different converters today but that combiantion is the best in my opinion. What do you think ?

chaley · 04-01-2010, 03:30 PM

I have had good luck with PDF -> RTF -> EPUB. However, that might be because I have Acrobat to do the first conversion.

Melvinjames18 · 04-07-2010, 01:50 AM

I tried Calibre, but lost some formats after conversion. I don't have acrobat, really out of my budget.

greenapple · 04-07-2010, 04:07 AM

I've tested many converters (freeware as well as trial versions). Acrobat does the best job in my opinion in converting pdf to html/rtf. But the price is way too high. Someone please tell Adobe to make a cheaper version for home users.

Bluesman7 · 04-07-2010, 09:22 AM

I'm going through a similar process with the final output being mobi (or plain text).

So far I've tested PDF conversions going straight to mobi with mobipocket reader or Calibre, or within Calibre with intermediate steps to RTF or txt.

Regardless of which method I use, the results are all over the place.

Sometimes mobipocket reader creates the best conversion. Sometimes Calibre makes a good conversion straight to mobi and sometimes the intermediate steps may (or may not) be helpful.

And sometimes none of the variations are very effective and I end up reading a very tiny pdf display on my Kindle 2.

I think my point is that none of the methods I've tried have yielded consistent results.

(My apologies in advance for sharing experiences with a non epub endpoint. I will say that Calibre routinely makes awesome conversions from epub to mobi.)

Firepong · 04-07-2010, 02:38 PM

Usually, I don't go through any of that. When I convert anything to ePUb, be it PDF, RTF, Lit or HTML, I'll usually put the ePub in my ITunes and copy to my IPad. IF it doesn't look good or no Content's what-so-ever for chapters, I'll just open up Sigil and add the chapter code into it. Pretty easy when you get used to it.

Usually takes me 30 minutes to make a garbled PoS book look like it was made for the IPad lol

ToutSuite · 04-07-2010, 03:56 PM

Firepong - can you give a quick walkthrough of how to clean up ePubs in Sigil? I've also been putting them on iPad, but I've seen everything from no line breaks to not being able to change fonts. I'd like to start from scratch with PDFs, but want consistent results.

Thanks!

Firepong · 04-07-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToutSuite

Firepong - can you give a quick walkthrough of how to clean up ePubs in Sigil? I've also been putting them on iPad, but I've seen everything from no line breaks to not being able to change fonts. I'd like to start from scratch with PDFs, but want consistent results.

Thanks!

Truthfully, there isn't any quick ways. I've got it down to so much of a routine is why it's so fast for me.

Depending on what I have to do, is how long it takes me.

If I just have to make a contents for the book, it usually takes no more than 10 minutes (Except on Chapter intensive books. For example, the rth book of Harry Potter has 38 chapters, took me 20 min on that alone

). But if I have to do more than the contents, usually I have to take out code and re-code other parts.

Thankfully, what I have to re-code, I've got it saved in a text file so all I have to do is copy and paste if it compares to that certain situation.

The only tips I can give is to tell you HTML/XHTML and any coding in between is your friend

Cheers

P.S. I have found out that some HTML/XHTML doesn't work on the IPad though. Like the Center tags and such do not work, you have to use the calibre tags that are in the document sadely >.<

Firepong · 04-07-2010, 04:44 PM

Also, all I have to say about you starting from scratch with PDF's. IMHO, I wish PDF was never considered as a format for eBooks. Worst formatting ever

theducks · 04-07-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firepong

Truthfully, there isn't any quick ways. I've got it down to so much of a routine is why it's so fast for me.

Depending on what I have to do, is how long it takes me.

If I just have to make a contents for the book, it usually takes no more than 10 minutes (Except on Chapter intensive books. For example, the rth book of Harry Potter has 38 chapters, took me 20 min on that alone

). But if I have to do more than the contents, usually I have to take out code and re-code other parts.

Thankfully, what I have to re-code, I've got it saved in a text file so all I have to do is copy and paste if it compares to that certain situation.

The only tips I can give is to tell you HTML/XHTML and any coding in between is your friend

Cheers

P.S. I have found out that some HTML/XHTML doesn't work on the IPad though. Like the Center tags and such do not work, you have to use the calibre tags that are in the document sadely >.<

I just went through breaking chapters out in a badly formatted hallows epub, now I have to fix the total mess on line breaks in a few chapters (reaching for the HB copy on my shelf).
A simple Chapter break and TOC takes about 3 min per chapter include load and save (I now save after ever split, after crashing Sigil by doing something wrong

)

Firepong · 04-07-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

I just went through breaking chapters out in a badly formatted hallows epub, now I have to fix the total mess on line breaks in a few chapters (reaching for the HB copy on my shelf).
A simple Chapter break and TOC takes about 3 min per chapter include load and save (I now save after ever split, after crashing Sigil by doing something wrong

)

As long as you have your own bought copy, I can PM you my fixed copy of Hallows, if it is harry Potter were talking about here lol

theducks · 04-07-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firepong

As long as you have your own bought copy, I can PM you my fixed copy of Hallows, if it is harry Potter were talking about here lol

Got it in one

Yes, I own the US (scholastic) version in HB.
Thanks. I will PM you my public (off board) email address .

Firepong · 04-07-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Got it in one

Yes, I own the US (scholastic) version in HB.
Thanks. I will PM you my public (off board) email address .

Just wanted to make sure. I own the exact version.

Just don't want to get myself caught up in some copyright lawsuits here >.<

ben92 · 04-16-2010, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToutSuite

Firepong - can you give a quick walkthrough of how to clean up ePubs in Sigil? I've also been putting them on iPad, but I've seen everything from no line breaks to not being able to change fonts. I'd like to start from scratch with PDFs, but want consistent results.

Thanks!

Here ya go:
http://code.google.com/p/sigil/wiki/BasicTutorial

ToutSuite · 04-16-2010, 12:54 PM

Thanks, Ben. I actually just downloaded GoodReader for .99 from the iTunes Store. Reads PDFs, no more worries about converting anything.

04-01-2010, 03:18 PM	#1
easyrider Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: android phone	best way to convert PDF to ePUB - what do you think? I found today a good way to convert PDF to ePUB It's in 3 steps: 1. mobipocket creator: PDF -> html 2. mobipocket creator: html -> PRC 3. Calibre PRC -> ePub That converion makes usable TOC I use mobipocket because conversion Calibre PDF ->ePub - doesn't look good to me I've tried almost 10 different converters today but that combiantion is the best in my opinion. What do you think ?

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04-01-2010, 03:30 PM	#2
chaley Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,741 Karma: 6997045 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Notts, England Device: Kobo Libra 2	I have had good luck with PDF -> RTF -> EPUB. However, that might be because I have Acrobat to do the first conversion.

04-07-2010, 01:50 AM	#3
Melvinjames18 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: LA Device: none	I tried Calibre, but lost some formats after conversion. I don't have acrobat, really out of my budget.

04-07-2010, 04:07 AM	#4
greenapple Evangelist Posts: 404 Karma: 664 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle DX, Kobo Aura HD	I've tested many converters (freeware as well as trial versions). Acrobat does the best job in my opinion in converting pdf to html/rtf. But the price is way too high. Someone please tell Adobe to make a cheaper version for home users.

04-07-2010, 09:22 AM	#5
Bluesman7 Book 'em Danno Posts: 156 Karma: 180 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Blue Ridge Mtns, NC Device: Kindle 2	I'm going through a similar process with the final output being mobi (or plain text). So far I've tested PDF conversions going straight to mobi with mobipocket reader or Calibre, or within Calibre with intermediate steps to RTF or txt. Regardless of which method I use, the results are all over the place. Sometimes mobipocket reader creates the best conversion. Sometimes Calibre makes a good conversion straight to mobi and sometimes the intermediate steps may (or may not) be helpful. And sometimes none of the variations are very effective and I end up reading a very tiny pdf display on my Kindle 2. I think my point is that none of the methods I've tried have yielded consistent results. (My apologies in advance for sharing experiences with a non epub endpoint. I will say that Calibre routinely makes awesome conversions from epub to mobi.)

04-07-2010, 02:38 PM	#6
Firepong Member Posts: 23 Karma: 30 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bay, AR Device: iPad, Pandigital Novel, Kindle DX	Usually, I don't go through any of that. When I convert anything to ePUb, be it PDF, RTF, Lit or HTML, I'll usually put the ePub in my ITunes and copy to my IPad. IF it doesn't look good or no Content's what-so-ever for chapters, I'll just open up Sigil and add the chapter code into it. Pretty easy when you get used to it. Usually takes me 30 minutes to make a garbled PoS book look like it was made for the IPad lol

04-07-2010, 03:56 PM	#7
ToutSuite Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: iPad	Firepong - can you give a quick walkthrough of how to clean up ePubs in Sigil? I've also been putting them on iPad, but I've seen everything from no line breaks to not being able to change fonts. I'd like to start from scratch with PDFs, but want consistent results. Thanks!

04-07-2010, 04:44 PM	#9
Firepong Member Posts: 23 Karma: 30 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bay, AR Device: iPad, Pandigital Novel, Kindle DX	Also, all I have to say about you starting from scratch with PDF's. IMHO, I wish PDF was never considered as a format for eBooks. Worst formatting ever

04-16-2010, 12:54 PM	#15
ToutSuite Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: iPad	Thanks, Ben. I actually just downloaded GoodReader for .99 from the iTunes Store. Reads PDFs, no more worries about converting anything.

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