To convert or not to convert - PDF

marmistrz · 06-16-2013, 02:53 PM

Hi,

I'm using a PocketBook Touch. Some of my ebooks are, unfortunately, pdf. This isn't the most convenient option for reading, but, with landscape and well-done zoom it can be used and is much better than calibre-converted book. But having seen how epub books work - it's much better - I thought about converting some stuff to epub/other eReader format.

Already tried calibre, but the results are really poor.

Is there any automated option which would convert the pdfs to something reasonable with good accuracy? I can accept a couple of things done manually but I can't accept fixing the conversion errors within the whole book.

Or is it better to stick with pdf, which

I'm using Linux, mostly, so Linux solutions would be the best. Anyway, if I have to use Windoze, this could be done

Thanks

Toxaris · 06-16-2013, 03:14 PM

No free lunch, sorry. PDF is one of the worst formats to start from. Usually my best results are achieved by putting it through OCR and than the whole process of cleaning up.

marmistrz · 06-19-2013, 12:07 PM

and what if it's "text" pdf (you could select the text but in Calibre the formatting is lost)?

Toxaris · 06-19-2013, 01:37 PM

I would still do the OCR step to be honest. The formatting is one of the most difficult things to restore. The paragraphs, italics, etc...

mrmikel · 06-19-2013, 03:42 PM

If all one wants to do is fix a couple of things, then PDF conversion to epub is NOT for you. It will take an entire day at best, a week or more at worst.

You can try Mobipocket Creator with WINE to get an html file loadable into Sigil and see what you get. But one or two errors from PDF to epub, exceedingly unlikely. Almost anything requiring fixed formatting will fail in epubs.

If your pdf viewer has a text mode, you use it on the pdf in question to see if any text is part of the pdf, and what shape it is in. Much text mode conversion that is added to pdfs is only to make it searchable and they don't tend to worry too much about accurate text.

SusanM · 06-19-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toxaris

No free lunch, sorry. PDF is one of the worst formats to start from. Usually my best results are achieved by putting it through OCR and than the whole process of cleaning up.

LOL...good way of putting that.

JSWolf · 06-19-2013, 10:05 PM

The best solution for reading your PDF is to get a tablet. I recommend an iPad using GoodReader.

marmistrz · 06-20-2013, 12:03 PM

Thanks for your replies

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The best solution for reading your PDF is to get a tablet. I recommend an iPad using GoodReader.

Well, ipad isn't e-ink

06-16-2013, 02:53 PM	#1
marmistrz Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2013 Device: PocketBook Touch	To convert or not to convert - PDF Hi, I'm using a PocketBook Touch. Some of my ebooks are, unfortunately, pdf. This isn't the most convenient option for reading, but, with landscape and well-done zoom it can be used and is much better than calibre-converted book. But having seen how epub books work - it's much better - I thought about converting some stuff to epub/other eReader format. Already tried calibre, but the results are really poor. Is there any automated option which would convert the pdfs to something reasonable with good accuracy? I can accept a couple of things done manually but I can't accept fixing the conversion errors within the whole book. Or is it better to stick with pdf, which I'm using Linux, mostly, so Linux solutions would be the best. Anyway, if I have to use Windoze, this could be done Thanks Last edited by marmistrz; 06-16-2013 at 02:55 PM.

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06-16-2013, 03:14 PM	#2
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	No free lunch, sorry. PDF is one of the worst formats to start from. Usually my best results are achieved by putting it through OCR and than the whole process of cleaning up.

06-19-2013, 12:07 PM	#3
marmistrz Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2013 Device: PocketBook Touch	and what if it's "text" pdf (you could select the text but in Calibre the formatting is lost)?

06-19-2013, 01:37 PM	#4
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	I would still do the OCR step to be honest. The formatting is one of the most difficult things to restore. The paragraphs, italics, etc...

06-19-2013, 03:42 PM	#5
mrmikel Color me gone Posts: 2,089 Karma: 1445295 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Oregon Coast Device: PRS-300	If all one wants to do is fix a couple of things, then PDF conversion to epub is NOT for you. It will take an entire day at best, a week or more at worst. You can try Mobipocket Creator with WINE to get an html file loadable into Sigil and see what you get. But one or two errors from PDF to epub, exceedingly unlikely. Almost anything requiring fixed formatting will fail in epubs. If your pdf viewer has a text mode, you use it on the pdf in question to see if any text is part of the pdf, and what shape it is in. Much text mode conversion that is added to pdfs is only to make it searchable and they don't tend to worry too much about accurate text.

06-19-2013, 10:05 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,220 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The best solution for reading your PDF is to get a tablet. I recommend an iPad using GoodReader.

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