Have Good Source File But In Conversion to PDF Nearly Every Other Word is Split

Blaineoreski · 07-23-2020, 04:23 AM

Hi,

I am converting a file to PDF. HAve used the same source for these files many times.

Never had this anomaly before.

Once the file arrives in PDF format, it LOOKS great!

But, in copying and pasting text from it it seems that the actual text has split many of the words.

So that, if you copy and paste the words:

with security was demoralizing

You get...

with se curity was demor aliz ing

This does not appear in te PDF itself. All the words look perfect in the PDF.

I've tried running the conversion with: Smarten Punctuation an Unsmarten Punctuation on.

It is a pure text-to-text conversion. Not from a scanned image.

What do you think is happening?

Sincerely,

Blaine

Bookstooge · 07-23-2020, 05:39 AM

What format is the source?

kovidgoyal · 07-23-2020, 05:46 AM

Nothing particularly surprising. In PDF individual font glyphs are often positioned one by one, not as complete words or sentences. SO when extracting text from PDF, such as for copying, programs have to guess what are word boundaries based on positioning, they sometimes guess wrong.

Blaineoreski · 07-23-2020, 07:13 AM

Hi!

Feel kinda worried because this is an IMPORTANT file for the project I'm doing and I'll need to reply on it for lots of quotes.

I can use ANY destination filetype. Is there any other filetype to convert to that may avoid the problem?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kovidgoyal · 07-23-2020, 08:30 AM

Not sure what you are asking?? PDF is the ONLY filetype with this issue.

Blaineoreski · 07-23-2020, 09:22 AM

Hi Kovid,

Ah! Yep - just tried RTF and it's all good.

More proof of the POWER of Calibre!

Can't thank you enough for developing this application. When I think about all the help you're giving people I feel impressed. Thank you, Kovid!

Sincerely,

Blaine

kovidgoyal · 07-23-2020, 09:40 AM

You're welcome

Blaineoreski · 07-24-2020, 05:13 AM

Hi Kovid,

Is there any FONT text source to PDF which will largely avoid the glyphs problem? Somehow, I'm thinking a sans-serif font would make things easier?

Or...a monospaced font?

Here's my thinking: converting to Word - which worked PERFECTLY - lost all the chapter links. So, my main goal is:

text source > any filetype

that will preserve the navigation structure.

What do you think?

Sincerely,

Blaine

kovidgoyal · 07-24-2020, 05:31 AM

It doesnt have anything to do with fonts. And conversion to DOCX will preserve links, if it is not, then open a bug report and attach a sample showing the issue.

Blaineoreski · 07-24-2020, 07:14 AM

Hi Kovid,

Ah! You're right. The conversion to Work does keep all the chapters. And! Solves the word spacing problem.

Challenge is...the tools I need for editing are all...built around my PDF app. So, need a way to get the file BACK to PDF with the chapters / section navigation.

Seems like Word's own Word > PDF didn't respect the chapter structure.

Trying with other tools.

So the idea is:

pure text source > word > PDF with chapter divisions/navigation

Any suggestions?

Sincerely,

Blaine

kovidgoyal · 07-24-2020, 08:22 AM

Sorry no really am not a big PDF guy.

Blaineoreski · 07-26-2020, 12:32 AM

Yep. Yep. Thanks just the same! : )))))

xfrank · 07-26-2020, 09:01 PM

I noticed the same issue in converting from epub to pdf. Try to revert from Calibre 4 to 3. In the "3" version, text rendering in the pdf output is different, and is possible to select & copy elsewere the text without the "chopping" effect.

07-23-2020, 04:23 AM	#1
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Have Good Source File But In Conversion to PDF Nearly Every Other Word is Split Hi, I am converting a file to PDF. HAve used the same source for these files many times. Never had this anomaly before. Once the file arrives in PDF format, it LOOKS great! But, in copying and pasting text from it it seems that the actual text has split many of the words. So that, if you copy and paste the words: with security was demoralizing You get... with se curity was demor aliz ing This does not appear in te PDF itself. All the words look perfect in the PDF. I've tried running the conversion with: Smarten Punctuation an Unsmarten Punctuation on. It is a pure text-to-text conversion. Not from a scanned image. What do you think is happening? Sincerely, Blaine Last edited by Blaineoreski; 07-23-2020 at 05:01 AM.

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07-23-2020, 05:39 AM	#2
Bookstooge Member Retired Posts: 805 Karma: 2091358 Join Date: May 2019 Device: Kindle Oasis 1st Gen, PB Era	What format is the source?

07-23-2020, 05:46 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,253 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Nothing particularly surprising. In PDF individual font glyphs are often positioned one by one, not as complete words or sentences. SO when extracting text from PDF, such as for copying, programs have to guess what are word boundaries based on positioning, they sometimes guess wrong.

07-23-2020, 07:13 AM	#4
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi! Feel kinda worried because this is an IMPORTANT file for the project I'm doing and I'll need to reply on it for lots of quotes. I can use ANY destination filetype. Is there any other filetype to convert to that may avoid the problem? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

07-23-2020, 08:30 AM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,253 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Not sure what you are asking?? PDF is the ONLY filetype with this issue.

07-23-2020, 09:22 AM	#6
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi Kovid, Ah! Yep - just tried RTF and it's all good. More proof of the POWER of Calibre! Can't thank you enough for developing this application. When I think about all the help you're giving people I feel impressed. Thank you, Kovid! Sincerely, Blaine

07-23-2020, 09:40 AM	#7
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,253 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	You're welcome

07-24-2020, 05:13 AM	#8
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi Kovid, Is there any FONT text source to PDF which will largely avoid the glyphs problem? Somehow, I'm thinking a sans-serif font would make things easier? Or...a monospaced font? Here's my thinking: converting to Word - which worked PERFECTLY - lost all the chapter links. So, my main goal is: text source > any filetype that will preserve the navigation structure. What do you think? Sincerely, Blaine

07-24-2020, 05:31 AM	#9
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,253 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	It doesnt have anything to do with fonts. And conversion to DOCX will preserve links, if it is not, then open a bug report and attach a sample showing the issue.

07-24-2020, 07:14 AM	#10
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Hi Kovid, Ah! You're right. The conversion to Work does keep all the chapters. And! Solves the word spacing problem. Challenge is...the tools I need for editing are all...built around my PDF app. So, need a way to get the file BACK to PDF with the chapters / section navigation. Seems like Word's own Word > PDF didn't respect the chapter structure. Trying with other tools. So the idea is: pure text source > word > PDF with chapter divisions/navigation Any suggestions? Sincerely, Blaine

07-24-2020, 08:22 AM	#11
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,253 Karma: 27110894 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Sorry no really am not a big PDF guy.

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07-26-2020, 12:32 AM	#12
Blaineoreski Zealot Posts: 119 Karma: 16268 Join Date: Apr 2020 Device: none	Yep. Yep. Thanks just the same! : )))))

07-26-2020, 09:01 PM	#13
xfrank Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2020 Device: Kindle	I noticed the same issue in converting from epub to pdf. Try to revert from Calibre 4 to 3. In the "3" version, text rendering in the pdf output is different, and is possible to select & copy elsewere the text without the "chopping" effect.