Failed to convert pdf to epub first time using Calibre, seeking help

[mtreader]

After two hours of frustration trying troubleshooting myself, I hope someone will take pity on me to help! I just downloaded Calibre to convert a book I own (and have the .ascm file) via Google Play. My only download option was a pdf and I installed DeDRM Tools 6.8 to remove the DRM prior to loading the book into Calibre and trying to convert.

When I select the book in Calibre and try to convert to epub, I get a "Failed notice copied below. I'm stumped on what to do next. Thank you so much for any assistance!

Spoiler:

calibre, version 3.36.0 (win32, embedded-python: True)
Conversion error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1 (Political Brands)

Convert book 1 of 1 (Political Brands)
Conversion options changed from defaults:
verbose: 2
read_metadata_from_opf: u'C:\\Users\\JEFFAS~1\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calib re_e2wcfu\\w4efli.opf'
output_profile: 'tablet'
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 3.36.0
{'asciiize': False,
'author_sort': None,
'authors': None,
'base_font_size': 0.0,
'book_producer': None,
'change_justification': u'original',
'chapter': u"//*[((name()='h1' or name()='h2') and re:test(., '\\s*((chapter|book|section|part)\\s+)|((prolog|pr ologue|epilogue)(\\s+|$))', 'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
'chapter_mark': u'pagebreak',
'comments': None,
'cover': None,
'debug_pipeline': None,
'dehyphenate': True,
'delete_blank_paragraphs': True,
'disable_font_rescaling': False,
'dont_split_on_page_breaks': False,
'duplicate_links_in_toc': False,
'embed_all_fonts': False,
'embed_font_family': None,
'enable_heuristics': False,
'epub_flatten': False,
'epub_inline_toc': False,
'epub_toc_at_end': False,
'epub_version': u'2',
'expand_css': False,
'extra_css': None,
'extract_to': None,
'filter_css': u'',
'fix_indents': True,
'flow_size': 260,
'font_size_mapping': None,
'format_scene_breaks': True,
'html_unwrap_factor': 0.4,
'input_encoding': None,
'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x000002802FF23748>,
'insert_blank_line': False,
'insert_blank_line_size': 0.5,
'insert_metadata': False,
'isbn': None,
'italicize_common_cases': True,
'keep_ligatures': False,
'language': None,
'level1_toc': None,
'level2_toc': None,
'level3_toc': None,
'line_height': 0.0,
'linearize_tables': False,
'margin_bottom': 5.0,
'margin_left': 5.0,
'margin_right': 5.0,
'margin_top': 5.0,
'markup_chapter_headings': True,
'max_toc_links': 50,
'minimum_line_height': 120.0,
'new_pdf_engine': False,
'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
'no_default_epub_cover': False,
'no_images': False,
'no_inline_navbars': False,
'no_svg_cover': False,
'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.TabletOutput object at 0x00000280328A8208>,
'page_breaks_before': u"//*[name()='h1' or name()='h2']",
'prefer_metadata_cover': False,
'preserve_cover_aspect_ratio': False,
'pretty_print': True,
'pubdate': None,
'publisher': None,
'rating': None,
'read_metadata_from_opf': u'C:\\Users\\JEFFAS~1\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calib re_e2wcfu\\w4efli.opf',
'remove_fake_margins': True,
'remove_first_image': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing_indent_size': 1.5,
'renumber_headings': True,
'replace_scene_breaks': u'',
'search_replace': '[]',
'series': None,
'series_index': None,
'smarten_punctuation': False,
'sr1_replace': None,
'sr1_search': None,
'sr2_replace': None,
'sr2_search': None,
'sr3_replace': None,
'sr3_search': None,
'start_reading_at': None,
'subset_embedded_fonts': False,
'tags': None,
'timestamp': None,
'title': None,
'title_sort': None,
'toc_filter': None,
'toc_threshold': 6,
'toc_title': None,
'transform_css_rules': '[]',
'unsmarten_punctuation': False,
'unwrap_factor': 0.45,
'unwrap_lines': True,
'use_auto_toc': False,
'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: PDF Input running
on C:\Users\JEFFAS~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_e2wcf u\rgdahr.pdf
Converting file to html...
Python function terminated unexpectedly
pdftohtml failed with return code: 1
Syntax Error: Couldn't find the 'EBX_HANDLER' security handler (Error Code: 1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site.py", line 101, in main
File "site.py", line 78, in run_entry_point
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\worker.py", line 199, in main
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 42, in gui_convert_override
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 27, in gui_convert
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py", line 1106, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py", line 244, in __call__
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plugins\pdf_inp ut.py", line 52, in convert
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\pdf\pdftohtml.py", line 93, in pdftohtml
calibre.ebooks.ConversionError: pdftohtml failed with return code: 1
Syntax Error: Couldn't find the 'EBX_HANDLER' security handler

[gbm]

Originally Posted by mtreader

After two hours of frustration trying troubleshooting myself, I hope someone will take pity on me to help! I just downloaded Calibre to convert a book I own (and have the .ascm file) via Google Play. My only download option was a pdf and I installed DeDRM Tools 6.8 to remove the DRM prior to loading the book into Calibre and trying to convert.

When I select the book in Calibre and try to convert to epub, I get a "Failed notice copied below. I'm stumped on what to do next. Thank you so much for any assistance!

calibre, version 3.36.0 (win32, embedded-python: True)
Conversion error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1 (Political Brands)

Spoiler:

Convert book 1 of 1 (Political Brands)
Conversion options changed from defaults:
verbose: 2
read_metadata_from_opf: u'C:\\Users\\JEFFAS~1\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calib re_e2wcfu\\w4efli.opf'
output_profile: 'tablet'
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 3.36.0
{'asciiize': False,
'author_sort': None,
'authors': None,
'base_font_size': 0.0,
'book_producer': None,
'change_justification': u'original',
'chapter': u"//*[((name()='h1' or name()='h2') and re:test(., '\\s*((chapter|book|section|part)\\s+)|((prolog|pr ologue|epilogue)(\\s+|$))', 'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
'chapter_mark': u'pagebreak',
'comments': None,
'cover': None,
'debug_pipeline': None,
'dehyphenate': True,
'delete_blank_paragraphs': True,
'disable_font_rescaling': False,
'dont_split_on_page_breaks': False,
'duplicate_links_in_toc': False,
'embed_all_fonts': False,
'embed_font_family': None,
'enable_heuristics': False,
'epub_flatten': False,
'epub_inline_toc': False,
'epub_toc_at_end': False,
'epub_version': u'2',
'expand_css': False,
'extra_css': None,
'extract_to': None,
'filter_css': u'',
'fix_indents': True,
'flow_size': 260,
'font_size_mapping': None,
'format_scene_breaks': True,
'html_unwrap_factor': 0.4,
'input_encoding': None,
'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x000002802FF23748>,
'insert_blank_line': False,
'insert_blank_line_size': 0.5,
'insert_metadata': False,
'isbn': None,
'italicize_common_cases': True,
'keep_ligatures': False,
'language': None,
'level1_toc': None,
'level2_toc': None,
'level3_toc': None,
'line_height': 0.0,
'linearize_tables': False,
'margin_bottom': 5.0,
'margin_left': 5.0,
'margin_right': 5.0,
'margin_top': 5.0,
'markup_chapter_headings': True,
'max_toc_links': 50,
'minimum_line_height': 120.0,
'new_pdf_engine': False,
'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
'no_default_epub_cover': False,
'no_images': False,
'no_inline_navbars': False,
'no_svg_cover': False,
'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.TabletOutput object at 0x00000280328A8208>,
'page_breaks_before': u"//*[name()='h1' or name()='h2']",
'prefer_metadata_cover': False,
'preserve_cover_aspect_ratio': False,
'pretty_print': True,
'pubdate': None,
'publisher': None,
'rating': None,
'read_metadata_from_opf': u'C:\\Users\\JEFFAS~1\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calib re_e2wcfu\\w4efli.opf',
'remove_fake_margins': True,
'remove_first_image': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing_indent_size': 1.5,
'renumber_headings': True,
'replace_scene_breaks': u'',
'search_replace': '[]',
'series': None,
'series_index': None,
'smarten_punctuation': False,
'sr1_replace': None,
'sr1_search': None,
'sr2_replace': None,
'sr2_search': None,
'sr3_replace': None,
'sr3_search': None,
'start_reading_at': None,
'subset_embedded_fonts': False,
'tags': None,
'timestamp': None,
'title': None,
'title_sort': None,
'toc_filter': None,
'toc_threshold': 6,
'toc_title': None,
'transform_css_rules': '[]',
'unsmarten_punctuation': False,
'unwrap_factor': 0.45,
'unwrap_lines': True,
'use_auto_toc': False,
'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: PDF Input running
on C:\Users\JEFFAS~1\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_e2wcf u\rgdahr.pdf
Converting file to html...
Python function terminated unexpectedly
pdftohtml failed with return code: 1
Syntax Error: Couldn't find the 'EBX_HANDLER' security handler (Error Code: 1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site.py", line 101, in main
File "site.py", line 78, in run_entry_point
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\worker.py", line 199, in main
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 42, in gui_convert_override
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 27, in gui_convert
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py", line 1106, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py", line 244, in __call__
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plugins\pdf_inp ut.py", line 52, in convert
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\pdf\pdftohtml.py", line 93, in pdftohtml

calibre.ebooks.ConversionError: pdftohtml failed with return code: 1
Syntax Error: Couldn't find the 'EBX_HANDLER' security handler

Your pdf is still DRM protected, go to Apprentice Alf’s Blog for help with drm removal.

What are the best source formats to convert?

bernie

[mtreader]

Thanks. I already did follow the blog instructions step by step to install DeDRM Tools 6.8, removed the book title, reinstalled it in calibre as directed. I had just downloaded Calibre and the Adobe DE version is 4.5. Not sure what else to try.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by mtreader

Thanks. I already did follow the blog instructions step by step to install DeDRM Tools 6.8, removed the book title, reinstalled it in calibre as directed. I had just downloaded Calibre and the Adobe DE version is 4.5. Not sure what else to try.

Silly question, can you open the .pdf using Acrobat Reader or similar. ADE 4.5 is capable of a hardened version of Adobe's ADEPT DRM so you may have run into a ACS server that is configured to enable it.

[mtreader]

Yes, I can open the pdf, but it's not useful since my Kobo has a 6" screen.

I don't understand this: "you may have run into a ACS server that is configured to enable it."

Should I try to download an older version of Adobe DE on a different computer and downlaod the file there? Is there a site that has older versions available to download? Thank you.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by mtreader

Yes, I can open the pdf, but it's not useful since my Kobo has a 6" screen.

I don't understand this "you may have run into a ACS server that is configured to enable it."

Should I try to download an older version of Adobe DE on a different computer and downlaod the file there? Is there a site that has older versions available to download? Thank you.

The hardened DRM is an option on the ACS 5+ server. You can set it so it will be strictly enforced (only ADE versions that support it can download the file) or off so only the old DRM will be used. With ACS 6, another flag allows for sending files without DRM which I've never seen used in a live environment.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

The hardened DRM is an option on the ACS 5+ server. You can set it so it will be strictly enforced (only ADE versions that support it can download the file) or off so only the old DRM will be used. With ACS 6, another flag allows for sending files without DRM which I've never seen used in a live environment.

The sending of DRM free eBooks is a feature not used because it still costs money. It costs nothing to send the eBook DRM free sans Adobe.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The sending of DRM free eBooks is a feature not used because it still costs money. It costs nothing to send the eBook DRM free sans Adobe.

Except that that means the store has to run two servers, one for DRM free books and one for books with DRM. That adds cost in a lot of ways. A single server with a single process will be attractive to a lot of businesses.

[mtreader]

I appreciate the responses. Alas, the last 3 have been way over my head.