Book consisting of multiple pdf

Jyrki · 02-12-2021, 03:08 PM

I have a collection of pdfs which altogether form a single book.

Is it possible to create a book entry in Calibre which would contain all the pdfs?

ownedbycats · 02-12-2021, 04:28 PM

No. Unfortunately a book record can only contain one file per format. Two workarounds if you want to keep as a single record:

1. Put the PDFs in a zip file and add that. You may need to temporarily disable Preferences > Plugins > Archive Extract.

2. If the PDFs aren't DRM'd, you can use something like pdftk to merge them into one big file.

JSWolf · 02-12-2021, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

No. Unfortunately a book record can only contain one file per format. Two workarounds if you want to keep as a single record:

1. Put the PDFs in a zip file. You may need to temporarily disable Preferences > Plugins > Archive Extract.

2. If the PDFs aren't DRM'd, you can use something like [url=https://www.pdflabs.com/tools/pdftk-the-pdf-toolkit/pdftk[/url] to merge them into one big file.

Actually, it is possible. Convert all of them to ePub and use the EpubMerge plugin to merge them into one eBook. But there will be errors because of the PDF to ePub conversion and they should be fixed.

My solution is that if this book is available in ePub, get it from Overdrive (if possible) or buy it. The work needed to convert it to a single ePub is not worth my time/effort.

ownedbycats · 02-12-2021, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Actually, it is possible. Convert all of them to ePub and use the EpubMerge plugin to merge them into one eBook. But there will be errors because of the PDF to ePub conversion and they should be fixed.

For certain types of books it'd be better to leave them as fixed-layout PDFs; there are fixed-layout ePubs, but Calibre doesn't support those and they're a bit iffy anyways. I'm not sure what kind the OP has though.

JSWolf · 02-12-2021, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Though for certain types of books it'd be better to leave them as fixed-layout PDFs. I'm not sure what kind the OP has though.

The only books I've seen that are split into multiple files are chapbooks where you get each chapter as a separate book.

ownedbycats · 02-12-2021, 04:53 PM

A few months back I tried converting a few PDFs that relied heavily on layout just to see what would happen. Most of them turned into a bit of a mess. Maybe heuristic processing would've helped.

JSWolf · 02-12-2021, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

A few months back I tried converting a few PDFs that relied heavily on layout just to see what would happen. Most of them turned into a bit of a mess. Maybe heuristic processing would've helped.

I doubt it. It may have helped some, but you still would have needed a lot of work.

skb · 02-12-2021, 05:02 PM

You could make one honking big PDF with something like PDFSam (it's a free and simple to use tool) by merging them into one.

BetterRed · 02-12-2021, 05:31 PM

↑ ↑ ↑ ✔

I have similar issues with periodic reports, I utilise the Series column to group/order them, viz:

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BR

02-12-2021, 03:08 PM	#1
Jyrki Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2021 Device: Calibre, ReadEra	Book consisting of multiple pdf I have a collection of pdfs which altogether form a single book. Is it possible to create a book entry in Calibre which would contain all the pdfs?

02-12-2021, 04:28 PM	#2
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,973 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	No. Unfortunately a book record can only contain one file per format. Two workarounds if you want to keep as a single record: 1. Put the PDFs in a zip file and add that. You may need to temporarily disable Preferences > Plugins > Archive Extract. 2. If the PDFs aren't DRM'd, you can use something like pdftk to merge them into one big file. Last edited by ownedbycats; 02-12-2021 at 04:31 PM.

02-12-2021, 05:31 PM	#9
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,725 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	↑ ↑ ↑ ✔ I have similar issues with periodic reports, I utilise the Series column to group/order them, viz: BR Last edited by BetterRed; 02-12-2021 at 05:34 PM.

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02-12-2021, 04:53 PM	#6
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 10,973 Karma: 75337983 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	A few months back I tried converting a few PDFs that relied heavily on layout just to see what would happen. Most of them turned into a bit of a mess. Maybe heuristic processing would've helped.

02-12-2021, 05:02 PM	#8
skb Evangelist Posts: 401 Karma: 1597305 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Ipod G4, MacOS 10.12, Calibre, Pocketbook Touch HD 3	You could make one honking big PDF with something like PDFSam (it's a free and simple to use tool) by merging them into one.

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