Can Calibre help me?

jbcohen · 03-20-2011, 11:35 AM

I subscribe to a political magazine in electronic format, don't wish to say which one. The other day I had a little time and I decided to experiment with the magazine. I downloaded it in PDF format then uploaded it to a reader. The magazine came out on the reader however, it was unreadable on it. If I was to do this on a regular basis I would need to re-format the magazine so that it would read better on the reader. Can calibre assist me with the reformatting of the PDF? I will need the magazine to remain in PDF form so that the reader can show it to me. I need to admit that I know nothing about Calibre.

jackie_w · 03-20-2011, 11:55 AM

Firstly you need to read this regarding Calibre and PDFs

Secondly, Calibre will not help you reformat a PDF into another, more readable, PDF.

You don't say what your reader is, but Calibre will convert PDFs to other formats, e.g EPUB (for Sony readers), MOBI (for Kindles). The results vary from "not bad" to "horrible". I would expect a magazine, with images and multi-columns, to be at the "horrible" end of the spectrum.

If you want to read a PDF, originally designed for a large printed page, on an electronic device then you need a reader with a bigger screen, e.g it may be OK on an iPad or other tablet, although I can't speak from experience as I don't have one.

jbcohen · 03-21-2011, 10:03 AM

Did not say because my primary reader, a Blackberry, is not the one that I am condering using for this exersize and second I do not want to get into a debate about my chosen reader.

jackie_w · 03-21-2011, 10:50 AM

I have no interest in debating choice of ereaders with you or anyone else. With PDFs and the current crop of ereaders, a bigger screen is usually a better screen.

With an attitude like yours I'm surprised anyone would want to respond to your posts at all. I certainly won't be bothering again.

03-20-2011, 11:35 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Can Calibre help me? I subscribe to a political magazine in electronic format, don't wish to say which one. The other day I had a little time and I decided to experiment with the magazine. I downloaded it in PDF format then uploaded it to a reader. The magazine came out on the reader however, it was unreadable on it. If I was to do this on a regular basis I would need to re-format the magazine so that it would read better on the reader. Can calibre assist me with the reformatting of the PDF? I will need the magazine to remain in PDF form so that the reader can show it to me. I need to admit that I know nothing about Calibre.

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03-20-2011, 11:55 AM	#2
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,249 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	Firstly you need to read this regarding Calibre and PDFs Secondly, Calibre will not help you reformat a PDF into another, more readable, PDF. You don't say what your reader is, but Calibre will convert PDFs to other formats, e.g EPUB (for Sony readers), MOBI (for Kindles). The results vary from "not bad" to "horrible". I would expect a magazine, with images and multi-columns, to be at the "horrible" end of the spectrum. If you want to read a PDF, originally designed for a large printed page, on an electronic device then you need a reader with a bigger screen, e.g it may be OK on an iPad or other tablet, although I can't speak from experience as I don't have one.

03-21-2011, 10:03 AM	#3
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Did not say because my primary reader, a Blackberry, is not the one that I am condering using for this exersize and second I do not want to get into a debate about my chosen reader.

03-21-2011, 10:50 AM	#4
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,249 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	I have no interest in debating choice of ereaders with you or anyone else. With PDFs and the current crop of ereaders, a bigger screen is usually a better screen. With an attitude like yours I'm surprised anyone would want to respond to your posts at all. I certainly won't be bothering again.

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