pdf input- all quotation marks missing

plumtoad · 05-08-2011, 02:51 AM

I'm using calibre 8.0

I'm trying to convert a .pdf file to .epub, but all of my quotation marks dissapear. I've tried .rtf, .txt, .lit, .epub, .zip - they are gone no matter what output I use.

I've been messing with it for about 3 hours now, and I've tried dozens of things. I've done a google search, read through the calibre help file, and I'm not finding anything that is my exact problem.

Here's an example of my problem:

.pdf input file:
"I wish I could still do cartwheels like I used too," said the old lady.
output file:
I wish I could still do cartwheels like I used too, said the old lady.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

pchrist7 · 05-08-2011, 03:23 AM

Hi there
When I have to convert pdf's, I use Mobipocket creator. Seems a lot better to me. First I use mobipocket to convert the pdf, then I add the converted books into calibre, and go from there. A bit more work, but better results for me.
You can get mobipocket creator here for free:
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Downloa...sp?Language=EN
Some of the guru's might have better solutions, though.

plumtoad · 05-15-2011, 07:34 PM

I tried Mobipocket creator, and that didn't work either. Thanks anyway though

I suppose there isn't an answer to this problem.

JSWolf · 05-15-2011, 07:37 PM

There is only one way to convert PDF perfectly. That is to convert the PDF using whatever software you want. Then after the PDF is converted, you have to A/B compare the PDF to the conversion and fix everything gone wrong. That is a lot of work and (IMHO), not worth the hassle.

speakingtohe · 05-17-2011, 10:10 PM

Could be a non-standard " character. Try looking at the file in conversion search and replace and see what the character(s) is then replacing it.

plumtoad · 05-19-2011, 06:43 PM

Yeah, I'm pretty much ready to delete the file. It's not worth this much time & effort

The only time I can get the " marks to show up is by opening the pdf file with OpenOffice, but then I have the trouble with broken lines, headers, and footers. I'm going to try a search and replace on the marks, then try a conversion with Calibre, using the heuristic process. uwrapping lines, and also the search & replace to remove the headers and footers.

Who knows, maybe it'll work. Or not... at this point, it doesn't really matter.

Thanks for the suggestions... even if they didn't work. Although they led me down different paths to try, so thats a plus!

Manichean · 05-20-2011, 03:15 AM

If you can open the file in OpenOffice (which I didn't know was even possible) try saving it as RTF or ODT and converting that.

JSWolf · 06-01-2011, 10:47 PM

It's not worth the hassle.

05-08-2011, 02:51 AM	#1
plumtoad Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: iphone 3gs	pdf input- all quotation marks missing I'm using calibre 8.0 I'm trying to convert a .pdf file to .epub, but all of my quotation marks dissapear. I've tried .rtf, .txt, .lit, .epub, .zip - they are gone no matter what output I use. I've been messing with it for about 3 hours now, and I've tried dozens of things. I've done a google search, read through the calibre help file, and I'm not finding anything that is my exact problem. Here's an example of my problem: .pdf input file: "I wish I could still do cartwheels like I used too," said the old lady. output file: I wish I could still do cartwheels like I used too, said the old lady. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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05-08-2011, 03:23 AM	#2
pchrist7 Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 6514 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 3G+Wifi, Oasis	Hi there When I have to convert pdf's, I use Mobipocket creator. Seems a lot better to me. First I use mobipocket to convert the pdf, then I add the converted books into calibre, and go from there. A bit more work, but better results for me. You can get mobipocket creator here for free: http://www.mobipocket.com/en/Downloa...sp?Language=EN Some of the guru's might have better solutions, though.

05-15-2011, 07:34 PM	#3
plumtoad Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: iphone 3gs	I tried Mobipocket creator, and that didn't work either. Thanks anyway though I suppose there isn't an answer to this problem.

05-15-2011, 07:37 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	There is only one way to convert PDF perfectly. That is to convert the PDF using whatever software you want. Then after the PDF is converted, you have to A/B compare the PDF to the conversion and fix everything gone wrong. That is a lot of work and (IMHO), not worth the hassle.

05-17-2011, 10:10 PM	#5
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	Could be a non-standard " character. Try looking at the file in conversion search and replace and see what the character(s) is then replacing it.

05-19-2011, 06:43 PM	#6
plumtoad Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: iphone 3gs	Yeah, I'm pretty much ready to delete the file. It's not worth this much time & effort The only time I can get the " marks to show up is by opening the pdf file with OpenOffice, but then I have the trouble with broken lines, headers, and footers. I'm going to try a search and replace on the marks, then try a conversion with Calibre, using the heuristic process. uwrapping lines, and also the search & replace to remove the headers and footers. Who knows, maybe it'll work. Or not... at this point, it doesn't really matter. Thanks for the suggestions... even if they didn't work. Although they led me down different paths to try, so thats a plus!

05-20-2011, 03:15 AM	#7
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	If you can open the file in OpenOffice (which I didn't know was even possible) try saving it as RTF or ODT and converting that.

06-01-2011, 10:47 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It's not worth the hassle.

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