Conversion Error - Failed to convert

[Priswell]

I've tried to convert a rtf file to a epub. I've done it several times and on 2 different computers, both Ubuntu Linux 16.04. I'm an occasional user of Calibre, and so far I've not had any problems. Suggestions?

calibre, version 2.55.0 (linux2, embedded-python: False)
Conversion Error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1 (THE-ORIGIN-OF-HUMANS-DOES-IT-MATTER-WHAT-YOU-BELIEVE)

Convert book 1 of 1 (THE-ORIGIN-OF-HUMANS-DOES-IT-MATTER-WHAT-YOU-BELIEVE)
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 2.55.0
{'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|prologue|epilogue)(\\s+|$))', 'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
 'chapter_mark': u'pagebreak',
 'comments': None,
 'cover': u'/tmp/calibre_2.55.0_tmp_rQOJWx/WR8fFa.jpeg',
 '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,
 '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,
 'ignore_wmf': False,
 'input_encoding': None,
 'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x7fe490d41910>,
 '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,
 'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
 'no_default_epub_cover': False,
 'no_inline_navbars': False,
 'no_svg_cover': False,
 'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.GenericEink object at 0x7fe490d41d10>,
 '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'/tmp/calibre_2.55.0_tmp_rQOJWx/vN4cnY.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_lines': True,
 'use_auto_toc': False,
 'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: RTF Input running
on /tmp/calibre_2.55.0_tmp_rQOJWx/IpP4f4.rtf
Converting RTF to XML...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/calibre-parallel", line 20, in <module>
    sys.exit(main())
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/utils/ipc/worker.py", line 190, in main
    result = func(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py", line 31, in gui_convert_override
    override_input_metadata=True)
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py", line 25, in gui_convert
    plumber.run()
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plumber.py", line 1057, in run
    accelerators, tdir)
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/customize/conversion.py", line 241, in __call__
    log, accelerators)
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/rtf_input.py", line 256, in convert
    xml = self.generate_xml(stream.name)
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/rtf_input.py", line 113, in generate_xml
    parser.parse_rtf()
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/ebooks/rtf2xml/ParseRtf.py", line 217, in parse_rtf
    tokenize_obj.tokenize()
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/ebooks/rtf2xml/tokenize.py", line 182, in tokenize
    tokens = map(self.__unicode_process, tokens)
  File "/usr/lib/calibre/calibre/ebooks/rtf2xml/tokenize.py", line 55, in __unicode_process
    self.__uc_value.append(self.__uc_value[-1])
IndexError: list index out of range

[kovidgoyal]

You are using calibre 2.55 which is ancient. Upgrade.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Priswell

I've tried to convert a rtf file to a epub. I've done it several times and on 2 different computers, both Ubuntu Linux 16.04. I'm an occasional user of Calibre, and so far I've not had any problems. Suggestions?

calibre, version 2.55.0 (linux2, embedded-python: False)
Conversion Error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1

Since your install is about 100 versions out of date you need to update to a newer version. Here you can find Calibre Linux download and install instructions.

[Sarmat89]

Also, Ubuntu 16.10 is too old for modern software. Update to 18.04.

[Priswell]

You are using calibre 2.55 which is ancient. Upgrade.

I upgraded both the OS and Calibre. Got the following error message:

calibre, version 4.6.0 (linux2, embedded-python: True)
Conversion error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1 (THE-ORIGIN-OF-HUMANS-DOES-IT-MATTER-WHAT-YOU-BELIEVE)

Convert book 1 of 1 (THE-ORIGIN-OF-HUMANS-DOES-IT-MATTER-WHAT-YOU-BELIEVE)
Conversion options changed from defaults:
  output_profile: u'generic_eink'
  cover: u'/tmp/calibre_4.6.0_tmp_AlnEYp/SNuBco.jpeg'
  verbose: 2
  read_metadata_from_opf: u'/tmp/calibre_4.6.0_tmp_AlnEYp/NvDwTd.opf'
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 4.6.0
{'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|prologue|epilogue)(\\s+|$))', 'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
 'chapter_mark': u'pagebreak',
 'comments': None,
 'cover': u'/tmp/calibre_4.6.0_tmp_AlnEYp/SNuBco.jpeg',
 '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,
 'ignore_wmf': False,
 'input_encoding': None,
 'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x7f01394016d0>,
 '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,
 'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
 'no_default_epub_cover': False,
 'no_inline_navbars': False,
 'no_svg_cover': False,
 'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.GenericEink object at 0x7f0139401ad0>,
 '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'/tmp/calibre_4.6.0_tmp_AlnEYp/NvDwTd.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_lines': True,
 'use_auto_toc': False,
 'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: RTF Input running
on /tmp/calibre_4.6.0_tmp_AlnEYp/CrDzJS.rtf
Converting RTF to XML...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "site.py", line 77, in main
  File "site-packages/calibre/utils/ipc/worker.py", line 208, in main
  File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py", line 43, in gui_convert_override
  File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py", line 28, in gui_convert
  File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plumber.py", line 1110, in run
  File "site-packages/calibre/customize/conversion.py", line 246, in __call__
  File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/rtf_input.py", line 258, in convert
  File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/rtf_input.py", line 115, in generate_xml
  File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/rtf2xml/ParseRtf.py", line 227, in parse_rtf
  File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/rtf2xml/tokenize.py", line 189, in tokenize
  File "site-packages/calibre/ebooks/rtf2xml/tokenize.py", line 60, in __unicode_process
IndexError: list index out of range

[Priswell]

Update: Did more reading on Calibre, found it doesn't like RTF files, changed to docx, and it worked!