PDF to EPUB strips spaces on first line of each chapter

lisashea · 04-22-2021, 02:15 PM

I'm having an odd problem. I've used Calibre for hundreds of ebooks, so I'm fairly comfortable with it. I have a friend using Affinity Publisher, which won't export anything useful except a PDF. So I'm having to export a PDF, bring that PDF into Calibre, and then convert that into an EPUB.

I'm having a strange problem with the very first line of every chapter.

She's using drop-caps, so the first chapter of every PDF starts like this:

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I’ve blurred the actual text.

That very first line to start the chapter (after the initial capital “O”) gets mashed together without spaces, in the ePUB conversion. In the initial PDF file it looks perfectly fine. If I edit that PDF file with any editor, there are spaces in between those words. But when Calibre does the PDF to ePUB conversion, the spaces get lost. I then have to go into the resulting ePUB and manually edit the start of every chapter to add those spaces back in. The second, third, etc., lines are all quite fine, even though they’re part of the same text block.

Any ideas?

theducks · 04-22-2021, 02:43 PM

Please pay attention to MR posting guideline (Image size) and change that oversized image to an attachment. (you can also CROP the image of most of the blur and save size.)

I have moved the post to Conversion forum, please note the sticky about PDF as a source.

Bottom line, is you are probably going to have to dig deep into the books code of the conversion to adjust line-spacing or top/bottom margins (either can smoosh lines)

I will refrain on commenting about the great customer service you received

JSWolf · 04-22-2021, 05:01 PM

You should tell your friend to stop using Affinity Publisher for anything she wants to make into an eBook as it's rubbish. PDF as a source format for eBooks is rubbish.

kovidgoyal · 04-22-2021, 10:09 PM

https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...-pdf-documents

Quoth · 04-23-2021, 12:42 PM

Convert friend to MS Word or LO Writer.
Edit native and save As extra copy as docx.

Explain drop caps are for paper and even there they cause difficulty for some readers. Support on actual apps and ereaders is poor. Honestly they are a Victorian affectation. Still common on Children's books even though it makes it harder for a child to read!

BetterRed · 04-23-2021, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

Honestly they are a Victorian affectation.

Try Medieval

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The prologue (argumentum) to the Gospel of St Matthew, the Lindisfarne Gospels: Lindisfarne, England, c. 700

BR

Quoth · 04-24-2021, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Try Medieval

Attachment 186757
The prologue (argumentum) to the Gospel of St Matthew, the Lindisfarne Gospels: Lindisfarne, England, c. 700

BR

That's when they were in nearly every book.

04-22-2021, 02:15 PM	#1
lisashea Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: none	PDF to EPUB strips spaces on first line of each chapter I'm having an odd problem. I've used Calibre for hundreds of ebooks, so I'm fairly comfortable with it. I have a friend using Affinity Publisher, which won't export anything useful except a PDF. So I'm having to export a PDF, bring that PDF into Calibre, and then convert that into an EPUB. I'm having a strange problem with the very first line of every chapter. She's using drop-caps, so the first chapter of every PDF starts like this: I’ve blurred the actual text. That very first line to start the chapter (after the initial capital “O”) gets mashed together without spaces, in the ePUB conversion. In the initial PDF file it looks perfectly fine. If I edit that PDF file with any editor, there are spaces in between those words. But when Calibre does the PDF to ePUB conversion, the spaces get lost. I then have to go into the resulting ePUB and manually edit the start of every chapter to add those spaces back in. The second, third, etc., lines are all quite fine, even though they’re part of the same text block. Any ideas? Last edited by BetterRed; 04-22-2021 at 06:25 PM. Reason: thumbnailed oversized image

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04-22-2021, 02:43 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Please pay attention to MR posting guideline (Image size) and change that oversized image to an attachment. (you can also CROP the image of most of the blur and save size.) I have moved the post to Conversion forum, please note the sticky about PDF as a source. Bottom line, is you are probably going to have to dig deep into the books code of the conversion to adjust line-spacing or top/bottom margins (either can smoosh lines) I will refrain on commenting about the great customer service you received

04-22-2021, 05:01 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,745 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You should tell your friend to stop using Affinity Publisher for anything she wants to make into an eBook as it's rubbish. PDF as a source format for eBooks is rubbish.

04-22-2021, 10:09 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...-pdf-documents

04-23-2021, 12:42 PM	#5
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,022 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	Convert friend to MS Word or LO Writer. Edit native and save As extra copy as docx. Explain drop caps are for paper and even there they cause difficulty for some readers. Support on actual apps and ereaders is poor. Honestly they are a Victorian affectation. Still common on Children's books even though it makes it harder for a child to read!

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