Multiple conversion of files in .bat with calibre?

kombinerka · 01-27-2011, 04:10 AM

Hallo,
I study Workflow Administration and I got an assignment with my group to automate pdf and/or other formats to epub/mobi fomats and automate it on our server.

The thing is that we never learned to script so we dont even have a basic knowledge of the scripts that could help us.

We looked for about 4 weeks now too find a good way to convert multiple files with a single script that we could run in a time interval of several minutes. Thanks to your forums we were able to find this script:

Quote:

start/wait ebook-convert filename.pdf filename.epub

However my question is: Is there a way to Convert multiple files with this script without the need to write each file name separetely?

If so could you tell me what I should do or atleast help me to find a way to learn how to do it?

with kind regards,
Konrad T.

DoctorOhh · 01-27-2011, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kombinerka

However my question is: Is there a way to Convert multiple files with this script without the need to write each file name separetely?

I have no doubt there is and someone with that knowledge will eventually help out. I just want you to understand the difficulty you will run into converting PDF files, please read this thread for more info.

Manichean · 01-27-2011, 04:21 AM

I've had some success with a construct like this:

Code:

for %%i in (*.pdf) do start /wait ebook-convert %i %i.pdf

Granted, I've only tried that about twice for a handful of files.

kombinerka · 01-27-2011, 04:23 AM

@dwanthny: Yes, thank you. im looking into RexExes already

@Manichean: Thanks ill try it in a sec

DoctorOhh · 01-27-2011, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

I've had some success with a construct like this:

Code:

for %%i in (*.pdf) do start /wait ebook-convert %i %i.pdf

Granted, I've only tried that about twice for a handful of files.

Is this for output equal ePub?

Manichean · 01-27-2011, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Is this for output equal ePub?

Oops, I mistyped:

Code:

for %%i in (*.pdf) do start /wait ebook-convert "%i" "%i.epub"

This should work for whatever combination of input and output formats.

DoctorOhh · 01-27-2011, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kombinerka

@dwanthny: Yes, thank you. im looking into RexExes already

I was really referring more to the first paragraph.

Quote:

PDF format is the worst choice of source formats to use with Calibre, and conversions can range from decent to quite awful. Read here for the official statement on Calibre's PDF support.

kombinerka · 01-27-2011, 05:05 AM

hmmm which format would you recommend instead of pdf?

and when I run that script I get the help msg back from Kovid instead of converted files back.

DoctorOhh · 01-27-2011, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kombinerka

hmmm which format would you recommend instead of pdf?

If you have control over the original files then saving those html or if using MS Word saving them as html filtered or web page filtered would be best. The filtered html will convert well to epubs.

What is the source of these files? If they start as doc files this thread explains how to do batch conversions from doc files to epubs with free tools. Specifically check out posts 23, 49 and 56.

kombinerka · 01-27-2011, 05:24 AM

unfortunately about a 1/3 of them (more than 1thousand files total) is in .pdf format the rest is in .doc/.docx

and thanks for the links

helps a lot

Manichean · 01-27-2011, 06:06 AM

DOC/DOCX is not supported. If you get an error message, paste that in here. That makes it way easier for us to see what's wrong...
Is the batch file working at all (are the conversions starting?)?

DoctorOhh · 01-27-2011, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

DOC/DOCX is not supported.

I pointed him to threads describing how to do batch conversions of doc files, so those should be easy. It's the PDF files that will cause the most trouble.

Manichean · 01-27-2011, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

I pointed him to threads describing how to do batch conversions of doc files, so those should be easy. It's the PDF files that will cause the most trouble.

Still, if he tries to run those by the batch I posted, he'll get errors.

DoctorOhh · 01-27-2011, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manichean

Still, if he tries to run those by the batch I posted, he'll get errors.

True, let's hope he follows the batch files I pointed him to.

kombinerka · 01-27-2011, 09:49 AM

hallo again and sorry for the late answer ;p
so when I execute this command

Quote:

for %%i in (*.pdf) do start /wait ebook-convert "%i" "%i.epub"

I get the following message it's not an error or anything just a message that flashes by in a split second.

didnt try the .doc/.docx yet because ive lent out my hd with server out for today

01-27-2011, 04:21 AM	#3
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	I've had some success with a construct like this: Code: for %%i in (*.pdf) do start /wait ebook-convert %i %i.pdf Granted, I've only tried that about twice for a handful of files.

01-27-2011, 04:23 AM	#4
kombinerka Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 180 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	@dwanthny: Yes, thank you. im looking into RexExes already @Manichean: Thanks ill try it in a sec Last edited by kombinerka; 01-27-2011 at 04:30 AM.

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01-27-2011, 05:05 AM	#8
kombinerka Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 180 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	hmmm which format would you recommend instead of pdf? and when I run that script I get the help msg back from Kovid instead of converted files back.

01-27-2011, 05:24 AM	#10
kombinerka Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 180 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	unfortunately about a 1/3 of them (more than 1thousand files total) is in .pdf format the rest is in .doc/.docx and thanks for the links helps a lot

01-27-2011, 06:06 AM	#11
Manichean Wizard Posts: 3,130 Karma: 91256 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Device: Cybook Gen3	DOC/DOCX is not supported. If you get an error message, paste that in here. That makes it way easier for us to see what's wrong... Is the batch file working at all (are the conversions starting?)?