output pdb from calibre

GillianMary · 10-18-2010, 06:14 AM

Hi,

This is probably a really obvious problem to solve, but I have been struggling with it for days.
I finally (with help from here) got my book into epub, mobi and lit formats using Calibre and Sigil. But when I used calibre to output pdb nearly all the formatting disappeared. There were big spaces between all paragraphs and no index, the chapter headings had become just one more paragraph, all caps vanished. I am using Calibre 0.7.22.
I downloaded dropbook, ebook studio, and TL-PDB. The only one able to read the output file from Calibre was TL-PDB. Here, I was able to correct the spacing, and then I pushed the “all to CRLF” button. It still had no index, but looked better.
But it won’t open in dropbook, or ebook studio, so I have obviously gone wrong somewhere. I need to produce something Ingram Digital will accept. (for eReader).
I did try one suggestion I found on this forum: output to PMLZ in Calibre and drop the index into dropbook. I just don’t know how to do that... windows can’t open the file and winrar does nothing to it, and dropbook doesn’t recognize it.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, especially if it is in a format any idiot can understand!!

By the way, I think Calibre, Sigil, and this forum are terrific. If this is an unsolvable problem, well I just won't send the book to the eReader places. It is only one format that has given me problems, the rest are great! I am really happy with the results.

Thanks in advance.

DoctorOhh · 10-18-2010, 07:31 AM

I'm not sure that it matters but what format are you using to create the PDB file?

Also in the PDB output settings what output format did you choose?

GillianMary · 10-18-2010, 08:58 AM

I have been using ePub for input (because it passed the ePub test) and pdb for output.
All the other settings are the default ones.

GillianMary · 10-18-2010, 09:28 AM

I have just managed to open it in eReader, but the chapter index (TOC) is disabled. The rest reads more or less ok. So maybe there is some specific instruction I should be using to ask Calibre to retain the TOC which displays perfectly in epub and mobi?

DoctorOhh · 10-18-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GillianMary

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwanthny

Also in the PDB output settings what output format did you choose?

pdb for output. All the other settings are the default ones.

If you want to convert it to ereader format you have to go to the PBD output Settings and select ereader. The default is PDB doc format. See attached.

Also you might want to check inline TOC and see if that helps.

GillianMary · 10-19-2010, 09:49 AM

See - I knew it would be something simple! Thank you so much for helping. I have redone the file with your settings and it is much better, showing a toc with each chapter. I can sort it out from here.

ramy5421 · 11-02-2010, 03:20 PM

well , i have similar problem .
the output pdb file doesnt have good merging ,as there is no
text indent in paragraphs and no text justify at all

is there plug ins or extra CSS to fix that ?

DoctorOhh · 11-02-2010, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramy5421

well , i have similar problem .
the output pdb file doesnt have good merging ,as there is no
text indent in paragraphs and no text justify at all

I have no experience with PDB but I do know that you have to choose the PBD format you want to change to. Go to the PDB Output options and make sure you have the correct format chosen for your device.

10-18-2010, 06:14 AM	#1
GillianMary Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: none	output pdb from calibre Hi, This is probably a really obvious problem to solve, but I have been struggling with it for days. I finally (with help from here) got my book into epub, mobi and lit formats using Calibre and Sigil. But when I used calibre to output pdb nearly all the formatting disappeared. There were big spaces between all paragraphs and no index, the chapter headings had become just one more paragraph, all caps vanished. I am using Calibre 0.7.22. I downloaded dropbook, ebook studio, and TL-PDB. The only one able to read the output file from Calibre was TL-PDB. Here, I was able to correct the spacing, and then I pushed the “all to CRLF” button. It still had no index, but looked better. But it won’t open in dropbook, or ebook studio, so I have obviously gone wrong somewhere. I need to produce something Ingram Digital will accept. (for eReader). I did try one suggestion I found on this forum: output to PMLZ in Calibre and drop the index into dropbook. I just don’t know how to do that... windows can’t open the file and winrar does nothing to it, and dropbook doesn’t recognize it. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, especially if it is in a format any idiot can understand!! By the way, I think Calibre, Sigil, and this forum are terrific. If this is an unsolvable problem, well I just won't send the book to the eReader places. It is only one format that has given me problems, the rest are great! I am really happy with the results. Thanks in advance.

11-02-2010, 03:20 PM	#7
ramy5421 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nokia 5530	eReader well , i have similar problem . the output pdb file doesnt have good merging ,as there is no text indent in paragraphs and no text justify at all is there plug ins or extra CSS to fix that ?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
PDB output conversion error	silinthar	Calibre	6	10-01-2010 02:18 AM
Calibre output to Ipad	ben12345	General Discussions	1	05-17-2010 11:42 AM
Problem with output of PDB files	Katelyn	Calibre	2	03-21-2010 01:01 PM
eReader output (pdb) has too much space on my iPhone	bthoven	Calibre	7	10-27-2009 07:43 AM
Calibre - Output files?	Matth3w	Calibre	2	01-14-2009 09:08 PM

10-18-2010, 07:31 AM	#2
DoctorOhh US Navy, Retired Posts: 9,897 Karma: 13806776 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Device: Icarus Illumina XL HD, Kindle PaperWhite SE 11th Gen	I'm not sure that it matters but what format are you using to create the PDB file? Also in the PDB output settings what output format did you choose?

10-18-2010, 08:58 AM	#3
GillianMary Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: none	I have been using ePub for input (because it passed the ePub test) and pdb for output. All the other settings are the default ones.

10-18-2010, 09:28 AM	#4
GillianMary Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: none	I have just managed to open it in eReader, but the chapter index (TOC) is disabled. The rest reads more or less ok. So maybe there is some specific instruction I should be using to ask Calibre to retain the TOC which displays perfectly in epub and mobi?

10-19-2010, 09:49 AM	#6
GillianMary Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: none	See - I knew it would be something simple! Thank you so much for helping. I have redone the file with your settings and it is much better, showing a toc with each chapter. I can sort it out from here.