How do you read PDF files? - Page 2

Ceili · 09-07-2008, 12:59 AM

So far, I've been sending them to myself on the kindle and it's worked out fine. The pdf's I receive at work are always government related, so there's rarely any graphics involved. I just recently sent over the manual for a program I'm learning and it came out fine... so far

I did not go through it all, so if there's a problem I'll probably end up deleting it from the kindle and printing it out (gag)

awi · 09-07-2008, 03:28 AM

Most pdf's I read fit on my Iliad's screen and are well readable when zoomed in to get rid of the white margins. Even better in fullscreen mode which gets rid of the menu bar and gets full use of the entire 8" screen area.

So, most of my reading is done in pdf format.

Jellby · 09-07-2008, 04:31 AM

I either create my own PDFs, with the proper page and font size, or else crop the PDF pages (by uncompressing with pdftk, changing the MediaBox or whatever, and compressing again) and open it with the Cybook. But most PDFs I use are scientific papers, reference manuals, etc. that I need while I'm working with the computer, so I open them with the computer, i.e., I wouldn't use an ebook reader for that anyway.

C6REW · 09-07-2008, 04:37 AM

Hi Bob,

Thanks for starting this thread. As a newbie with the Sony 505 I was beginning to wonder what I was doing wrong.

I have a number of photography books and a lot of photography magazines, both rich in pictures. I tried to convert them in Calibre and put them straight into the reader as a pdf. Both choices are to be honest pointless.

Looking at various solutions suggested on the forum seemed to add to the confusion.

Having now read this thread I think I will stick with one of three methods I was already using.

IMac 24"
Acer 20" laptop
Or for portability a Samsung Q1 tablet pc.

Regards

Chris

C6REW · 09-07-2008, 04:41 AM

Oh forgot to mention.

I have thousands of pdf's of the products we supply. Sometimes the manufacturer will protect these pdf's then forget the password. We make sure every pdf goes out with our details on.

So a little research and I found a very useful tool for removing passwords. I do this all the time having checked with the supplier if they cannot supply or forgot their password. Even managed on a few occasions to get them out of a hole.

Google Elcomsoft advanced password recovery.

Great product.

Best regards

Chris

crepi22 · 09-07-2008, 06:40 AM

You should add "ebook reader without conversion". I use an iliad in landscape continuous mode with zooming and sometimes the multiple column mode (mostly for proceedings in US formats).

The main problem is speed for some of them. I still do not exactly understand why some work well and others are so slow (may be pdf from latex files with embedded latex fonts and not postscript ones).

I would like to have the time to look at popler and see if it can be further optimized for ARM processors (the level of optimization for x86 is probably close to optimal).

BlackVoid · 09-07-2008, 07:36 AM

I convert he pdf to LRF with BookDesigner. This gives a pretty good result with only 1 problem: headers, footers and page numbers remain in the document which is annoying.

Is there any way to easily remove these? Anyone know about a pdf converter that can leave out the header/footer page numbers?

sglinert · 09-07-2008, 07:40 AM

I use Snag It's automated screen capture program, which scans all the pages in the file to an album. Then I run it through Abbyy FineReader. Generally, I get an almost perfect rtf file out of this process.

BlackVoid · 09-07-2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Finally, I put the resulting file into the trash receptacle on my desktop and curse at the top of my lungs the demented maternal sexual congresser who decided to publish the book in PDF format.

Yeah, I agree. PDF is the WORST format EVER.

BlackVoid · 09-07-2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

Before any conversion I will load the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and crop the pages to remove the header and footer lines so that they do not show in the converted text.

This is just what I am looking for! Could you explain in detail how it is done? Thanks.

sporosarcina · 09-07-2008, 09:11 AM

I don't use secure PDF files, as there are other options for almost anything I would want to read. For unsecured PDF I typically just use a program like Foxit on my PDA (smaller and quicker than Adobe's native option). The high DPI screen of the Axim x51v makes this a practical option. I am sure the same could be said for any of the VGA models (i.e HP211).

HarryT · 09-07-2008, 09:18 AM

The latest firmware update to the Gen3 has now made A4/Letter PDFs pretty acceptable to read. It now "auto-pans" over the page in a quite intelligent manner. A 6" device is never going to be good for A4 PDFs (which, as we all know, are not a good choice for an eBook format), but this new firmware makes them usable, at least, on the Gen3.

kacir · 09-07-2008, 09:47 AM

I have voted for the last option, so here is an explanation.

I read pdf files on a pc. PERIOD.
The vast majority of pdf documents I read is non-fiction.

If the pdf is fiction that I really, REALLY want to read on my e-ink reader I extract the text and put it into rtf file with my preferred layout.

kacir · 09-07-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

I print the PDF file, and then scan it. Then I use a good OCR program, do the delicate handicraft of reformatting it to my specifications. I then transform the text through one of many sophisticated programs intended for the ebook device of choice.

Finally, I put the resulting file into the trash receptacle on my desktop and curse at the top of my lungs the demented maternal sexual congresser who decided to publish the book in PDF format.

You do not have to waste paper this way.
You can "print" pdf file straight to a series of bitmaps.
have a look here
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview/
you have to install Ghostscript and then GSview. GSview is a graphical front-end for ghostscript.

Faenad · 09-07-2008, 10:53 AM

I will be receiving my PRS-505 next week and look forward to use it with PDF files. This thread has been very helpful and I will certainly investigate ABBYY PDF Transformer and PDFRead.

So far I have been reading PDF on a Windows Mobile Pdaphone, I had good result with these three software :

- Before converting a PDF I do a "cleanup" of all part that are usually messed up by the converter : Editor Logo, index, pages with publication information etc. The best software I found so far is Foxit PDF Editor. I found it better than the Adobe suite for such tasks.

- Then I convert it to Html with Mobipocket Creator.

- Finally if the images extracted by Mobipocket Creator are too big (Big image are hard for my 200mhz Tomap processor), I convert then all to a smaller resolution using Photoscape batch editor . Photoscape is also a freeware.

The result are quite good for single colum PDF, though the end of page notes and the photos legende are generally messed up. Stilln It's quite usable and sufficient for my personal use.

If the PDF have a lot of images, mathematical formula, colums, etc. then I will convert it instead to Rgo. It's far better and faster than using the native PDF reader available for Windows Mobile.

View Poll Results: How do you read PDF documents?
I extract the text content first	11	8.40%
I use a pdf file conversion utility (Which one?)	33	25.19%
I use a computer, laptop or tablet PC	64	48.85%
I don't read pdf files because it's not worth the effort	21	16.03%
Doesn't matter - I never have pdf files I want to read	2	1.53%
I have a another approach (Explain in a comment!)	28	21.37%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 131. You may not vote on this poll

09-07-2008, 03:28 AM	#17
awi Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 98 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Amsterdam Device: 2x Irex Iliad V2, DR1000s & DR800sg	Most pdf's I read fit on my Iliad's screen and are well readable when zoomed in to get rid of the white margins. Even better in fullscreen mode which gets rid of the menu bar and gets full use of the entire 8" screen area. So, most of my reading is done in pdf format. Last edited by awi; 09-07-2008 at 04:15 AM.

09-07-2008, 04:41 AM	#20
C6REW Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, Kindle Voyage, Kindle Oasis 1	Oh forgot to mention. I have thousands of pdf's of the products we supply. Sometimes the manufacturer will protect these pdf's then forget the password. We make sure every pdf goes out with our details on. So a little research and I found a very useful tool for removing passwords. I do this all the time having checked with the supplier if they cannot supply or forgot their password. Even managed on a few occasions to get them out of a hole. Google Elcomsoft advanced password recovery. Great product. Best regards Chris Last edited by C6REW; 09-07-2008 at 05:02 AM.

09-07-2008, 10:53 AM	#30
Faenad Ad astra per aspera Posts: 347 Karma: 724 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mexico Device: PRS-505, PRS-300 & HTC HD2	I will be receiving my PRS-505 next week and look forward to use it with PDF files. This thread has been very helpful and I will certainly investigate ABBYY PDF Transformer and PDFRead. So far I have been reading PDF on a Windows Mobile Pdaphone, I had good result with these three software : - Before converting a PDF I do a "cleanup" of all part that are usually messed up by the converter : Editor Logo, index, pages with publication information etc. The best software I found so far is Foxit PDF Editor. I found it better than the Adobe suite for such tasks. - Then I convert it to Html with Mobipocket Creator. - Finally if the images extracted by Mobipocket Creator are too big (Big image are hard for my 200mhz Tomap processor), I convert then all to a smaller resolution using Photoscape batch editor . Photoscape is also a freeware. The result are quite good for single colum PDF, though the end of page notes and the photos legende are generally messed up. Stilln It's quite usable and sufficient for my personal use. If the PDF have a lot of images, mathematical formula, colums, etc. then I will convert it instead to Rgo. It's far better and faster than using the native PDF reader available for Windows Mobile. Last edited by Faenad; 09-07-2008 at 10:56 AM.

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09-07-2008, 12:59 AM	#16
Ceili well, that didn't work Posts: 103 Karma: 1027 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle	So far, I've been sending them to myself on the kindle and it's worked out fine. The pdf's I receive at work are always government related, so there's rarely any graphics involved. I just recently sent over the manual for a program I'm learning and it came out fine... so far I did not go through it all, so if there's a problem I'll probably end up deleting it from the kindle and printing it out (gag)

09-07-2008, 04:31 AM	#18
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,570 Karma: 20150435 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	I either create my own PDFs, with the proper page and font size, or else crop the PDF pages (by uncompressing with pdftk, changing the MediaBox or whatever, and compressing again) and open it with the Cybook. But most PDFs I use are scientific papers, reference manuals, etc. that I need while I'm working with the computer, so I open them with the computer, i.e., I wouldn't use an ebook reader for that anyway.

09-07-2008, 04:37 AM	#19
C6REW Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 83 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Devizes, Wiltshire, UK Device: PRS-505, PRS-600, Kindle Voyage, Kindle Oasis 1	Hi Bob, Thanks for starting this thread. As a newbie with the Sony 505 I was beginning to wonder what I was doing wrong. I have a number of photography books and a lot of photography magazines, both rich in pictures. I tried to convert them in Calibre and put them straight into the reader as a pdf. Both choices are to be honest pointless. Looking at various solutions suggested on the forum seemed to add to the confusion. Having now read this thread I think I will stick with one of three methods I was already using. IMac 24" Acer 20" laptop Or for portability a Samsung Q1 tablet pc. Regards Chris

09-07-2008, 06:40 AM	#21
crepi22 Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: iliad	You should add "ebook reader without conversion". I use an iliad in landscape continuous mode with zooming and sometimes the multiple column mode (mostly for proceedings in US formats). The main problem is speed for some of them. I still do not exactly understand why some work well and others are so slow (may be pdf from latex files with embedded latex fonts and not postscript ones). I would like to have the time to look at popler and see if it can be further optimized for ARM processors (the level of optimization for x86 is probably close to optimal).

09-07-2008, 07:36 AM	#22
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	I convert he pdf to LRF with BookDesigner. This gives a pretty good result with only 1 problem: headers, footers and page numbers remain in the document which is annoying. Is there any way to easily remove these? Anyone know about a pdf converter that can leave out the header/footer page numbers?

09-07-2008, 07:40 AM	#23
sglinert Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 1024532 Join Date: May 2008 Device: iPad Air, iPod Touch 5, Illudium Q-42 Explosive Space Modulator	I use Snag It's automated screen capture program, which scans all the pages in the file to an album. Then I run it through Abbyy FineReader. Generally, I get an almost perfect rtf file out of this process.

09-07-2008, 09:11 AM	#26
sporosarcina Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Device: Dell Axim x51v, Sony z750a	I don't use secure PDF files, as there are other options for almost anything I would want to read. For unsecured PDF I typically just use a program like Foxit on my PDA (smaller and quicker than Adobe's native option). The high DPI screen of the Axim x51v makes this a practical option. I am sure the same could be said for any of the VGA models (i.e HP211).

09-07-2008, 09:18 AM	#27
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The latest firmware update to the Gen3 has now made A4/Letter PDFs pretty acceptable to read. It now "auto-pans" over the page in a quite intelligent manner. A 6" device is never going to be good for A4 PDFs (which, as we all know, are not a good choice for an eBook format), but this new firmware makes them usable, at least, on the Gen3.

09-07-2008, 09:47 AM	#28
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,465 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	I have voted for the last option, so here is an explanation. I read pdf files on a pc. PERIOD. The vast majority of pdf documents I read is non-fiction. If the pdf is fiction that I really, REALLY want to read on my e-ink reader I extract the text and put it into rtf file with my preferred layout.