Bugs in conversion from pdf

Broennum · 02-15-2021, 06:58 AM

When I upload a fully readable and fine pdf to Calibre in order to convert to .mobi and .epub three problems arise:

1: Double l (L) in the text loses one of the letters and replaces it with a space, example: "Willy" reduces to "Wil y"

2: Pictures do not stay where it should referring to the placement in original pdf, and...

3: Picture is doubled with a black placeholder, meaning picture is shown as the picture plus the placeholder beneath the picture.

PDF is created from Mac text editor 'Pages' menu.

Where do I go wrong?

kovidgoyal · 02-15-2021, 07:38 AM

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

Quoth · 02-15-2021, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broennum

PDF is created from Mac text editor 'Pages' menu.

Where do I go wrong?

Install LibreOffice on the Mac.
Edit in native odt format with LO Writer.
Use paragraph styles properly.
Save as docx an extra copy.
Import that to Calibre. Convert to epub with Tablet page format (to leave images alone) and embed and subset fonts.

PDFs are for proofing or WYSIWG preview, or printing. Not for conversion unless you have no other source. Portable Document Format. Not an eBook or a source.

JSWolf · 02-15-2021, 10:05 AM

Where you went wrong was trying to convert from PDF. That never goes as you want. It's not a bug in Calibre. There is no software that will get a PDF conversion correct. IMHO, unless you are doing it for a paid job, don't do it.

retiredbiker · 02-15-2021, 10:15 AM

I worked with an author who had written some 300 pages of his book in Pages and then wanted an ebook. There was nothing we could do until we got it into Writer. As I recall, Pages could save it as plain text or rtf so we could transfer the content and work on it in Writer. Pages seems to live in the Apple world only.

Quoth · 02-15-2021, 11:51 AM

RTF import to Writer then save and edit in odt format. Extra save as in Writer for docx.

You'll only need to check the style of Headings that they are Level1, Level2 etc in style properties. Also make sure fonts used are licensed for publishing. That's why you subset, otherwise overkill on heading fonts and also need ones licensed for redistribution.

Sometimes Select All, copy and paste works.

There is a reason why people bought MS Word from the start of Mac (it was on Mac before Windows!) and now often install LibreOffice (MS is moving to Cloud Only).

JSWolf · 02-15-2021, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredbiker

I worked with an author who had written some 300 pages of his book in Pages and then wanted an ebook. There was nothing we could do until we got it into Writer. As I recall, Pages could save it as plain text or rtf so we could transfer the content and work on it in Writer. Pages seems to live in the Apple world only.

IMHO, just treat Pages like it doesn't exist.

02-15-2021, 06:58 AM	#1
Broennum Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2021 Device: Kindle	Bugs in conversion from pdf When I upload a fully readable and fine pdf to Calibre in order to convert to .mobi and .epub three problems arise: 1: Double l (L) in the text loses one of the letters and replaces it with a space, example: "Willy" reduces to "Wil y" 2: Pictures do not stay where it should referring to the placement in original pdf, and... 3: Picture is doubled with a black placeholder, meaning picture is shown as the picture plus the placeholder beneath the picture. PDF is created from Mac text editor 'Pages' menu. Where do I go wrong?

02-15-2021, 11:51 AM	#6
Quoth Still reading Posts: 14,038 Karma: 105092227 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper	RTF import to Writer then save and edit in odt format. Extra save as in Writer for docx. You'll only need to check the style of Headings that they are Level1, Level2 etc in style properties. Also make sure fonts used are licensed for publishing. That's why you subset, otherwise overkill on heading fonts and also need ones licensed for redistribution. Sometimes Select All, copy and paste works. There is a reason why people bought MS Word from the start of Mac (it was on Mac before Windows!) and now often install LibreOffice (MS is moving to Cloud Only). Last edited by Quoth; 02-15-2021 at 11:54 AM.

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02-15-2021, 07:38 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,355 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/con...-pdf-documents

02-15-2021, 10:05 AM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,757 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Where you went wrong was trying to convert from PDF. That never goes as you want. It's not a bug in Calibre. There is no software that will get a PDF conversion correct. IMHO, unless you are doing it for a paid job, don't do it.

02-15-2021, 10:15 AM	#5
retiredbiker Evangelist Posts: 450 Karma: 3886916 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kindle KB, Oasis, Pop_Os!, Kobo Forma	I worked with an author who had written some 300 pages of his book in Pages and then wanted an ebook. There was nothing we could do until we got it into Writer. As I recall, Pages could save it as plain text or rtf so we could transfer the content and work on it in Writer. Pages seems to live in the Apple world only.

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