Plugin Epub2Text to export an Epub ebook to Text

jd1004 · 11-25-2025, 07:17 AM

I've written a simple plugin to extract the text from an Epub.

Only the text is extracted from the HTML file, no links, images etc.

Before exporting the ebook, I always run Tools - Reformat HTML - Mend and Prettify All HTML Files.

The output file has the same filename as the Epub, but extension .txt. Existing files are not overwritten.

I've used the plugin a few times myself and it works for me. I've also compared the output to the Calibre text output, and while there are differences (can't remember exactly, but I think Calibre replaces non-breaking spaces (and ligatures?) and keeps spaces at the beginning of a line, etc.), I still like my output.

I hope some of you will find the tool useful. Feedback is appreciated.

theducks · 11-25-2025, 12:11 PM

??? What does this do different from the builtin "Output to" Conversion setting(s)

DNSB · 11-25-2025, 05:17 PM

Where do we find the 'builtin "Output to" conversion' setting? Are you perchance thinking about calibre's convert to text? The output is different between calibre and this plugin though I haven't decided which if either I prefer.

theducks · 11-25-2025, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DNSB

Where do we find the 'builtin "Output to" conversion' setting? Are you perchance thinking about calibre's convert to text? The output is different between calibre and this plugin though I haven't decided which if either I prefer.

Dang, this is the second time I gave a Calibre answer in Sigil

jd1004 · 02-22-2026, 02:49 PM

I have updated the Epub2Text plugin. The new version 0.1.4 produces the same output as the initial version 0.1.0, but is much faster for large ebooks.

A few examples for the performance improvement (of the HTML parser step only, but that was the performance problem):

Code:

Text size      old          new
----------------------------------
  200 KB     0,06 sec.    0,03 sec.
  450 KB     2,80 sec.    0,32 sec.
  900 KB     4,53 sec.    0,09 sec.
 1100 KB     3,81 sec.    0,06 sec.
 1600 KB       75 sec.    0,99 sec.
 2000 KB      153 sec.    1,39 sec.
 9850 KB      391 sec.    0,84 sec.

If you are using this plugin, please upgrade to the new version.

11-25-2025, 05:17 PM	#3
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 50,507 Karma: 178402706 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Libra Colour, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	Where do we find the 'builtin "Output to" conversion' setting? Are you perchance thinking about calibre's convert to text? The output is different between calibre and this plugin though I haven't decided which if either I prefer. Last edited by DNSB; 11-25-2025 at 05:20 PM.

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11-25-2025, 12:11 PM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,536 Karma: 62543878 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	??? What does this do different from the builtin "Output to" Conversion setting(s)