Converting PDFs - Page 4

BasilC · 01-14-2004, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sas

You mean pictures included in the original PDF, or any picture? I was never able to convert images from the PDF either, but for JPGs and GIFs it works fine both with add file / from clipboard and through system integration.

If you did not find enough information in the help file - why not to e-mail Raphael, or post here?

Enjoy

Yeah, you're right, I was just being lazy, I'll get in touch with him.

I did mean pictures embedded in pdf files. When it comes to just moving jpgs or gifs, I use HandStory, which is great in this respect. You just right click, then you get a whole host of resizing and other options.

rsprim · 01-14-2004, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander

Nope the great export functionality is new in Acrobat 6.0. We have it here at work and I just tested a few PDF files... the outcome is amazing and I don't have to tell you how much I enjoy reading them with iSilo now

Alexander how are you converting them to read in iSilo? Are you saving them as html and converting them to a .pdb using iSiloX?

Robert

Alexander Turcic · 01-15-2004, 03:20 AM

Exactly. However, make sure you have installed the full Adobe Acrobat (which is not free); the Adobe Acrobat Reader cannot export to .html (at at least to my knowledge).

Alexander Turcic · 01-27-2004, 01:47 PM

I just stumbled over another "PDF->many formats" convertor.

ABC Amber PDF Converter allows you to convert PDF to any document format (HTML, CHM, RTF, HLP, TXT, DOC, DBF, XML, CSV, XLS, MCW, WPS, SAM, RFT, WS4, WS7, WRI, etc.) easily and quickly. You can export all pages or just selected pages, as plain text or as preview pictures.

Haven't installed it yet; a demo version is available (limited to 30 days + 5 pages export only). Full costs $12.95.

ignatz · 03-14-2004, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander

There is also a graphical Windows frontend for pdfTohtml at http://www.wminds.com/downloads/pdf2htmlgui/

This link appears to be toast. But it has reappeared at http://guiguy.wminds.com/downloads/pdf2htmlgui/. Haven't tried it yet, but I have a couple of pdfs that I'd like to convert. I'll report back.

ignatz · 03-15-2004, 12:28 AM

Hmmm, pdf2html works okay I reckon, but it doesn't perform quite as I'd like. It created <br>'s at the end of each line, and I'd much rather those went away so that the formatting could work itself out a little better. And there's no easy way to pull those out without losing the relevent ones (is there?). Didn't have any images in my document, so no issues there. I also didn't like the horizontal line between each physical page, though those are easy to find/replace away. But hey, it did the job for free. Love that. Now I might have to see if I can get my boss to get us Acrobat 6. Hee hee...

cawinters · 03-16-2004, 12:58 PM

I know this is slightly off topic as it doesn't convert to HTML, but I have numerous very large PDFs that were just too large to use with Acrobat Reader on PPC. I converted them with Repligo and it works well. The files are 1/3 the size, contain pics and are well formatted

cbarnett · 03-16-2004, 05:17 PM

Repligo is very nice. I will be registering the PPC version when v2 is released in the next month or so, as it finally does all I want; text selection, searching, and BOOKMARKS!!!

Craig.

Bob Russell · 07-27-2004, 11:50 PM

Based on the info above, I tried PDF2HTMLgui. I used it on the Pimlico Datebook5 manual, which is fairly complicated, and has lots of pictures with text around them (screenshots mostly).

It works great using the method I describe in what follows. But as you can see at the bottom of this post, I can't convert it into a nice iSilo document.
Any ideas? (Hope I didn't repeat too much from the rest of the thread... I did read it but too quickly.)

The download I used was at: http://guiguy.wminds.com/downloads/p...lgui/down.html

The idea is that this program is just a gui shell, and the guts are contained in two additional required programs (as indicated on that page) that must also be downloaded:
GhostScript (v8.14) and PDFtoHTML

You need to be sure to grab the windows binary executables, not the source files.

To install, you install ghostscript, and extract PDFtoHTML files into a directory of your choice (that's the command line program). Then extract the gui program .exe into the same directory as the command line program.

When you run it, you'll need to tell it where to find the ghostscript executable. There were two to choose from, and I took the first alphabetically. I think it was without the "c", but I can't remember.

You then give it the source file .pdf location (make sure the directory names are not too long because it will choke if the command line is more than 255 chars, which includes the full path and filename of the source and destination, plus more).

It supplies a candidate destination. You can choose a bunch of options I don't understand, but the key option is the "generate complex document" which is visible as a conversion checkbox after you choose "more options". When I didn't choose it, the conversion was just text and didn't accomplish much for me at all.

The complex option gives me a "framed" page HTML result with index on left side and single pages on the right side, and it looks gorgeous. You might want to choose another folder for the result because there can be a LOT of files.

The conversion went pretty quickly, and was very effective. Note also that the complex option requires the ghostscript executable.

THE REMAINING PROBLEM...
I haven't figured out the remaining trick of getting it into iSilo... when I do a straight conversion of the index page, I thought I'd get a nice document. But all I got was pages with the pictures and separate text. Not pictures on a page with text surrounding it at the right location.

Interestingly, it opens and displays fine with Internet Explorer, but with MS Word, it shows improperly just like in the converted iSilo document.

One would think that the HTML conversion works just like any other iSiloX conversion with images (after all that work to get images in the document, you probably don't want to lose them now!) And I always convert to a memory card destination. But the results were not right.

Help?

ignatz · 07-28-2004, 12:04 AM

Bob, have you had a look at the HTML? There must be something strange in there... Perhaps you can manually edit it?

Colin Dunstan · 07-28-2004, 03:03 AM

Bob, can you attach your html file (perhaps zipped) here?

macrotor · 09-03-2004, 01:27 PM

I have returned from active duty! Whoa, this thread is STILL going? Wow.
First off, pdf2html will never do graphics well for iSilo because it converts all the graphics into a merged background picture with text placed over it. iSilo will either ignore the background, or separate the text from the graphics. Adobe Acrobat is much more intelligent (get what you pay for, I guess).

It's good to be back. Got iSilo 4.1 loaded on my shiny new Tungsten|C! How may I be of service?

macrotor · 09-03-2004, 01:28 PM

Yikes, I guess I better change my sig. Got the Tungsten|W. Used the heck out of it. Now using Tungsten|C. Heh.

hacker · 09-03-2004, 03:57 PM

The output of Adobe 6.0 to HTML 3.2 isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Try it on a very complicated PDF, and take a look at the results.

The first page or two might look good, but when you get down to page 300, 500, 800, and later... things get really ugly. It starts to disjoint words, text, reflows paragraphs wrong, and lots of other weird things. It also seems to ignore some graphics in complicated PDF documents, claiming that they are missing required attribute (which I find odd, since Adobe Acrobat created the original PDF in the first place!)

The best approach is to use a combination of tools, and then go in and hand edit the whole thing back again to a usable format for reading on a PDA or handheld device.

BasilC · 09-03-2004, 08:09 PM

I'm on the verge of registering Repligo 2. It's the best solution to the pdf problem that I've found to date, including Adobe Reader, which is pretty poor.

01-27-2004, 01:47 PM	#49
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	I just stumbled over another "PDF->many formats" convertor. ABC Amber PDF Converter allows you to convert PDF to any document format (HTML, CHM, RTF, HLP, TXT, DOC, DBF, XML, CSV, XLS, MCW, WPS, SAM, RFT, WS4, WS7, WRI, etc.) easily and quickly. You can export all pages or just selected pages, as plain text or as preview pictures. Haven't installed it yet; a demo version is available (limited to 30 days + 5 pages export only). Full costs $12.95. Attached Thumbnails

07-27-2004, 11:50 PM	#54
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	PDF2HTMLgui converts nice. How to get in iSilo doc?? Based on the info above, I tried PDF2HTMLgui. I used it on the Pimlico Datebook5 manual, which is fairly complicated, and has lots of pictures with text around them (screenshots mostly). It works great using the method I describe in what follows. But as you can see at the bottom of this post, I can't convert it into a nice iSilo document. Any ideas? (Hope I didn't repeat too much from the rest of the thread... I did read it but too quickly.) The download I used was at: http://guiguy.wminds.com/downloads/p...lgui/down.html The idea is that this program is just a gui shell, and the guts are contained in two additional required programs (as indicated on that page) that must also be downloaded: GhostScript (v8.14) and PDFtoHTML You need to be sure to grab the windows binary executables, not the source files. To install, you install ghostscript, and extract PDFtoHTML files into a directory of your choice (that's the command line program). Then extract the gui program .exe into the same directory as the command line program. When you run it, you'll need to tell it where to find the ghostscript executable. There were two to choose from, and I took the first alphabetically. I think it was without the "c", but I can't remember. You then give it the source file .pdf location (make sure the directory names are not too long because it will choke if the command line is more than 255 chars, which includes the full path and filename of the source and destination, plus more). It supplies a candidate destination. You can choose a bunch of options I don't understand, but the key option is the "generate complex document" which is visible as a conversion checkbox after you choose "more options". When I didn't choose it, the conversion was just text and didn't accomplish much for me at all. The complex option gives me a "framed" page HTML result with index on left side and single pages on the right side, and it looks gorgeous. You might want to choose another folder for the result because there can be a LOT of files. The conversion went pretty quickly, and was very effective. Note also that the complex option requires the ghostscript executable. THE REMAINING PROBLEM... I haven't figured out the remaining trick of getting it into iSilo... when I do a straight conversion of the index page, I thought I'd get a nice document. But all I got was pages with the pictures and separate text. Not pictures on a page with text surrounding it at the right location. Interestingly, it opens and displays fine with Internet Explorer, but with MS Word, it shows improperly just like in the converted iSilo document. One would think that the HTML conversion works just like any other iSiloX conversion with images (after all that work to get images in the document, you probably don't want to lose them now!) And I always convert to a memory card destination. But the results were not right. Help?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Converting PDFs	JoshLessard	Amazon Kindle	12	10-07-2010 06:40 AM
Converting Layered? PDFs	kerrware	Calibre	2	06-30-2010 03:31 PM
reader for PDFs without converting?	kuck	Which one should I buy?	24	06-30-2010 02:55 AM
Numbers in pdfs not converting	kilgoretrout	Workshop	9	06-25-2010 05:18 PM
converting PDFs with equations	significance	Calibre	6	10-25-2009 09:36 PM

01-15-2004, 03:20 AM	#48
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,163 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Exactly. However, make sure you have installed the full Adobe Acrobat (which is not free); the Adobe Acrobat Reader cannot export to .html (at at least to my knowledge).

03-15-2004, 12:28 AM	#51
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Hmmm, pdf2html works okay I reckon, but it doesn't perform quite as I'd like. It created <br>'s at the end of each line, and I'd much rather those went away so that the formatting could work itself out a little better. And there's no easy way to pull those out without losing the relevent ones (is there?). Didn't have any images in my document, so no issues there. I also didn't like the horizontal line between each physical page, though those are easy to find/replace away. But hey, it did the job for free. Love that. Now I might have to see if I can get my boss to get us Acrobat 6. Hee hee...

03-16-2004, 12:58 PM	#52
cawinters Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2004 Device: Dell Axim X5	I know this is slightly off topic as it doesn't convert to HTML, but I have numerous very large PDFs that were just too large to use with Acrobat Reader on PPC. I converted them with Repligo and it works well. The files are 1/3 the size, contain pics and are well formatted

03-16-2004, 05:17 PM	#53
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	Repligo is very nice. I will be registering the PPC version when v2 is released in the next month or so, as it finally does all I want; text selection, searching, and BOOKMARKS!!! Craig.

07-28-2004, 12:04 AM	#55
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Bob, have you had a look at the HTML? There must be something strange in there... Perhaps you can manually edit it?

07-28-2004, 03:03 AM	#56
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	Bob, can you attach your html file (perhaps zipped) here?

09-03-2004, 01:27 PM	#57
macrotor Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 2418 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fremont, CA, USA Device: Tungsten\|C with Nokia6200	I have returned from active duty! Whoa, this thread is STILL going? Wow. First off, pdf2html will never do graphics well for iSilo because it converts all the graphics into a merged background picture with text placed over it. iSilo will either ignore the background, or separate the text from the graphics. Adobe Acrobat is much more intelligent (get what you pay for, I guess). It's good to be back. Got iSilo 4.1 loaded on my shiny new Tungsten\|C! How may I be of service?

09-03-2004, 01:28 PM	#58
macrotor Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 2418 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fremont, CA, USA Device: Tungsten\|C with Nokia6200	Yikes, I guess I better change my sig. Got the Tungsten\|W. Used the heck out of it. Now using Tungsten\|C. Heh.

09-03-2004, 03:57 PM	#59
hacker Technology Mercenary Posts: 617 Karma: 2561 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East Lyme, CT Device: Direct Neural Implant	The output of Adobe 6.0 to HTML 3.2 isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Try it on a very complicated PDF, and take a look at the results. The first page or two might look good, but when you get down to page 300, 500, 800, and later... things get really ugly. It starts to disjoint words, text, reflows paragraphs wrong, and lots of other weird things. It also seems to ignore some graphics in complicated PDF documents, claiming that they are missing required attribute (which I find odd, since Adobe Acrobat created the original PDF in the first place!) The best approach is to use a combination of tools, and then go in and hand edit the whole thing back again to a usable format for reading on a PDA or handheld device.

09-03-2004, 08:09 PM	#60
BasilC Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 60 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London England Device: Palm Tungsten T3	I'm on the verge of registering Repligo 2. It's the best solution to the pdf problem that I've found to date, including Adobe Reader, which is pretty poor.

Advert

Advert