Convert PDF to EPUB and preserving the index

miral · 03-17-2023, 08:26 AM

I think ePub is convenient for reading even on desktop sometimes. And I really like the possibility of jumping to specific chapters/sections using the index.

Unfortunately converting PDF to EPUB usually messes up the index. So that only part of it works or it just not works well.

What can I do? Is there a good conversion process PDF to EPUB which will get the index right.

Or is there a good way doing it manually?

JSWolf · 03-17-2023, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miral

I think ePub is convenient for reading even on desktop sometimes. And I really like the possibility of jumping to specific chapters/sections using the index.

Unfortunately converting PDF to EPUB usually messes up the index. So that only part of it works or it just not works well.

What can I do? Is there a good conversion process PDF to EPUB which will get the index right.

Or is there a good way doing it manually?

Use the PDF instead of converting unless you can get a hold of the source for the PDF.

Hitch · 03-17-2023, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miral

I think ePub is convenient for reading even on desktop sometimes. And I really like the possibility of jumping to specific chapters/sections using the index.

Unfortunately converting PDF to EPUB usually messes up the index. So that only part of it works or it just not works well.

What can I do? Is there a good conversion process PDF to EPUB which will get the index right.

Or is there a good way doing it manually?

When you say "index," do you mean the Table of Contents (front of the book) or the subject-matter/topic index at the back of the book, please?

Hitch

miral · 03-17-2023, 01:03 PM

Table of Contents.. I would like to be able to jump to specific chapters/sections from anywhere in the book.

Hitch · 03-17-2023, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miral

Table of Contents.. I would like to be able to jump to specific chapters/sections from anywhere in the book.

There is no magic PDF to ePUB conversion. We all wish that there was, but there isn't.

You can try Calibre, which works about as well as any other, but you will need to get your hands dirty in the HTML, and create the links. It's not horribly hard to do, really and if you ask here in the workshop, people will help you solve your questions. Of all the tasks to undertake, honestly, creating TOC links is about the easiest for a newbie to learn, so...give it a shot!

Hitch

miral · 03-20-2023, 07:59 AM

PDF to ePUB works ok for me with ABBY. Layout is ok mostly. In Calibre I remove the ToC and create it from all headings. Works quite well. And it's not much work.

JSWolf · 03-20-2023, 09:43 AM

Converting from PDF to any other format is not worth it on most cases. You have to fix it by A/Bing the PDF to the other format. That means everything including spaces.

It's a hassle really. Even using regex to try to fix it, there's a good chance there will still be conversion errors.

Pippo53s03 · 03-24-2023, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miral

PDF to ePUB works ok for me with ABBY. Layout is ok mostly. In Calibre I remove the ToC and create it from all headings. Works quite well. And it's not much work.

ABBYY is wonderful.

JSWolf · 03-27-2023, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pippo53s03

ABBYY is wonderful.

But it's not perfect and you still need to A/B compare.

03-17-2023, 08:26 AM	#1
miral Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2023 Device: Kindle PW10 & KT3	Convert PDF to EPUB and preserving the index I think ePub is convenient for reading even on desktop sometimes. And I really like the possibility of jumping to specific chapters/sections using the index. Unfortunately converting PDF to EPUB usually messes up the index. So that only part of it works or it just not works well. What can I do? Is there a good conversion process PDF to EPUB which will get the index right. Or is there a good way doing it manually?

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03-17-2023, 01:03 PM	#4
miral Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2023 Device: Kindle PW10 & KT3	Table of Contents.. I would like to be able to jump to specific chapters/sections from anywhere in the book.

03-20-2023, 07:59 AM	#6
miral Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2023 Device: Kindle PW10 & KT3	PDF to ePUB works ok for me with ABBY. Layout is ok mostly. In Calibre I remove the ToC and create it from all headings. Works quite well. And it's not much work.

03-20-2023, 09:43 AM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,970 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Converting from PDF to any other format is not worth it on most cases. You have to fix it by A/Bing the PDF to the other format. That means everything including spaces. It's a hassle really. Even using regex to try to fix it, there's a good chance there will still be conversion errors.