PDF to EPUB problems: double "L's" and lines

deamonfruba · 05-06-2013, 12:03 AM

I've been searching for a solution for this since getting Calibre without any success. Whenever I convert a PDF file to EPUB, I have to open it up in an EPUB editor like Sigil and spend between an hour and two hours to get rid of a few odd glitches. Here's an example:

What something should look like:

"Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sally who liked to dance around in stupid circles until one day her feet disappeared. She asked her dog Billy for help but he just stared at her, as dogs do."

What it comes out looking like:

"Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sal y who liked to dance around in

stupid circles until one day her feet disappeared. She asked her dog Bil y for

help but he just stared at her, as dogs do."

This is incredibly annoying and I would REALLY like some help. If you have any tips that involve technical jargon, keep in mind that I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate when it comes to computers so I need things broken down a bit.

Extra information: I have Windows 7, x64, the newest update of Calibre, I use a Nook HD and the strange behavior is visible no matter what program or piece of tech I use to view it.

Thank you!!

PeterT · 05-06-2013, 12:20 AM

Have you read this post: Read this before Posting PDF Questions

deamonfruba · 05-06-2013, 01:02 AM

Yes, I have, and it's about as helpful as a nail to the head. I guess the double letters is what is the most frustrating part. What plug-in would give me the "PDF Print" function that it mentions and for what program?

Josieb1 · 05-06-2013, 02:16 AM

I never convert straight from PDF to any ebook format, I convert to RTF then manually edit the text removing headers/trailers page numbers etc. I then convert to ePub/mobi, usually saving the RTF as HTML first, I don't always do that it depends on the size of he RTF.

No quick solution here, whatever way you do it it takes time to convert a PDF into a decent looking ebook.

DoctorOhh · 05-06-2013, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deamonfruba

Yes, I have, and it's about as helpful as a nail to the head.

That Sticky post stated relatively clearly "Unfortunately, due to a bug in the third party library Calibre uses, in many cases ligatures simply aren't supported."

This means you have to look outside of calibre for the answer or simply stop using PDFs for source books.

When the Sticky post suggests using "Mobipocket Creator or Acrobat Professional" for conversion both of these programs can convert PDFs to html. Once in HTML format you can use calibre to convert the html to whichever format you like.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deamonfruba

What plug-in would give me the "PDF Print" function that it mentions and for what program?

There is no plugin for calibre but there are many programs that allow you to print to PDF inside your OS or some word processing programs. Sometimes the output of these PDFs are clean of ligatures and can then be converted using calibre.

Personally for the most part I avoid PDF as a source format when at all possible.

deamonfruba · 05-06-2013, 02:46 AM

Thank you for your help. I keep trying to learn the ins and outs of all the programs I use but they just keep piling up so sometimes I have to scramble for details on a few. I hate PDF files but it still seems to be the favorite file type for most people so it's what is provided to me. If we could all just switch over to EPUB it would be a more peaceful world.

BetterRed · 05-06-2013, 03:02 AM

@deamonfruba

Josieb1 is right, getting a hassle free conversion from PDF to ebook formats doesn't happen but here's a couple of things to try

Preferences->Conversion->Look and Feel->Keep ligatures check it - and that may fix your double ell's

Preferences->Input Options->PDF Input->Line Unwrapping factor - tweak it down a bit, if that doesn't reduce the split lines, tweak it up a bit - a bit is about .05 units

Try Mobicreator, there's a link in the sticky to which PeterT posted a link - it produces PRC's which Calibre will convert without any glitches,

Try Hamster Soft's converter (Google will find it), I have on occasions got a good result from it - be careful with the install its full of Open Candy - do a custom install and read the "do you want this c**p" dialogues carefully.

I think the PDF Print reference is probably a reference to a PDF Print Driver - there are many implementations, they install as a print driver and are then accessible to any program with a Print capability - I use one from Bullzip. Search for PDF Print Driver <your Operating system>.

BR

deamonfruba · 05-06-2013, 03:12 AM

Thank you very much for the clarifications, BetterRed. Mobicreator has worked for three files so far and I will bookmark this thread in case it fails in the future so I have other options to fall back on. I greatly appreciate the help, especially since the answer was sort of indicated at in an FAQ. Guess I just needed more of a step-by-step.

I hate smileys as a general rule but these guys convey my appreciation well enough to make an exception.

05-06-2013, 12:03 AM	#1
deamonfruba Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	PDF to EPUB problems: double "L's" and lines I've been searching for a solution for this since getting Calibre without any success. Whenever I convert a PDF file to EPUB, I have to open it up in an EPUB editor like Sigil and spend between an hour and two hours to get rid of a few odd glitches. Here's an example: What something should look like: "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sally who liked to dance around in stupid circles until one day her feet disappeared. She asked her dog Billy for help but he just stared at her, as dogs do." What it comes out looking like: "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sal y who liked to dance around in stupid circles until one day her feet disappeared. She asked her dog Bil y for help but he just stared at her, as dogs do." This is incredibly annoying and I would REALLY like some help. If you have any tips that involve technical jargon, keep in mind that I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate when it comes to computers so I need things broken down a bit. Extra information: I have Windows 7, x64, the newest update of Calibre, I use a Nook HD and the strange behavior is visible no matter what program or piece of tech I use to view it. Thank you!!

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05-06-2013, 12:20 AM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,157 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Have you read this post: Read this before Posting PDF Questions

05-06-2013, 01:02 AM	#3
deamonfruba Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	Yes, I have, and it's about as helpful as a nail to the head. I guess the double letters is what is the most frustrating part. What plug-in would give me the "PDF Print" function that it mentions and for what program?

05-06-2013, 02:16 AM	#4
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,009 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	I never convert straight from PDF to any ebook format, I convert to RTF then manually edit the text removing headers/trailers page numbers etc. I then convert to ePub/mobi, usually saving the RTF as HTML first, I don't always do that it depends on the size of he RTF. No quick solution here, whatever way you do it it takes time to convert a PDF into a decent looking ebook.

05-06-2013, 02:46 AM	#6
deamonfruba Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	Thank you for your help. I keep trying to learn the ins and outs of all the programs I use but they just keep piling up so sometimes I have to scramble for details on a few. I hate PDF files but it still seems to be the favorite file type for most people so it's what is provided to me. If we could all just switch over to EPUB it would be a more peaceful world.

05-06-2013, 03:02 AM	#7
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 20,553 Karma: 26954694 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	@deamonfruba Josieb1 is right, getting a hassle free conversion from PDF to ebook formats doesn't happen but here's a couple of things to try Preferences->Conversion->Look and Feel->Keep ligatures check it - and that may fix your double ell's Preferences->Input Options->PDF Input->Line Unwrapping factor - tweak it down a bit, if that doesn't reduce the split lines, tweak it up a bit - a bit is about .05 units Try Mobicreator, there's a link in the sticky to which PeterT posted a link - it produces PRC's which Calibre will convert without any glitches, Try Hamster Soft's converter (Google will find it), I have on occasions got a good result from it - be careful with the install its full of Open Candy - do a custom install and read the "do you want this c*p" dialogues carefully. I think the PDF Print reference is probably a reference to a PDF Print Driver - there are many implementations, they install as a print driver and are then accessible to any program with a Print capability - I use one from Bullzip. Search for PDF Print Driver <your Operating system>*. BR

05-06-2013, 03:12 AM	#8
deamonfruba Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: Nook	Thank you very much for the clarifications, BetterRed. Mobicreator has worked for three files so far and I will bookmark this thread in case it fails in the future so I have other options to fall back on. I greatly appreciate the help, especially since the answer was sort of indicated at in an FAQ. Guess I just needed more of a step-by-step. I hate smileys as a general rule but these guys convey my appreciation well enough to make an exception.