Convert from Text(Markdown) to PDF: Can not copy text in the PDF

hellomichibye · 08-26-2019, 03:57 AM

Hi,

I use the following command/settings to convert a Markdown file to PDF:

Code:

ebook-convert book.md build/book.pdf \
  --cover='cover.jpg' \
  --authors='Michael'  \
  --language='en' \
  --title='My Book' \
  --formatting-type=markdown \
  --level1-toc="//h:h1" \
  --level2-toc="//h:h2" \
  --level3-toc="//h:h3" \
  --markdown-extensions="footnotes,tables,toc,fenced_code" \
  --pdf-add-toc \
  --pdf-header-template="<p style=\"text-align: center\">beta</p>" \
  --pdf-footer-template='<p style="text-align: right">Page _PAGENUM_</p>'

On a CentOS based OS.

When I view the PDF on my Mac (using the Preview app), I select a few words of text and copy them, the text is not available if I paste it into some other app (e.g. a text editor).

If I use the Export to PDF feature of the Preview app, I can copy from the resulting PDF file.

Any ideas what could be the reason for this?

Thanks
Michael

kovidgoyal · 08-26-2019, 05:07 AM

preview does not support unicode cmaps a feature of PDF more than a decade old. Use a better PDF viewing app and you will be fine.

hellomichibye · 08-26-2019, 12:29 PM

Great. Thanks for your fast reply!

08-26-2019, 03:57 AM	#1
hellomichibye Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: none	Convert from Text(Markdown) to PDF: Can not copy text in the PDF Hi, I use the following command/settings to convert a Markdown file to PDF: Code: ebook-convert book.md build/book.pdf \ --cover='cover.jpg' \ --authors='Michael' \ --language='en' \ --title='My Book' \ --formatting-type=markdown \ --level1-toc="//h:h1" \ --level2-toc="//h:h2" \ --level3-toc="//h:h3" \ --markdown-extensions="footnotes,tables,toc,fenced_code" \ --pdf-add-toc \ --pdf-header-template="<p style=\"text-align: center\">beta</p>" \ --pdf-footer-template='<p style="text-align: right">Page _PAGENUM_</p>' On a CentOS based OS. When I view the PDF on my Mac (using the Preview app), I select a few words of text and copy them, the text is not available if I paste it into some other app (e.g. a text editor). If I use the Export to PDF feature of the Preview app, I can copy from the resulting PDF file. Any ideas what could be the reason for this? Thanks Michael

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08-26-2019, 05:07 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,852 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	preview does not support unicode cmaps a feature of PDF more than a decade old. Use a better PDF viewing app and you will be fine.

08-26-2019, 12:29 PM	#3
hellomichibye Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2019 Device: none	Great. Thanks for your fast reply!