Stymied

cheska99 · 04-01-2016, 10:12 AM

I need to convert a Kindle book so it can be read through a foreign language learning program called LingQ. If i can get the Kindle book into a .pdf, I should be good to go. However, I need to copy and paste the content from a pdf file (or presumably plain text would also work.)

Using Calibre I've converted the Kindle book to a .pdf. But I can't find a way to open the file in anything but Preview for Mac, and when I try to copy and paste from that file, nothing happens. My main question is: how can I copy the text from the Kindle to .pdf file so I can paste it into LingQ?

Thanks so much for your help.

Doitsu · 04-01-2016, 10:41 AM

PDF is pretty much the worst format that you could convert your book to. Why don't you convert it to an .rtf or .docx file with Calibre?
You could then clean up your book with a word processor and save it as a text file.
Or convert it directly to a .txt file, if you're happy with the conversion.

dwig · 04-02-2016, 01:15 PM

Perhaps the best way is to not convert at all.

Conversion always risks some undesirable alteration
PDF is a beautiful format for its intended use (onscreen emulation of a printed document), but a horrid interchange format. Don't use is as a middle-man.

My suggestion is to open the Kindle/Mobi/AZWn book in calibre's ebook-viewer. You should be able to select the text there, copy, and then paste into you desired target app.

04-01-2016, 10:12 AM	#1
cheska99 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 18214 Join Date: Apr 2016 Device: Kindle for Mac or iPhone	Stymied I need to convert a Kindle book so it can be read through a foreign language learning program called LingQ. If i can get the Kindle book into a .pdf, I should be good to go. However, I need to copy and paste the content from a pdf file (or presumably plain text would also work.) Using Calibre I've converted the Kindle book to a .pdf. But I can't find a way to open the file in anything but Preview for Mac, and when I try to copy and paste from that file, nothing happens. My main question is: how can I copy the text from the Kindle to .pdf file so I can paste it into LingQ? Thanks so much for your help.

04-02-2016, 01:15 PM	#3
dwig Wizard Posts: 1,613 Karma: 6718479 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Paradise (Key West, FL) Device: Current:Surface Go & Kindle 3 - Retired: DellV8p, Clie UX50, ...	Perhaps the best way is to not convert at all. Conversion always risks some undesirable alteration PDF is a beautiful format for its intended use (onscreen emulation of a printed document), but a horrid interchange format. Don't use is as a middle-man. My suggestion is to open the Kindle/Mobi/AZWn book in calibre's ebook-viewer. You should be able to select the text there, copy, and then paste into you desired target app.

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04-01-2016, 10:41 AM	#2
Doitsu Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,583 Karma: 22735033 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle PW2	PDF is pretty much the worst format that you could convert your book to. Why don't you convert it to an .rtf or .docx file with Calibre? You could then clean up your book with a word processor and save it as a text file. Or convert it directly to a .txt file, if you're happy with the conversion.

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