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Old 06-18-2011, 01:54 PM   #1
NLight95
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Convert azw to epub or pdf?
In using calibre which file format is better for azw conversion--to ePub or to PDF?

I will be buying books from Amazon and converting them over to use on my PRS-950.
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Old 06-18-2011, 02:09 PM   #2
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PDF is a terrible ebook format - only use it if you have no choice.
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Old 06-18-2011, 06:05 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by itimpi View Post
PDF is a terrible ebook format - only use it if you have no choice.
Is it because it's not formatted for e-book devices and there are many text reflow issues?

I'm thinking about converting any PDFs I have over to ePub.
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Old 06-19-2011, 12:15 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by NLight95 View Post
Is it because it's not formatted for e-book devices and there are many text reflow issues?

I'm thinking about converting any PDFs I have over to ePub.
Exactly correct. Your format of choice is ePUB and Calibre will convert to that very well for you.

However PDF to any format is often hit and miss. I would recommend opening up the PDF files that are proving difficult to convert in Calibre into Mobipocket Creator and convert to MOBI. Then Calibre can do the final conversion to ePUB. I use this often when converting stubborn PDF's.

In the main though, Calibre converts PDF's to true ebook formats very well indeed.
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Old 06-19-2011, 12:24 AM   #5
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Pdf to Epub is also a choice for a converter as well as you can choose either epub, html or kindle as your format. I have some I'm trying to convert from PDF to Epub now. They don't have a working TOC though so Sigil is something I'm using to put that in. PDF to Epub was free for a bit, but I have no idea what it costs now.
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Old 06-19-2011, 06:04 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NLight95 View Post
Is it because it's not formatted for e-book devices and there are many text reflow issues?

I'm thinking about converting any PDFs I have over to ePub.
Fundamentally yes. The whole point about PDF technology is that it is intended that the originator completely controls the layout and the end-user cannot change that.

If you have a PDF that:

a) was formatted for exactly the resolution of your device

b) you are not interested in ever changing the font size

then a PDF file can be OK for an e-reader.

However the vast majority of existing PDF files will break down on assumption a) and for most users assumption b) is one of the features they like to be able to use on an ebook.

Having said that, conversion from PDF to a format more suitable to ebooks can be a bit hit-and-miss both in terms of making sure the content transfers over correctly and even more so in terms of any formatting. Therefore despite the fact that it is not the ideal format for an ebook there might still be times it is the best you are going to get for a particular book that you already have available only in PDF format.
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