Weird problem with PDF to ePub conversion...

[cassidydorman]

Spoiler:

Okay, so I procured a book in PDF format that I wished to convert to ePub so that I could read it in the Freda app for my Windows 7 Phone.

When I did the conversion, it created odd breaks in the middle of words, sometimes splitting half words into two pages.

The oddest side effect, however, was the removal of the letter "N" in chapter headings...

I checked the original PDF input file and none of these problems exist. Is it just the result of a poorly authored PDF file?

Thank you for any advice offered...

Nevermind, I just now read the thread regarding the horror of PDFs converting in Calibre.

Better question is: What is the format that seems to produce the most consistent quality when converting to ePub?

[Manichean]

Any HTML based format seems to work well. I've had good results converting from native HTML as well as LIT and MOBI.

[cassidydorman]

I don't have a problem with converting from .mobi other than the margins being so very wide on the sides, but not the top.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by cassidydorman

I don't have a problem with converting from .mobi other than the margins being so very wide on the sides, but not the top.

look at the conversion: Mobi Output settings 'Ignore Margins'

[cassidydorman]

Actually I just figured it out.

Neither "Ignore Margins" nor setting the Margins to "0 pt" was having any effect.

I had to do a .mobi->TXT->ePub conversion, and it worked out just fine.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by cassidydorman

Actually I just figured it out.

Neither "Ignore Margins" nor setting the Margins to "0 pt" was having any effect.

I had to do a .mobi->TXT->ePub conversion, and it worked out just fine.

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by cassidydorman

Actually I just figured it out.

Neither "Ignore Margins" nor setting the Margins to "0 pt" was having any effect.

I had to do a .mobi->TXT->ePub conversion, and it worked out just fine.

When you do this, you lose most formatting, as the formatting in TXT is minimal. As Manichean suggested, any HTML based format usually works well, because it preserves formatting. However, if your problem lies in the formatting, sending through TXT will makes those problems disappear and replace the formats with more reasonable Calibre defaults.

As a general rule, however, one wouldn't want to strip formatting, and if you are willing to learn CSS and do detailed editing, one can often fix the problems without stripping out the good stuff.

[cassidydorman]

Originally Posted by Starson17

When you do this, you lose most formatting, as the formatting in TXT is minimal. As Manichean suggested, any HTML based format usually works well, because it preserves formatting. However, if your problem lies in the formatting, sending through TXT will makes those problems disappear and replace the formats with more reasonable Calibre defaults.

As a general rule, however, one wouldn't want to strip formatting, and if you are willing to learn CSS and do detailed editing, one can often fix the problems without stripping out the good stuff.

Well, I've been doing advanced web design since I was about 16 years old, which makes it about a decade, but I'm one of those sorts that doesn't think that tons of effort should go into the pleasure of reading. I also understand that perfection can only come through effort.

Now that I figured out that problem, I came across another one, and hopefully I can manage to trudge through that one as well!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by theducks

look at the conversion: Mobi Output settings 'Ignore Margins'

That only applies when you're converting TO Mobi. I believe that, in this case, the user is converting FROM Mobi to ePub. I don't believe that there is an "ignore margins" option available in that case, is there?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That only applies when you're converting TO Mobi. I believe that, in this case, the user is converting FROM Mobi to ePub. I don't believe that there is an "ignore margins" option available in that case, is there?

oops

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by cassidydorman

I'm one of those sorts that doesn't think that tons of effort should go into the pleasure of reading. I also understand that perfection can only come through effort.

And for some, the "pleasure of reading" is directly proportional to the level of "perfection" in the e-book formatting.
work <> pleasure
pleasure == perfection
perfection == work