calibre(kindle 3) pdf to mobi problem.

lutwey · 09-21-2010, 03:04 AM

when i try to convert pdf mobi the resulting file is almost unreadable.

basically every sentence is split on the middle. the first part that sits on top would go on til the middle then there be a huge blank space . the second part of the sentence would start as if its another paragraph. totally weird.

the structure looks something like this

xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxx xxxxx

xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx.

the entire book looks like that.

Chilean · 09-21-2010, 03:42 AM

I am having the same problem... any solutions?

DannyBookworm · 09-21-2010, 05:02 AM

Absoutely the same problem here and it happens with all the pdf's I try to convert to .mobi.

Hope someone has an idea how to solve that problem.

itimpi · 09-21-2010, 05:18 AM

Have you tried playing with the line-wrap facility in the PDF conversion options.

The real solution is to avoid using PDF as the source format if at all possible.

DannyBookworm · 09-21-2010, 05:21 AM

Well, using other formats as input is not a real solution...

But I will try the line-wrap facility, maybe it helps, thanks for the idea!

itimpi · 09-21-2010, 06:52 AM

There is also the option under Preferences->Conversion->Common Options to Pre-Process the file. Not sure if that helps with PDF files or not

ldolse · 09-21-2010, 07:22 AM

Preprocess does very little for pdf aside from some more aggressive chapter detection patterns.

I haven't seen this sort of problem with any pdfs, aside from multi-column pdfs, which aren't supported at this time. The line wrapping is set under the pdf input options, current default is .45, you can set this lower to make the unwrapping more aggressive.

You could also open a bug with the pdf's, but depending on the cause it may not be addressed until the new pdf engine is ready. In any event it could be useful to open bugs so that the pdfs are used as test cases against the new engine.

DoctorOhh · 09-21-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutwey

basically every sentence is split on the middle. the first part that sits on top would go on til the middle then there be a huge blank space . the second part of the sentence would start as if its another paragraph. totally weird.

It's not that weird, this happens often when you have a garbage source PDF that you are trying to convert to a reflowable format.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyBookworm

Well, using other formats as input is not a real solution...

But I will try the line-wrap facility, maybe it helps, thanks for the idea!

There are many PDF files out there that are pure evil garbage, created from ugly source files. Personally I avoid PDFs unless I'm going to read them as PDFs.

PDF is not a friendly format to convert because for the most part they are designed to fit a fixed size screen. When you try to convert it to a reflowable format bad things happen.

Other options:

1. Mobipocket Creator, (free) import the PDF and it will make a HTML file version available. Add the html to calibre and try converting again. Sometimes the html from this source works better sometimes it doesn't.
2. Adobe Acrobat, export as html or RTF and add that format to calibre and try again.
3. Buy (or pirate) your books in another format and convert that format to Mobi. Often you can go back to the store and download a different format of a book you already purchased from them.
4. If these were created by you then go to the original source and save/export in any format that is not PDF and convert that document.
5. Read PDF files in their native format and don't try to convert them.

Good Luck

Chilean · 09-21-2010, 01:30 PM

Thanks, dwanthny.. and others for your suggestions. I will go back and try to export my file as html or rtf and try the conversion again.

lutwey · 09-21-2010, 06:29 PM

im using a mac so mobi creator is a no go for me. how was ur experience w/ it chilean?

lutwey · 09-22-2010, 05:49 PM

any updates?

Blahah · 09-22-2010, 07:36 PM

I've found that the best way to convert PDFs is to open them in your favourite PDF viewer, export the PDF to HTML, then import the HTML to Calibre and convert that to mobi.

Adobe acrobat is best as you can use preflight filters to trim off the page numbers and other stuff which ruins the mobi conversion, as wellas deleting all the pointless pages (publisher info etc). I'll post a detailed tutorial for getting high quality book conversions tomorrow.

lutwey · 09-22-2010, 11:51 PM

thanks blahah. ill wait for it.

Chilean · 09-23-2010, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutwey

any updates?

Sorry Lutwey, I haven't had the chance to play with it much the last couple days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blahah

I've found that the best way to convert PDFs is to open them in your favourite PDF viewer, export the PDF to HTML, then import the HTML to Calibre and convert that to mobi.

Adobe acrobat is best as you can use preflight filters to trim off the page numbers and other stuff which ruins the mobi conversion, as wellas deleting all the pointless pages (publisher info etc). I'll post a detailed tutorial for getting high quality book conversions tomorrow.

OOOOh now I will wait for this tutorial. Thanks Blahah!

cybmole · 09-23-2010, 02:56 AM

email the pdf file to your kindle email with "convert" in the subject field.

Amazon do a reasonable job of fixing line wraps & its a free service on wi-fi option

09-21-2010, 03:04 AM	#1
lutwey Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: kindle 3	calibre(kindle 3) pdf to mobi problem. when i try to convert pdf mobi the resulting file is almost unreadable. basically every sentence is split on the middle. the first part that sits on top would go on til the middle then there be a huge blank space . the second part of the sentence would start as if its another paragraph. totally weird. the structure looks something like this xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx. the entire book looks like that.

09-22-2010, 07:36 PM	#12
Blahah Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3, iPhone 3Gs, MBP	I've found that the best way to convert PDFs is to open them in your favourite PDF viewer, export the PDF to HTML, then import the HTML to Calibre and convert that to mobi. Adobe acrobat is best as you can use preflight filters to trim off the page numbers and other stuff which ruins the mobi conversion, as wellas deleting all the pointless pages (publisher info etc). I'll post a detailed tutorial for getting high quality book conversions tomorrow. Last edited by Blahah; 09-22-2010 at 07:38 PM.

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09-21-2010, 03:42 AM	#2
Chilean Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I am having the same problem... any solutions?

09-21-2010, 05:02 AM	#3
DannyBookworm Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle3, iPad	Absoutely the same problem here and it happens with all the pdf's I try to convert to .mobi. Hope someone has an idea how to solve that problem.

09-21-2010, 05:18 AM	#4
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	Have you tried playing with the line-wrap facility in the PDF conversion options. The real solution is to avoid using PDF as the source format if at all possible.

09-21-2010, 05:21 AM	#5
DannyBookworm Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle3, iPad	Well, using other formats as input is not a real solution... But I will try the line-wrap facility, maybe it helps, thanks for the idea!

09-21-2010, 06:52 AM	#6
itimpi Wizard Posts: 4,553 Karma: 950151 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Sony PRS-950, iphone/ipad (Marvin/iBooks/QuickReader)	There is also the option under Preferences->Conversion->Common Options to Pre-Process the file. Not sure if that helps with PDF files or not

09-21-2010, 07:22 AM	#7
ldolse Wizard Posts: 1,337 Karma: 123455 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Malaysia Device: PRS-650, iPhone	Preprocess does very little for pdf aside from some more aggressive chapter detection patterns. I haven't seen this sort of problem with any pdfs, aside from multi-column pdfs, which aren't supported at this time. The line wrapping is set under the pdf input options, current default is .45, you can set this lower to make the unwrapping more aggressive. You could also open a bug with the pdf's, but depending on the cause it may not be addressed until the new pdf engine is ready. In any event it could be useful to open bugs so that the pdfs are used as test cases against the new engine.

09-21-2010, 01:30 PM	#9
Chilean Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Thanks, dwanthny.. and others for your suggestions. I will go back and try to export my file as html or rtf and try the conversion again.

09-21-2010, 06:29 PM	#10
lutwey Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: kindle 3	im using a mac so mobi creator is a no go for me. how was ur experience w/ it chilean?

09-22-2010, 05:49 PM	#11
lutwey Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: kindle 3	any updates?

09-22-2010, 11:51 PM	#13
lutwey Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: kindle 3	thanks blahah. ill wait for it.

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09-23-2010, 02:56 AM	#15
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	email the pdf file to your kindle email with "convert" in the subject field. Amazon do a reasonable job of fixing line wraps & its a free service on wi-fi option