Pressbooks Authors, Administrators, Editors, Collaborators - Readable PDF Exports

Summary

This article walks through how to convert an Pressbooks EPUB file to a readable PDF file using easily available open-source software.

Please note ET&S does not support the software(s) and web items recommended in this article.

 

How-To

The Pressbooks default PDF export tool, mPDF, is no longer being developed and due to security reasons is not recommended for use with Pressbooks. Trying to export to mPDF format will generate an error and the book will not be exported. However, you can use an open source EPUB to PDF software package to convert those files to readable PDFs.

We recommend Calibre . Calibre is a freeware (donationware) eBook manager that can export eBooks to multiple formats. 

If you would prefer to not utilize a 3rd party application, you can convert on the web using a tool such as CloudConvert. Basic instructions on CloudConvert are below.

 

Task: Exporting to EPUB format

Instructions

Step 1 - In Pressbooks, open the dashboard for the book you wish to export.

  • Note: you must have author or higher role for that book

Exporting an EPUB File in Pressbooks, with numbers corresponding to steps 2 through 4. 

 

Step 2 - Click the Export link on the left side navigation

Step 3 - Check EPUB

Step 4 - Click blue Export Your Book button

Step 5 - Pressbooks will show a status bar indicating it is process the book

Step 6 - The page will refresh and the EPUB version of the book will be listed below under Latest Exports

Step 7 - The EPUB version can be downloading by hovering over the title and clicking the download link that appears below the EPUB icon

EPUB file exports in Pressbooks. 

 

Step 8 - Save the EPUB to a readily accessible folder such as Documents

 

Outcome

You now know how to export to EPUB format.

Back to top

 

Task: Using Calibre to convert to PDF.

Instructions

Step 1 - Open Calibre  

Step 2 - Click Add Book button in the toolbar at the top

Step 3 - Navigate to the folder where the EPUB file was saved (See Exporting to EPUB format above)

Step 4 - Click on EPUB file

Step 5 - The book will be listed in the main Calibre screen

Step 6 - Select book(s) you wish to convert - Multiple books can be chosen by holding CTRL or CMD and clicking on individual titles to highlight book titles

Step 7 - Click the dropdown arrow next to Convert Books button on the top toolbar and choose Convert Individually

Step 8 - In the upper right corner of the next screen choose PDF from the drop-down menu

PDF Export selection in Calibre. 

 

Step 9 - If multiple books were chosen you will see a screen for each book and must choose PDF each time

Step 10 - Clicking the Convert books button directly will bring up a different screen where PDF can be selected, and all the selected books will be converted to PDF at once

Step 11 - PDFs will be saved in the default Calibre folder, set when Calibre was first set up, under the author’s name

 

Outcome

You now know how to use Calibre to convert to PDF.

Back to top

 

Task: Converting to PDF using Cloud Convert

Instructions

Step 1 - Download the EPUB file you would like to use from your machine, which you can find under latest exports.

Step 2 - Go to CloudConvert  

Step 3 - Click on the Select File button

Step 4 - Find the EPUB file you would like to have converted to PDF

Step 5 - Select PDF under Convert to and Documents

Step 6 - Click Convert

Step 7 - Once the converted file opens be sure to download it to your machine.

 

Outcome

You now know how to use Cloud Convert to convert to a PDF.

Back to top

 

Need additional help?

Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.

 

Print Article