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.

How-To

Task: This article will explain to a user how to convert an Pressbooks EPUB file to a PDF file using easily available open-source software. Please note ET&S do not support the software(s) and web items recommended in this article.  

Instructions

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. 

Exporting to EPUB format 

  1. In Pressbooks, open the dashboard for the book you wish to export Note: you must have author or higher role for that book How to Export an EPUB File in Pressbooks 

  2. Click the Export link on the left side navigation 

  3. Check EPUB 

  4. Click blue Export Your Book button 

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

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

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

Export your EPUB file in Pressbooks 

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

 

Calibre conversion to PDF 

  1. Open Calibre 

  1. Click Add Book button in the toolbar at the top 

  2. Navigate to the folder where the EPUB file was saved (See Exporting to EPUB format above) 

  3. Click on EPUB file 

  1. The book will be listed in the main Calibre screen 

  1. 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 

  2. Click the dropdown arrow next to Convert Books button on the top toolbar and choose Convert Individually 

  3. In the upper right corner of the next screen choose PDF from the drop-down menu 

PDF Export selection in Calibre 

  1. If multiple books were chosen you will see a screen for each book and must choose PDF each time 

  1. 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 

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

Using Cloud Convert 

  1. Download the EPUB file you would like to use from your machine, which you can find under latest exports.
  2. Go to CloudConvert 
  3. Click on the Select File button 
  4. Find the EPUB file you would like to have converted to PDF 
  5. Select PDF under Convert to and Documents
  6. Click Convert 
  7. Once the converted file opens be sure to download it to your machine. 

Outcome

Users will have the ability to create readable PDF files from EPUB Files

 

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.  

 

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