5 replies to this topic

[Ghoti Ichthus]

How do I make a pdf into a refx?  I'd like to make some of the pdf documents I have into references, but the tool tip tutorial doesn't specify how (or I'm too

tech-challenged to find/understand).  I would prefer not to lose formatting, but this isn't critical.

 

Thank you.

 

[Tj Higgins]

How do I make a pdf into a refx?  I'd like to make some of the pdf documents I have into references, but the tool tip tutorial doesn't specify how (or I'm too

tech-challenged to find/understand).  I would prefer not to lose formatting, but this isn't critical.

 

Thank you.

The first thing you will need to do is to create Topic or topx file from the PDF file using Tooltip NT. Once the topx file is created and installed into e-Sword you will need to do the following to create the refx file:
 

To convert Topic Notes to Reference Book format:

 

1. Open the Topic Notes editor window in e-Sword, the topic notes editor is one of the three editors available in the "Editors" tab in e-Sword. This tab can be found along the left hand edge of e-Sword

2. At the bottom of the Topics editor there is a drop down menu that will list any and all installed topic modules, your newly created topx file will be listed in this menu. Select you topx file to open it in the Topics Notes window

3. After the module opens press the Ctrl key, right-click the mouse in the Topic Notes window.

4. A small menu will open from this menu click the Convert to Reference Book option.

5. Choose where to save the REFX module. You should choose your e-Sword installation folder, usually c:\program files\e-Sword, unless you changed the location where e-Sword reads modules. See the Changing Your e-Sword Resources and Files Location section if necessary.

6. A confirmation box tells you to restart e-Sword to see the Reference Library book in the Reference Library.

 

Note that you will only see the new REFX module if you saved the module in your e-Sword Resources and Files Location folder

 

[APsit190]

How do I make a pdf into a refx?  I'd like to make some of the pdf documents I have into references, but the tool tip tutorial doesn't specify how (or I'm too

tech-challenged to find/understand).  I would prefer not to lose formatting, but this isn't critical.

 

Thank you.

Essentially you can't create, nor directly convert a pdf file to any e-Sword resource file format. That said, there is a work-around of how you can do it.

1. Firstly, convert the pdf file to a text file in the pdf reader.
2. Copy the text file into any word processor, and save it as an rtf file.
3. Import the rtf file into e-Sword's Topic Note editor or ToolTip Tool NT, and then format any text to the way you see it in your rtf reader.
4. If you imported it into the Topic Note editor, then you can convert the topx file directly as an refx file.
5. If you imported it into T4, then you will need to export the file to an refx file.

Trust you will find this helpful

 

Blessings,

Edited by APsit190, 24 September 2020 - 05:01 PM.

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Thank you, Tj Higgins and APsit190.

[DoctorDaveT]

Hey, Ghoti,

 

There are two free software tools you'll want to familiarize yourself with to convert .pdfs to .refx files.

 

1. The first is Calibre, and is available here. This is an all-inclusive ebook management system. You'll want to download and learn how to convert .pdf files to .rtf files. CAUTION: There are two different kind of .pdf files; for simplicity sake, they are 1) graphically oriented, and 2) textually oriented. (If it looks like a picture of a text, it probably is a picture, and is graphically oriented). The graphically oriented files will not convert to .rtf using Calibre. If you want to convert graphically oriented .pdf files, you're going to need commercial ("pay $$$") software.

 

2. The second is ToolTip Tool NT (colloquially called T4), which is housed here at this website and is basically a wordprocessor for Esword module making.

 

T4 is moderately easy to learn; just take an hour or so to read the manual and practice a little. If you're computer savy, you'll pick it up quick. If not, post help questions here at the forum.

 

One more comment: if you convert modules that are public domain, please remember to post them here for sharing.

 

My experience is that is the tricky part is getting the .pdf to .rtf; and that means learning Calibre.

[djmarko53]

The one resource that I use a lot to convert .PDF files to either .docx or .rtf format for e-Sword

is one of the following:

 

https://document.onl...convert-to-docx  (PDF to Word Conversion)

 

https://document.onl.../convert-to-rtf (PDF to .RTF Conversion)

 

This online converter will convert image files, e-books and about anything you can imagine.
It's not perfect.  For .PDFs under 20 MB in size it is great!  I have downloaded some pretty 

extensive .PDF files and does a pretty good job.  Just load the resulting new Word file it

creates and edit it for compiling in the Tooltip Editor.