Converting PDF to EPUB can be challenging without the right tools. After doing a lot of R&D, SPi has come up with a new approach for extracting text from searchable PDF inputs.

1. SPiZONE
Presentation
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2. Challenges in Text Extraction from PDF
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PDF is not a markup format. Extracting text from a PDF file is not easy.
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When extracting the text, we need to take care of fonts, encoding and
sometimes font-subsets.
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Usual problems encountered when extracting text from PDF using
conventional method are:
 Special characters are not properly extracted.
 Missing formatting including case changes.
 Unwanted merging/splitting of paragraphs.
 Content extracted in incorrect order.
 Text in columns are mixed up.
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3. Introduction
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After doing a lot of R&D, SPi has come up with a new approach for
extracting text from searchable PDF inputs.
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SPiZONE tool was developed to have a generic workflow for OCR on raster
PDF and scanned images, text extraction processes for searchable PDF.
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Output of SPiZONE Verify is short-tagged text file. It can be further
converted into any output format like XML, ePub etc.
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4. Product Highlights
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Text extraction is possible for all languages.
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Text accuracy is more than 99.95%.
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Table extraction along with column-spanning and row-spanning etc, based
on user input.
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Image extraction.
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Options to mark some text as ‘Ignore Text’ within zones, so that it will not
be produced in output.
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5. PDF to Text using SPiZONE - Quick Workflow
SZI Generator
•SZI Generator
(Server Process)
SPiZONE Edit
•Styling and Zoning
Extraction
•PDF to HTML
(Sever Process)
SPiZONE Verify
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•Content QA
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6. SZI Generation
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Sever based process
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Input: PDF
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Output: LowRes TIFF and SZI
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SZI – Styling and Zoning Information
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7. SPiZONE Edit
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Styling and Zoning application
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Input: TIFF and SZI
Output: SZI
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User will identify the text to be extracted by drawing zones. When drawing
zones, style names and sequence numbers and other properties, are
assigned to each element.
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These style names are used during post-extraction processing and during
XML/ePub conversion
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The zones information are saved in SZI file.
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8. SPiZONE Edit -- DEMO
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9. Text Extraction from PDF
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Server based process.
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Input: PDF and SZI
Output: HTML, SZD
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SZD – SPiZONE Document used for logging.
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Font details, uncertain space, soft-hyphens etc are flagged in the extracted
file which are used by SPiZONE Verify.
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10. SPiZONE Verify
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OCR/Text Extraction QA application.
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Input: Extracted content in HTML format, SZI and LowRes TIFF.
Output: Short-tagged files.
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With this application user performs a regulated content checking on the
extracted HTML files.
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Font Normalization is used to make sure all the characters are extracted
fine. User can correct the discrepancies if any.
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Verify will not allow the user to create short-tagged file without normalizing
all fonts and checking all uncertain space/soft-hyphens.
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To see how SPIZONE Verify works, open the video on next slide.
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11. SPiZONE Verify -- DEMO
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12. Processing SPiZONE Output
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PDF to Short-tagged text file creation workflow process is generic for all
projects.
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Short-tagged text files can be further converted into XML or ePub or any
other format as per project requirement.
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SPiZONE Structure is a customizable application which is used for
conversion into any format like (but not limited to) XML, ePub etc.
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Structure applications can be built in shorter period of time for any XML
conversion project.
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SPiZONE ePub application accepts short-tagged files as input to create
ePub2/3.
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13. SPiZONE Edit Samples
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14. SPiZONE Edit Samples
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15. SPiZONE Edit Samples
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16. SPiZONE Verify Samples
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17. SPiZONE Verify Samples
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18. SPiZONE Verify Samples
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19. SPiZONE Verify Samples
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20. SPiZONE Verify Samples
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21. ePUB Output Samples
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22. ePUB Output Samples
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23. ePUB Output Samples
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24. Know more about PDF to ePUB conversion
http://www.spi-global.com/content-solutions/our-services/publishingsolutions/conversion/convert-pdf-epub
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