PDFs on Adobe Digital Editions 4.5

Report · Dec 19, 2022

Hi, I'm trying to use Adobe Digital editions 4.5 to transfer a pdf ebook from my laptop onto my Kobo ereader. For some reason, when I try to add the book from the downloads file on my laptop to the library in ADE, I am getting an error message on ADE 'Unable to add document. This version of Digital Editions does not support password protected pdf documents. Please use Adobe Reader to view this document'. I'm confused as to why I can't add the file to ADE because, whilst the pdf is a bought ebook, the file is now on my laptop and doesn't need me to use a password to access from here. Also, I have no idea if it's possible or how to move a pdf from Adobe Reader to an e-reader. which is the whole reason as to why I'm trying to add the file to ADE. Can anyone advise on any of the issues here? Many thanks.

Report · Dec 19, 2022

I've moved this from the Using the Community forum (which is the forum for issues using the forums) to the Digital Editions forum so that proper help can be offered.

Report · Dec 19, 2022

Thank you!

Report · Dec 19, 2022

@Hannah27634378tqkm wrote:

I am getting an error message on ADE 'Unable to add document. This version of Digital Editions does not support password protected pdf documents. Please use Adobe Reader to view this document'.

It's might be protected with DRM (Digital Rights Management). You can try these sites from Kobo:

Protected files using ADE
https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017814074
Non-protected files bypassing ADE
https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360024775093-Add-non-protected-PDF-and-ePub-files-to-your-Ko...

Or you can read the PDF with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader:
https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Reader is also available for mobile devices in the App Store and Google Play.

Or you can contact Kobo Help:

https://help.kobo.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

Jane

Report · Dec 19, 2022

Thanks, Jane. I'll try your suggestions tomorrow .

Report · Dec 27, 2022

Hi Jane, Adobe's email prompt has just reminded me that I never got back to you or the forum about this. I did read the articles on Kobo's website and also contact Kobo as you kindly suggested, but unfortuately couldn't make any headway. Kobo's help person told me that the problem was most likely with Adobe and that they couldn't help any further. The only glimps of a potential explanation and solution I wondered about from reading the articles on the Kobo website was whether the fact that the pdf I was trying to add had the end to the file name (apologies for lack of tech language here!) 'pdf' rather than 'acsm' was the reason it wasn't working. I emailed the company I purchased the pdf book from to ask about the availability of a file format ending in acsm and they said that was the format ending in 'pdf' was the only format they had for this particular title and, whilst they did say that they would raise the issue higher up in case there might be a solution, they also offered me a refund if I was unable to read it on the device I wanted to. In the meantime, I discovered a way to add the book to my kindle rather than my kobo, so I've bypassed the problem (and didn't need the refund). I'm still left confused as to why I couldn't get the PDF book onto ADE and would be interested if you or anyone else have any further explanation or suggesions, but no worries if not. I am able to read the book on my laptop via Adobe Acrobat reader, but this doesn't solve the issue of how to get the book onto my Kobo for which (as I understand it at least) ADE is neccesary. Thanks again for your help and no worries if you can't help further.

Report · Dec 27, 2022

@Hannah27634378tqkm

I know of one Community Expert who uses a Kobo and will tag him to see if he might be able to assist you in reading PDFs on your Kobo.

Tagging @davescm

Jane

Report · Dec 27, 2022

Thanks, Jane. That's really kind of you.

Report · Dec 27, 2022

Hi

For a PDF without any rights protection you shouldn't need ADE. You should just be able to drag it to the Kobo.

Incidentally, I find ADE 3.0 more reliable with the Kobo I use

Dave

Report · Dec 27, 2022

Thanks for getting back to me on this, Dave. The pdf does have digital
rights protection, but I have purchased the book and it is accessible to me
on my computer without me needing to type in any password. I discovered
that I could send it as a pdf to my old kindle without a problem.

In terms of versions of ADE. Is the 3.0 version still available? If so,
would I need to uninstall the version of ADE I have and then install the
earlier version? I would be a bit concerned about risking losing the
library I have already successfully added to ADE, if I needed to
do that, having had problems with adding books there before. Any advice
on this would be appreciated, but no worries if you are unable to give any.

Thanks again for your help and time.

Report · Dec 27, 2022

It looks like Adobe have removed the link for ADE3.0

The one shown on this page, which used to work, just takes me in circles back to the 4.5 installers

https://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html

Sorry

Dave

Report · Dec 27, 2022

Hi Hannah and Dave,

I did a little more digging aroung for ADE 3.0 and found this forum thread:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/digital-editions-discussions/adobe-digital-editions-3-0/m-p/10503192

One person gives a link for a direct download from Adobe. Another person says it worked for them earlier this month.

https://download.adobe.com/pub/adobe/digitaleditions/ADE_3.0_Installer.exe

Although I have taught ADE for viewing EPUBS, I do not use Kobo, and will leave that part of the question to Dave.

Dave are the books stored in the app or on the device? Will Hannah lose her current library? Is there a way to back it up ?

Jane