Formatting Problem Converting .azw3 to .epub

[save8lot]

Hello, I have several .azw3 ebooks (without DRM) that I would like to convert to .epub.

I have tried multiple online converters, as well as installed programs like Calibre, epubor, etc to complete this conversion.

Unfortunately these are childrens books that contain both text and pictures on every page, and the converted files never display correctly.

Either all the pictures (background images) display with no text, or the text displays with no images, or half the images display with incorrectly placed text, or the images from multiple pages overlap, etc. They never come out right.

I have even tried using "KindleUnpack" to exact the azw3 file to look at the file structure, but i can not figure out the problem. Each page is a .xhtml file which contains the "Text" and sets the images as a "Background image" stored in a different folder.

I have to assume the problem is related to either the content.opf file or one of the two .css files. However I don't have any clue of what to edit in them.

I want the ebook to display correctly on my PC, iPad and Fire Tablet.

I have attached an example .azw3 file that i want to convert to .epub.

[pdurrant]

Moderator Notice
Do not post unauthorised copies of copyright works to MobileRead.

And a Disney title! Were you trying to get MobileRead sued out of existence?!

[JSWolf]

If those are fixed layout eBooks, then you'll have to forget converting them. You can use the Kindle app on your computer, phone, or tablet to read them.

And one suggestion, do not mention that program (the one you mentioned after Calibre) as they've stolen code from free tools to make money.

[save8lot]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If those are fixed layout eBooks, then you'll have to forget converting them. You can use the Kindle app on your computer, phone, or tablet to read them.

And one suggestion, do not mention that program (the one you mentioned after Calibre) as they've stolen code from free tools to make money.

So i was looking for an "Edit" button but cant find on to remove that program name. What other program did it steal code from?

Not sure how to know if they are "Fixed layout eBooks" or not.

Its not a very efficient method, but i did consider opening each .xhtml page in chrome, then printing as PDF, then combing all the PDF pages together to create the ebook. Although that can be tedious when you have multiple books to do, and i would much prefer the epub format anyway.

I cant seem to open the DRM Free azw3 books on my ipad at all. I tried the kindle app, mobi reader app and ibooks. The Kindle app on the ipad/iphone says "Incompatible Document Type", yet the Kindle app on my PC will open it just fine.

After converting them to ePub, they sometimes play pretty good (not perfect) in Calibre on the PC, but absolutely terrible in SumatraPDF and Icecream ebook reader. Also terrible on iBooks.

Obviously the MOD made it clear i can't upload one for you too look at, but i dont know if i am allowed to post screenshots of how badly formatted they look after conversion.

Any advise on converting them to properly formatted epub files (or even pdf at this point) would be appreciated.

[JSWolf]

What is the title/author? I can grab a sample and have a look at it.

Kindle for iOS does not support KF8. It supports some hybrid format.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Mujtaba

Okay, so for azw3 to epub conversion I usually use Converter365. But since you said it does not work for you I really think that the problem might be in your device.
If you are pretty sure that your device is okay, try redownloading and reinstalling the software. I hope you work this out, good luck.

After rereading the original post, I'm thinking these are fixed layout children's eBooks and in that case, they will not convert.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

After rereading the original post, I'm thinking these are fixed layout children's eBooks and in that case, they will not convert.

I doubt that the original poster is still concerned with this problem. They haven't been active on MobileRead in the last year.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I doubt that the original poster is still concerned with this problem. They haven't been active on MobileRead in the last year.

This I do know. I was just saying to kind of end this thread given it was still going.

[DoctorM]

Searching because of a similar issue, I did come up with a fix that I wanted to share.

I've found that AZW3 books with formatted text on a background of pictures don't display on any of the Android apps I've tried. Converting with Calibre2 to pdf does cause formatting issues.

I've tried a lot of changes even mimicking my method and I can't get it to work.
Theoretically, when converting you can go to the pdf output, select the page size and margins and do the same thing I'm about to describe... except it doesn't work for me.

Instead, I opened the book for viewing in Calibre. Then I selected print to pdf. I set the page size to A4 (in my case) with 1" margins on all 4 sides.
The output was a perfect pdf duplicate.

Using the default Letter size does have the text properly configured, but the pages are too long and the bottom inch comes up on a second page.

[Turtle91]

From a DRM-free AZW3 you can simply use Calibre ‘convert’ to ePub function.

If it has DRM then you will need to google DeDRM Tools… then use Calibre’s convert function.

There is even a nice thread in the Calibre forum that talks about all these options.


What you are talking about sounds like a fixed-format book, which is best converted to pdf as you mention.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Turtle91

From a DRM-free AZW3 you can simply use Calibre ‘convert’ to ePub function.

If it has DRM then you will need to google DeDRM Tools… then use Calibre’s convert function.

There is even a nice thread in the Calibre forum that talks about all these options.


What you are talking about sounds like a fixed-format book, which is best converted to pdf as you mention.

Googling DRM Tools does not get you the correct link. Also, you are allowed to link to the current version of DeDRM.

Latest version of DeDRM...https://github.com/noDRM/DeDRM_tools...947bf338d3ffda

[DNSB]

And for what it may be worth, I find that using KindleUnpack to create the ePub gives me a cleaner output file than calibre's convert to epub does.

[Turtle91]

Originally Posted by DNSB

And for what it may be worth, I find that using KindleUnpack to create the ePub gives me a cleaner output file than calibre's convert to epub does.

I agree, that's what I use too but didn't want to get too far into that subject. There are plenty of other threads talking about all these issues and how to convert the different formats with, or without, DRM that I didn't think we needed to go that deep in this old thread.