Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[tomsem]

I had been using 'download & transfer via USB' method (and will continue to) but that does not work for print replica titles, so I finally got around to setting things up using Kindle Classic.

With a few exceptions, most publishers have not gotten around to (or no interest in) adding Scribe to list of supported devices, so not only can I now add them to my calibre library and covert to PDF (with latest update to KFX input, PDF outline items are getting added from the source KFX), but I can take the KFX and side load it to the Scribe. It syncs with my library, downloads a thumbnail image and annotations made elsewhere, just as if I had done a direct download.

I probably had less than a dozen titles in this format, but it just feels nice to be able to do what I expected Scribe to do when I first got one and learned that it had print replica support.

[JSWolf]

So is it really much much more difficult to deal with Kindle eBooks then ePub eBooks (in calibre) that we need a stickied thread in the calibre forum?

Once you have the Kindle eBook, I would think it's no more difficult then ePub. So in that case the directions for getting Kindle eBooks from Amazon really should go int he Kindle forum as it really has nothing to do with calibre.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

So is it really much much more difficult to deal with Kindle eBooks then ePub eBooks (in calibre) that we need a stickied thread in the calibre forum?

Have you actually read the first post of this thread, Jon? The answer is yes. Getting Amazon (not 'Kindle', that's why it is here and not in the Kindle forum) ebooks DRM-stripped is rather more involved than doing the same for Adobe DRM.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Have you actually read the first post of this thread, Jon? The answer is yes. Getting Amazon (not 'Kindle', that's why it is here and not in the Kindle forum) ebooks DRM-stripped is rather more involved than doing the same for Adobe DRM.

Actually, it's not more difficult. Not any longer. It can be more difficult to download Kindle eBooks. But once download, most Kindle eBooks load into calibre sans DRM easily if you have calibre and the correct DeDRM version.

So given that how to download Kindle eBooks is not a calibre issue, it doesn't need to be here. It really does belong in the Kindle forum.

Of course I've read the first post of this thread. That's how I know it's inappropriate for the calibre forum.

[theducks]

I agree.
This is a Kindle Issue, not a how do I use Calibre issue.

AFAIK You can still STORE a print replica (or other DRM infested) in Calibre for later delivery to the registered device. Just no conversion or editing.

[DNSB]

Hmmmm... so using calibre, the DeDRM plugin and other plugins for calibre does not make discussing this topic in the calibre forums the right place? Discussion of the oddities of the Kindle Scribe's handling of various formats belongs in the Kindle forum since that has nothing to do with calibre. OTOH, thread drift is a perennial issue for MobileRead.

[odamizu]

I started this thread as a continuation of Dealing with Kindle for PC/Mac 1.19 (and later) and KFX in calibre, which was started in the calibre forum in 2017 and had 2,233 posts before it was retired by the original poster. Since the original thread was in the calibre forum, the natural place for this continuation thread seemed to be the calibre forum. Also, after referring to an active, stickied thread that spent 7 years in the calibre forum, if something changes with Kindle for PC/Mac or Download & transfer via USB, will people look for this thread in the calibre forum (where they've been used to finding the original thread for 7 years) or the Kindle forum?

ETA:

Originally Posted by theducks

... This is a Kindle Issue, not a how do I use Calibre issue.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If I was looking how to download Kindle eBooks, I'd look int o the Amazon forum. If I was looking how to remove the DRM, I'd go to the calibre forum. But I would not look in the calibre forum fora an Amazon specific issue that has nothing at all to do with calibre.

This thread really spans both forums, Kindle and calibre.

It's not just about how to download Kindle ebooks, it's about how to obtain Kindle ebooks that work in calibre — and not just to import, but also to read, edit, convert, unpack, etc.

For Windows users, sure, it's pretty straightforward. And if you have an eink Kindle, Download & transfer via USB is pretty simple as well.

But if you’re a Mac user, have a Kindle Fire, try to copy ebooks directly from your eink Kindle, or use a phone or tablet as your Kindle reading device, getting copies of your Kindle ebooks that work with calibre is not straightforward.

So if this thread was just about how to obtain copies of your locked Kindle ebooks and save them on your computer for all the good that will do you, sure, I’d say it belongs in the Kindle forum. But if you want to discuss how to obtain copies of your Kindle ebooks that work in calibre in a meaningful way (because several methods of obtaining Kindle ebooks will NOT work with calibre if you want to read, edit, convert, unpack , etc.), that discussion involves both Kindle and calibre plus calibre plugins. Honestly, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other, and since said discussion has already resided in the calibre forum for 7 years, I lean toward continuity.

[Martinoptic]

If I was starting out, I’d look in the calibre forum first FWIW.

[Lief]

I come here every now and then to see if there's any news on the matter. Please don't delete/move this topic, it is very useful and (considering that it is the successor to the previous one) it has existed for 7 years, if there have been no problems for 7 years I really don't see why raise the issue now.
If you really need to move it please send me a mp so that the next time I connect to the forum I know where is the topic I need.

PS. I got a news, manga are again in KFX format. Like in the previous version the drm removal works but to convert them you need to use calibre-debug cli (it is not possible to convert the kfx with the calibre interface)

Example on how to do it:

calibre-debug -r "KFX Input" -- -e "pathtokfxfile.kfx" "pathwhereyouwanttosaveyourepubfile.epub"

if you want the kindle format without drm just send the epub to kindle
https://www.amazon.it/sendtokindle

or use Kindle Previewer 3

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Hmmmm... so using calibre, the DeDRM plugin and other plugins for calibre does not make discussing this topic in the calibre forums the right place? Discussion of the oddities of the Kindle Scribe's handling of various formats belongs in the Kindle forum since that has nothing to do with calibre. OTOH, thread drift is a perennial issue for MobileRead.

How to download eBooks from Amazon is not a calibre issue.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Martinoptic

If I was starting out, I’d look in the calibre forum first FWIW.

If I was looking how to download Kindle eBooks, I'd look int o the Amazon forum. If I was looking how to remove the DRM, I'd go to the calibre forum. But I would not look in the calibre forum fora an Amazon specific issue that has nothing at all to do with calibre.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Lief

I come here every now and then to see if there's any news on the matter. Please don't delete/move this topic, it is very useful and (considering that it is the successor to the previous one) it has existed for 7 years, if there have been no problems for 7 years I really don't see why raise the issue now.
If you really need to move it please send me a mp so that the next time I connect to the forum I know where is the topic I need.

PS. I got a news, manga are again in KFX format. Like in the previous version the drm removal works but to convert them you need to use calibre-debug cli (it is not possible to convert the kfx with the calibre interface)

Example on how to do it:

calibre-debug -r "KFX Input" -- -e "pathtokfxfile.kfx" "pathwhereyouwanttosaveyourepubfile.epub"

if you want the kindle format without drm just send the epub to kindle
https://www.amazon.it/sendtokindle

or use Kindle Previewer 3

This topic is in the wrong place. Nobody wants it deleted. It just needs to go into the Kindle forum.

[Lief]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

This topic is in the wrong place. Nobody wants it deleted. It just needs to go into the Kindle forum.

I think this is your opinion.
Also like you can read on my own message we are talking a lot about calibre too (the usage of calibre cli for kfx manga conversion is calibre releted). It was here for 7 years, no reason to say it is wrong now.

[Sirtel]

Hmm. I've converted many kfx files to epub in Calibre, the regular GUI, not CLI. Why shouldn't it be possible?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Lief

I think this is your opinion.
Also like you can read on my own message we are talking a lot about calibre too (the usage of calibre cli for kfx manga conversion is calibre releted). It was here for 7 years, no reason to say it is wrong now.

7 years of mostly obsolete (because Kindles evolved) answers that no one with an issue would dig thru.
As to Why? Round-Tuit (The forum Mods are all volunteers. I've see the patterns of questions (and Answers) over 14Y. It is funny that a recent short thread had a Calibre use issue and Solution, yet 2 weeks later there is a NEW thread with the same question (just worded slightly different). This happens all the time (not pointing at any single user) . If a recent short thread can't be read before posting, how would you expect one with many thousands of posts, many that no longer apply, be reviewed??

As a technician, I tend to start where the (logic experience) decision tree points.

Does it affect all devices connected to Calibre? Calibre support else device support forum

Calibre fails to start: Do other programs have this issue also, then OS support.

My point, is I Looked at logical places before posting. I invested a bit of my time (and learned stuff along the way) seeing if this has been covered.

(I also lurked here at MR before buying my first device. It became clear which did what better or worse. All I had to do was eliminate those that did not meet my needs / wants. I chose EPUB (RMSDK) support because RESEARCH showed that was what my public Library had (no longer just that format). Later, I switched to the Giant with a huge Catalog, until their Wall got so high on newer models . I dislike being forced to replace because repair has been made near impossible. (Calibre 7 will run on my 20YO Laptop, Which is also has one of my Library backups on it. All I did was Max the RAM and update to a SSD in that time)