AZW3 File Format - Can't Convert

rjbooks · 12-18-2014, 08:31 PM

I imported a Kindle book into my library and it appears in AZW3 format. I am unable to convert it or open it. In "use internal viewer" in preferences > behavior, this file type is checked. I am using Calibre version 2.12 64 bit.

Thanks for your help.

FizzyWater · 12-18-2014, 08:33 PM

I believe that AZW3 Kindle books have DRM encryption. If so and you're interested in stripping the encryption, you need to go to the Apprentice Alf blog to get the deDRM tools. There are plug-ins in the tool zip file that can be used with Calibre.

rjbooks · 12-18-2014, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I believe that AZW3 Kindle books have DRM encryption. If so and you're interested in stripping the encryption, you need to go to the Apprentice Alf blog to get the deDRM tools. There are plug-ins in the tool zip file that can be used with Calibre.

But if the file type is checked for the internal reader, shouldn't I be able to read it in Calibre?

FizzyWater · 12-18-2014, 09:01 PM

Calibre on its own can't read encrypted books. The deDRM tools will decrypt the books and make them readable.

I did a bit more reading, and AZW3 is a file format that contains a file that includes both Amazon's newest formatted file as well as the old MOBI formatted. I hope I'm saying that right. It also said that it's Amazon's newest format, so it includes some of the newest code (like HTML5).

There are certain books - often children's books with multimedia formats - that can only be read in certain programs.

I don't have any of those, so I've never bothered to find out if Calibre can't read it.

My rule of thumb is, if I import a book to Calibre and it won't display the book and instead of a book cover it's just a graphic of a book, it's probably encrypted and I need to strip off the DRM for Calibre to read it.

Once DRM is stripped, the file has the same extension (so the AZW3 stays an AZW3), but is no longer encrypted and can be read by Calibre. It *is* possible there are certain multimedia ebooks that can't be - I haven't researched or experimented with any of those.

eschwartz · 12-18-2014, 10:45 PM

calibre embeds webkit, so it should be pretty good at handling most things.

Unlike your average ereader, calibre has the flexibility to fully utilize web-based rendering.

I believe calibre does handle multimedia ebooks.

Regarding the AZW3 format, never mind that, it is mostly irrelevant to the topic at hand. FYI, AZW3 is the new format exclusively, although MOBI can be either original MOBI or a dual-MOBI with AZW3 content and a MOBI fallback.

And yeah, the only issue is, I am guessing, the DRM. You should get a popup in the ebook-viewer saying the book has DRM, if so. And conversions should fail with a traceback leading to DRMError.

LadyKate · 12-19-2014, 05:25 PM

Similar problem here. I have a mobi file that has no drm. I can read it in kindle for pc and open it in calibre BUT in calibre I can not "see" the chapter content in the reader. When I convert the file it only converts the title pages and a few other author comments. All the "chapters" are missing.

When I look at the toc of the file I see all the chapters. I am at a loss on how to convert this.

Has anyone had a similar problem?

PeterT · 12-19-2014, 05:51 PM

Don't forget that calibre's viewer does a conversion to ePub format, so if an error happens on a manual conversion it will probably also happen on the conversion done by the viewer.

eschwartz · 12-20-2014, 08:53 PM

The book may be malformed somehow.

I cannot say more without seeing the book, although someone else may have an idea.

If the book is copyrighted, just attach it to a private bug report.
http://calibre-ebook.com/bugs

If it isn't copyrighted, attach it here and maybe we could look at it. Or submit a bug report, of course.

12-18-2014, 08:31 PM	#1
rjbooks Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Device: none	AZW3 File Format - Can't Convert I imported a Kindle book into my library and it appears in AZW3 format. I am unable to convert it or open it. In "use internal viewer" in preferences > behavior, this file type is checked. I am using Calibre version 2.12 64 bit. Thanks for your help.

12-18-2014, 10:45 PM	#5
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	calibre embeds webkit, so it should be pretty good at handling most things. Unlike your average ereader, calibre has the flexibility to fully utilize web-based rendering. I believe calibre does handle multimedia ebooks. Regarding the AZW3 format, never mind that, it is mostly irrelevant to the topic at hand. FYI, AZW3 is the new format exclusively, although MOBI can be either original MOBI or a dual-MOBI with AZW3 content and a MOBI fallback. And yeah, the only issue is, I am guessing, the DRM. You should get a popup in the ebook-viewer saying the book has DRM, if so. And conversions should fail with a traceback leading to DRMError. Last edited by eschwartz; 12-20-2014 at 08:48 PM.

12-20-2014, 08:53 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The book may be malformed somehow. I cannot say more without seeing the book, although someone else may have an idea. If the book is copyrighted, just attach it to a private bug report. http://calibre-ebook.com/bugs If it isn't copyrighted, attach it here and maybe we could look at it. Or submit a bug report, of course. Last edited by eschwartz; 12-20-2014 at 08:55 PM.

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12-18-2014, 08:33 PM	#2
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I believe that AZW3 Kindle books have DRM encryption. If so and you're interested in stripping the encryption, you need to go to the Apprentice Alf blog to get the deDRM tools. There are plug-ins in the tool zip file that can be used with Calibre.

12-18-2014, 09:01 PM	#4
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Calibre on its own can't read encrypted books. The deDRM tools will decrypt the books and make them readable. I did a bit more reading, and AZW3 is a file format that contains a file that includes both Amazon's newest formatted file as well as the old MOBI formatted. I hope I'm saying that right. It also said that it's Amazon's newest format, so it includes some of the newest code (like HTML5). There are certain books - often children's books with multimedia formats - that can only be read in certain programs. I don't have any of those, so I've never bothered to find out if Calibre can't read it. My rule of thumb is, if I import a book to Calibre and it won't display the book and instead of a book cover it's just a graphic of a book, it's probably encrypted and I need to strip off the DRM for Calibre to read it. Once DRM is stripped, the file has the same extension (so the AZW3 stays an AZW3), but is no longer encrypted and can be read by Calibre. It is possible there are certain multimedia ebooks that can't be - I haven't researched or experimented with any of those.

12-19-2014, 05:25 PM	#6
LadyKate Fanatic Posts: 515 Karma: 1470724 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Quebec CA Device: android 4 (samsung tablet and asus tablet)	Similar problem here. I have a mobi file that has no drm. I can read it in kindle for pc and open it in calibre BUT in calibre I can not "see" the chapter content in the reader. When I convert the file it only converts the title pages and a few other author comments. All the "chapters" are missing. When I look at the toc of the file I see all the chapters. I am at a loss on how to convert this. Has anyone had a similar problem?

12-19-2014, 05:51 PM	#7
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,437 Karma: 74317824 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Don't forget that calibre's viewer does a conversion to ePub format, so if an error happens on a manual conversion it will probably also happen on the conversion done by the viewer.

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