Kindle Preview mobi doesn't show cover if sent via email

enigma2k · 08-11-2016, 09:22 PM

Hi,

If I convert an epub to mobi using Kindle Preview and then email the mobi to my Kindle, it won't show up the cover. If I don't email the mobi to my Kindle and instead transfer it using USB it will also show the cover, but then Whispersync won't work.

If I use Calibre it will show the cover even if I send it via email.

The problem with Calibre (using "both" mobi option), however, is that the converted mobi isn't as nicely formatted as it is the case with Kindle Preview.

Is it possible to convert with Kindle Preview and still have the cover and Whispersync available?

eschwartz · 08-11-2016, 09:54 PM

The problem is that there is a longstanding bug in Amazon's Personal Documents Service.

Cover thumbnails for books that have a valid ASIN (which includes the special Personal Documents ASINs) will not try to extract cover thumbnails from inside the book. Only books that are both cdetype=PDOC and sideloaded will get their cover thumbnails extracted from the book.

calibre works around this problem when transferring via USB by copying over the thumbnail as well, when necessary.

Amazon's Personal Documents Service will respond with the cover thumbnail of books you emailed to your Kindle... but only for the MOBI format.
When sending dual-MOBI (KindleGen/Kindle Previewer always creates dual-MOBI, and calibre has an option to do so using the "both" mobi option), Amazon will send the AZW3 component to supported devices and use the MOBI component for legacy devices (K1/K2/DXG/non-updated-K3).

...

Solution: decide which is more important, getting AZW3 (by sending dual-MOBI instead of old MOBI) or getting cover thumbnails.

HarryT · 08-12-2016, 03:06 AM

Or do what I do, which is to set your library to list view.

oblox · 08-12-2016, 05:30 AM

Or there is a tool on this forum somewhere someone made called

ExtractCoverThumbs_0.7.2-win

Run this with your kindle connected and itll add in the covers for your send-to-email Pdocs.

JSWolf · 08-12-2016, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oblox

Or there is a tool on this forum somewhere someone made called

ExtractCoverThumbs_0.7.2-win

Run this with your kindle connected and itll add in the covers for your send-to-email Pdocs.

Since the Kindle is having to be plugged in anyway, the best solution is to use Calibre to side load KF8 (AZW3) to the Kindle and forget about Mobi. Convert the ePub to KF8, send to the Kindle and problem solved and a better conversion as well.

pdurrant · 08-12-2016, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Since the Kindle is having to be plugged in anyway, the best solution is to use Calibre to side load KF8 (AZW3) to the Kindle and forget about Mobi. Convert the ePub to KF8, send to the Kindle and problem solved and a better conversion as well.

But doesn't get you synchronisation, which is the big advantage of sending the book to Amazon.

enigma2k · 08-12-2016, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Since the Kindle is having to be plugged in anyway, the best solution is to use Calibre to side load KF8 (AZW3) to the Kindle and forget about Mobi. Convert the ePub to KF8, send to the Kindle and problem solved and a better conversion as well.

Is there a difference between selecting AZW3 in Calibre and selecting
Mobi-new/both ?

For me the output formatting is still better with Kindle Preview than it is with Calibre AZW3 output.

JSWolf · 08-12-2016, 08:50 AM

Both gives you a much larger file and thus, take more space on your Kindle.

I've converted ePub to KF8 and it works no problem. Plus, I can embed the font wanted very easily that way. I also use the Calibre eBook editor to set negative margins to reduce the wide left/right margins.

enigma2k · 08-12-2016, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Both gives you a much larger file and thus, take more space on your Kindle.

I've converted ePub to KF8 and it works no problem. Plus, I can embed the font wanted very easily that way. I also use the Calibre eBook editor to set negative margins to reduce the wide left/right margins.

But "mobi new" and AZW3 as output is the same, isn't it?

I don't find KF8 as output in calibre so I assume by KF8 you also mean AZW3 as output, correct?

HarryT · 08-12-2016, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enigma2k

But "mobi new" and AZW3 as output is the same, isn't it?

I don't find KF8 as output in calibre so I assume by KF8 you also mean AZW3 as output, correct?

Yes, "Mobi New" is the same as AZW3.

KF8 is the correct name of the file format ("Kindle Format 8"). AZW3 is simply the file extension.

shalym · 08-12-2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Both gives you a much larger file and thus, take more space on your Kindle.

I've converted ePub to KF8 and it works no problem. Plus, I can embed the font wanted very easily that way. I also use the Calibre eBook editor to set negative margins to reduce the wide left/right margins.

(emphasis mine)

Hmmm...I'm pretty sure that when you send a dual mobi file to the Kindle cloud, ONLY the format that fits the device is sent to the device, so it takes up no more space on the Kindle than if you had just created a KF8 and loaded it using a USB cable.

Shari

HarryT · 08-12-2016, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shalym

(emphasis mine)

Hmmm...I'm pretty sure that when you send a dual mobi file to the Kindle cloud, ONLY the format that fits the device is sent to the device, so it takes up no more space on the Kindle than if you had just created a KF8 and loaded it using a USB cable.

Shari

Absolutely correct.

eschwartz · 08-12-2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Or do what I do, which is to set your library to list view.

Answering that one should stop desiring a requested feature, is not a valid workaround or solution. It is evading the question.

HarryT · 08-12-2016, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Answering that one should stop desiring a requested feature, is not a valid workaround or solution. It is evading the question.

No, it's evading the problem, which of course may or may not appear desirable to the OP.

08-11-2016, 09:22 PM	#1
enigma2k Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis	Kindle Preview mobi doesn't show cover if sent via email Hi, If I convert an epub to mobi using Kindle Preview and then email the mobi to my Kindle, it won't show up the cover. If I don't email the mobi to my Kindle and instead transfer it using USB it will also show the cover, but then Whispersync won't work. If I use Calibre it will show the cover even if I send it via email. The problem with Calibre (using "both" mobi option), however, is that the converted mobi isn't as nicely formatted as it is the case with Kindle Preview. Is it possible to convert with Kindle Preview and still have the cover and Whispersync available?

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08-11-2016, 09:54 PM	#2
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 problem is that there is a longstanding bug in Amazon's Personal Documents Service. Cover thumbnails for books that have a valid ASIN (which includes the special Personal Documents ASINs) will not try to extract cover thumbnails from inside the book. Only books that are both cdetype=PDOC and sideloaded will get their cover thumbnails extracted from the book. calibre works around this problem when transferring via USB by copying over the thumbnail as well, when necessary. Amazon's Personal Documents Service will respond with the cover thumbnail of books you emailed to your Kindle... but only for the MOBI format. When sending dual-MOBI (KindleGen/Kindle Previewer always creates dual-MOBI, and calibre has an option to do so using the "both" mobi option), Amazon will send the AZW3 component to supported devices and use the MOBI component for legacy devices (K1/K2/DXG/non-updated-K3). ... Solution: decide which is more important, getting AZW3 (by sending dual-MOBI instead of old MOBI) or getting cover thumbnails.

08-12-2016, 03:06 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Or do what I do, which is to set your library to list view.

08-12-2016, 05:30 AM	#4
oblox Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 1007000 Join Date: Sep 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite (7th Gen)	Or there is a tool on this forum somewhere someone made called ExtractCoverThumbs_0.7.2-win Run this with your kindle connected and itll add in the covers for your send-to-email Pdocs.

08-12-2016, 08:50 AM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,777 Karma: 131375596 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Both gives you a much larger file and thus, take more space on your Kindle. I've converted ePub to KF8 and it works no problem. Plus, I can embed the font wanted very easily that way. I also use the Calibre eBook editor to set negative margins to reduce the wide left/right margins.

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