Need help converting a book for my Kindle

hahler2 · 01-04-2009, 09:39 PM

I wasn't paying attention the other day when I was buying books, and didn't notice that one that I bought wasn't in a Kindle format. It's in a .pdb format. I am very new to the ebook reading thing (just got my Kindle two days ago) and I'm wondering how do I convert a .pdb ebook to work on my Kindle? I'm sure I will have to strip the DRM first, and then convert. Could someone help me with this please? I use a mac computer, but I have Windows installed through VMware.

desertgrandma · 01-04-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hahler2

I wasn't paying attention the other day when I was buying books, and didn't notice that one that I bought wasn't in a Kindle format. It's in a .pdb format. I am very new to the ebook reading thing (just got my Kindle two days ago) and I'm wondering how do I convert a .pdb ebook to work on my Kindle? I'm sure I will have to strip the DRM first, and then convert. Could someone help me with this please? I use a mac computer, but I have Windows installed through VMware.

You might try contacting the site you bought the books from. Most are very understanding, and would allow a credit to re-purchase in the .prc (mobi) format.
(I"m not familiar with .pdb?)

hahler2 · 01-04-2009, 10:42 PM

.pdb is for ereader. Also I looked at the site to see if I could do that and they only carry the book in that format.

pilotbob · 01-04-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hahler2

I am very new to the ebook reading thing (just got my Kindle two days ago) and I'm wondering how do I convert a .pdb ebook to work on my Kindle?

I'm curious. Why would the first book(s) you buy for your Kindle be NOT from the Kindle store? The Kindle book store is one of the best parts of Kindle ownership.

BOb

desertgrandma · 01-04-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hahler2

.pdb is for ereader. Also I looked at the site to see if I could do that and they only carry the book in that format.

Which site did you buy this from?

wallcraft · 01-04-2009, 11:25 PM

Use ereader2html to strip the DRM. This is a Python script, so see Visual Kindle Guide, (KindlePID and KindleFIX) for how to run Python scripts on the Mac.

The resulting HTML can be mailed to Amazon for conversion, or import it into Windows MobiPocket Reader (the resulting MOBI will be in My Documets\My eBooks).

hahler2 · 01-06-2009, 11:33 AM

Thank you! And I didn't buy it from the Kindle store because it wasn't offered in the Kindle Store. Otherwise I would have.

pilotbob · 01-06-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hahler2

Thank you! And I didn't buy it from the Kindle store because it wasn't offered in the Kindle Store. Otherwise I would have.

That makes sense.

BOb

Phogg · 01-07-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

That makes sense.

BOb

CJ Cherryh's book The Paladin which I was searching for did finally show up. But only as a .pdb doc.
So I got that even though it is the only .pdb I own.

phossler · 01-07-2009, 03:16 PM

I've had luck renaming the .pdb file to .prc, and loading that to my Kindle

Paul

pilotbob · 01-07-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phossler

I've had luck renaming the .pdb file to .prc, and loading that to my Kindle

Paul

Yes, some PDBs are PalmDOC files where are a subset of Mobipocket and most mobipocket readers will read them just fine. But, this is not the case if it is an eReader format.

BOb

DaleDe · 01-07-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phossler

I've had luck renaming the .pdb file to .prc, and loading that to my Kindle

Paul

Would you please check the wiki article Palm Database File Code and tell us what characters you found in the file based on opening it in a text editor like Notepad.

Thanks,
Dale

VDR928 · 03-13-2009, 02:09 PM

I obtained my PID (Kindle 2) but have had to have knee surgery and have not gone any further with it. I got an email from the library today that a Overdrive book I req. was ready for download. I downloaded it and sent it to Amazon to convert. They sent it back but when I put it on the Kindle it says "can't open on this device, to buy the book from Amazon". I don't want to BUY the book when it is offered free at my library! It is mobi..? format, I think, but when the files were returned from Amazon they contain the word /Kindle/ in the title..?
Where is the link for Mac users... I can't find the next step after obtaining the PID?

desertgrandma · 03-13-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDR928

I obtained my PID (Kindle 2) but have had to have knee surgery and have not gone any further with it. I got an email from the library today that a Overdrive book I req. was ready for download. I downloaded it and sent it to Amazon to convert. They sent it back but when I put it on the Kindle it says "can't open on this device, to buy the book from Amazon". I don't want to BUY the book when it is offered free at my library! It is mobi..? format, I think, but when the files were returned from Amazon they contain the word /Kindle/ in the title..?
Where is the link for Mac users... I can't find the next step after obtaining the PID?

Unfortunately, we can no longer post script links.

Reminder To everyone: Please refrain from posting direct download links to any tools or scripts that may be used to circumvent copyright protections. If in doubt, you can message a moderator for assistance. Thank you.

wallcraft · 03-13-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDR928

I obtained my PID (Kindle 2) but have had to have knee surgery and have not gone any further with it. I got an email from the library today that a Overdrive book I req. was ready for download. I downloaded it and sent it to Amazon to convert.

This is an entirely legal use of lending library ebooks, but mobileread has caved to pressure from Amazon and has deleted instructions on how to use KindlePID (which you have already used) and KindleFIX (which, apparently, Amazon did not complain about). Note that Google caches some pages, so you may still be able to find the wiki page "KindleFIX Mac" somewhere or other.

You don't need to email the KindleFIXed file to Amazon. Like DRM-free MOBI ebooks, just copy it via USB to the Kindle's "documents" directory.

01-04-2009, 09:39 PM	#1
hahler2 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kindle	Need help converting a book for my Kindle I wasn't paying attention the other day when I was buying books, and didn't notice that one that I bought wasn't in a Kindle format. It's in a .pdb format. I am very new to the ebook reading thing (just got my Kindle two days ago) and I'm wondering how do I convert a .pdb ebook to work on my Kindle? I'm sure I will have to strip the DRM first, and then convert. Could someone help me with this please? I use a mac computer, but I have Windows installed through VMware.

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01-04-2009, 10:42 PM	#3
hahler2 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kindle	.pdb is for ereader. Also I looked at the site to see if I could do that and they only carry the book in that format.

01-04-2009, 11:25 PM	#6
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Use ereader2html to strip the DRM. This is a Python script, so see Visual Kindle Guide, (KindlePID and KindleFIX) for how to run Python scripts on the Mac. The resulting HTML can be mailed to Amazon for conversion, or import it into Windows MobiPocket Reader (the resulting MOBI will be in My Documets\My eBooks).

01-06-2009, 11:33 AM	#7
hahler2 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kindle	Thank you! And I didn't buy it from the Kindle store because it wasn't offered in the Kindle Store. Otherwise I would have.

01-07-2009, 03:16 PM	#10
phossler Wizard Posts: 1,071 Karma: 412718 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Valley Forge, PA, USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I've had luck renaming the .pdb file to .prc, and loading that to my Kindle Paul

03-13-2009, 02:09 PM	#13
VDR928 Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NC Device: Kindle 2	I obtained my PID (Kindle 2) but have had to have knee surgery and have not gone any further with it. I got an email from the library today that a Overdrive book I req. was ready for download. I downloaded it and sent it to Amazon to convert. They sent it back but when I put it on the Kindle it says "can't open on this device, to buy the book from Amazon". I don't want to BUY the book when it is offered free at my library! It is mobi..? format, I think, but when the files were returned from Amazon they contain the word /Kindle/ in the title..? Where is the link for Mac users... I can't find the next step after obtaining the PID?

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