Help with non amazon books

tidegirl · 03-25-2014, 08:11 PM

Hi all. After 7 years of resistance I am finally joining the Kindle bandwagon (two previous Sony readers).

My new PW will arrive next Monday.

I have a few quick questions about the books I already own. I am converting them using Calibre- I assume AZW3 is the best format to use?

And, I downloaded the send to kindle app earlier because I would like to load the ones I have to the Cloud so if I am without my reader I can read in the same place on my phone. But when I pulled up a book to transfer it it asked me to fill in the title and the author was my name by default. Does that mean if I transfer this way I will lose my metadata? Any advice on the best way to transfer would be appreciated, or if I am better off just sideloading. It's not a huge deal, I am VERY rarely without my reader.

poohbear_nc · 03-25-2014, 08:15 PM

You just have to type in the correct metadata before you send to Kindle - it's not very good at filling in its own blanks.

tidegirl · 03-25-2014, 11:56 PM

So is it probably best to just sideload the books instead of sending them all to the cloud? Seems like a lot of work redoing all the titles, even if I copy and paste. And will other metadata be lost as well?

FacebookVirus · 03-26-2014, 07:06 AM

Similar experience with me, except I haven't used the email service on my paperwhite. Using calibre, I have loaded my converted ebooks originally purchased from Sony.

No troubles at all using this method for reading on the paperwhite, but of course the books aren't available through the Kindle app on my smartphone.

Josieb1 · 03-26-2014, 07:12 AM

For sending to Kindle you need to send Mobi files. It won't accept AZW3. Apparently you can send some kind of hybrid of the two which Calibre can do but I don't know how to do that and I've been told you don't get covers if you do that, which I need.

Assuming you don't need an embedded font then mobi files are the ones to send. The books then appear in the Amazon cloud and can be whisper synced between devices just like any Amazon bought book.

Josieb1 · 03-26-2014, 07:16 AM

Send to Kindle works perfectly. I usually right click on the book in Calibre, select Show in Windows Explorer, then select the mobi file, again right click, select Send to Kindle.

If the book shows up without a cover I simply delete it from my Amazon Cloud, reconvert it from mobi to mobi in Calibre, and resend. I've never had any issues with it. The title and author in the Send to Kindle box is always the same as in Calibre.

jbcohen · 03-26-2014, 07:45 AM

I read azw3 files on my paper white all the time and it does not seem to have a problem reading any of them.

HarryT · 03-26-2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I read azw3 files on my paper white all the time and it does not seem to have a problem reading any of them.

That isn't what was stated. What was said (and is perfectly true) is that you can't email AZW3 files to the Kindle; you can only email Mobi files. You can of course sideload AZW3 files.

tidegirl · 03-26-2014, 09:31 AM

I do like having covers, but I don't necessarily need them. I guess I can try both methods and see which I like best. Thanks!

JMBlackie · 04-07-2014, 08:16 AM

I had problems with MY MOBI books losing covers, as my Paperwhite 2 thought the book was a personal document. I read somewhere in the forum that I was supposed to convert from MOBI to MOBI (which seemed silly, and it failed to work) and somewhere else I read it was simplest to convert to AZW3. The AWZ3 conversion solved every issue. I now change all MOBI books to AZW3 copies before sideloading. Works for me.

kristalana · 04-07-2014, 01:17 PM

How are you sideloading them? I use Calibre (the Send to Device button) and my mobi files show up perfectly under Books, with the covers and all.

JMBlackie · 04-21-2014, 11:17 AM

Lately I've been having issues with the Mobi files again showing up either without covers or bannered as "Personal." The cause and effect is undetermined, as it happens sporadically. I just read elsewhere that I should convert Mobi to Mobi and using the method that's so clearly outlined HERE.

I'll give it a try when I get home. I'm on the road, right now.

johnoz123 · 04-21-2014, 05:19 PM

If you want to sync your Kindle PW with the 'furthest page read' on your iphone (or the other way around) then you need to email the book to your Kindle account from Calibre or use the "Send to Kindle" app. Currently the file must be in mobi format. You can sync the physical book but you can't sync 'furthest page read' between PW and iPhone if you use AW3. If for any reason the book arrives without a cover all you need to do is delete it from your Amazon account. Re convert it mobi to mobi in Calibre and then send it again. No special Calibre mobi setting are required.

JMBlackie · 04-22-2014, 07:48 AM

Thanks. I'll try that. But after I reconvert, do I need to delete the old title from the PW2, or does it just overwrite the file?

johnoz123 · 04-23-2014, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMBlackie

Thanks. I'll try that. But after I reconvert, do I need to delete the old title from the PW2, or does it just overwrite the file?

Yes. Before you send to your Amazon account, delete the book from your PW and from your Amazon account (it doesn't overwrite).

03-25-2014, 08:11 PM	#1
tidegirl Member Posts: 18 Karma: 12584 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Sony PRS T2	Help with non amazon books Hi all. After 7 years of resistance I am finally joining the Kindle bandwagon (two previous Sony readers). My new PW will arrive next Monday. I have a few quick questions about the books I already own. I am converting them using Calibre- I assume AZW3 is the best format to use? And, I downloaded the send to kindle app earlier because I would like to load the ones I have to the Cloud so if I am without my reader I can read in the same place on my phone. But when I pulled up a book to transfer it it asked me to fill in the title and the author was my name by default. Does that mean if I transfer this way I will lose my metadata? Any advice on the best way to transfer would be appreciated, or if I am better off just sideloading. It's not a huge deal, I am VERY rarely without my reader.

03-26-2014, 07:06 AM	#4
FacebookVirus Hybrid reader Posts: 161 Karma: 1132216 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: USA Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2; Sony PRS-350	Similar experience with me, except I haven't used the email service on my paperwhite. Using calibre, I have loaded my converted ebooks originally purchased from Sony. No troubles at all using this method for reading on the paperwhite, but of course the books aren't available through the Kindle app on my smartphone. Last edited by FacebookVirus; 03-26-2014 at 07:11 AM.

04-21-2014, 11:17 AM	#12
JMBlackie Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: @ Home Device: (Kindles) Touch, Fire HD, Paperwhite2	Lately I've been having issues with the Mobi files again showing up either without covers or bannered as "Personal." The cause and effect is undetermined, as it happens sporadically. I just read elsewhere that I should convert Mobi to Mobi and using the method that's so clearly outlined HERE. I'll give it a try when I get home. I'm on the road, right now. Last edited by JMBlackie; 04-21-2014 at 11:18 AM. Reason: hyperlink broken

04-21-2014, 05:19 PM	#13
johnoz123 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage	If you want to sync your Kindle PW with the 'furthest page read' on your iphone (or the other way around) then you need to email the book to your Kindle account from Calibre or use the "Send to Kindle" app. Currently the file must be in mobi format. You can sync the physical book but you can't sync 'furthest page read' between PW and iPhone if you use AW3. If for any reason the book arrives without a cover all you need to do is delete it from your Amazon account. Re convert it mobi to mobi in Calibre and then send it again. No special Calibre mobi setting are required. Last edited by johnoz123; 04-21-2014 at 05:22 PM.

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03-25-2014, 08:15 PM	#2
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,890 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	You just have to type in the correct metadata before you send to Kindle - it's not very good at filling in its own blanks.

03-25-2014, 11:56 PM	#3
tidegirl Member Posts: 18 Karma: 12584 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Sony PRS T2	So is it probably best to just sideload the books instead of sending them all to the cloud? Seems like a lot of work redoing all the titles, even if I copy and paste. And will other metadata be lost as well?

03-26-2014, 07:12 AM	#5
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,018 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	For sending to Kindle you need to send Mobi files. It won't accept AZW3. Apparently you can send some kind of hybrid of the two which Calibre can do but I don't know how to do that and I've been told you don't get covers if you do that, which I need. Assuming you don't need an embedded font then mobi files are the ones to send. The books then appear in the Amazon cloud and can be whisper synced between devices just like any Amazon bought book.

03-26-2014, 07:16 AM	#6
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,018 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	Send to Kindle works perfectly. I usually right click on the book in Calibre, select Show in Windows Explorer, then select the mobi file, again right click, select Send to Kindle. If the book shows up without a cover I simply delete it from my Amazon Cloud, reconvert it from mobi to mobi in Calibre, and resend. I've never had any issues with it. The title and author in the Send to Kindle box is always the same as in Calibre.

03-26-2014, 07:45 AM	#7
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	I read azw3 files on my paper white all the time and it does not seem to have a problem reading any of them.

03-26-2014, 09:31 AM	#9
tidegirl Member Posts: 18 Karma: 12584 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Sony PRS T2	I do like having covers, but I don't necessarily need them. I guess I can try both methods and see which I like best. Thanks!

04-07-2014, 08:16 AM	#10
JMBlackie Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: @ Home Device: (Kindles) Touch, Fire HD, Paperwhite2	I had problems with MY MOBI books losing covers, as my Paperwhite 2 thought the book was a personal document. I read somewhere in the forum that I was supposed to convert from MOBI to MOBI (which seemed silly, and it failed to work) and somewhere else I read it was simplest to convert to AZW3. The AWZ3 conversion solved every issue. I now change all MOBI books to AZW3 copies before sideloading. Works for me.

04-07-2014, 01:17 PM	#11
kristalana Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 1170000 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Device: Kindle PW2, Galaxy Tab Pro	How are you sideloading them? I use Calibre (the Send to Device button) and my mobi files show up perfectly under Books, with the covers and all.

04-22-2014, 07:48 AM	#14
JMBlackie Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: @ Home Device: (Kindles) Touch, Fire HD, Paperwhite2	Thanks. I'll try that. But after I reconvert, do I need to delete the old title from the PW2, or does it just overwrite the file?

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