author sort for side-loaded epubs (Kindle)

A Lurker · 09-23-2022, 05:23 PM

I've been side-loading epubs onto my Kindle every since Amazon made the format compatible. Initially I had zero problems. However, a few months ago two problems popped up simultaneously.

The first problem is that newly side-loaded epubs are missing their covers. I see this issue has already been addressed on this forum, so I won't rehash it (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=329945).

However, I've not seen any threads on my second problem (which started at the same time as the missing covers). Namely, newly side-loaded epubs are sorting by the author's first name, rather than last.

I know this was always an issue with side-loaded mobi files (which can be easily fixed by changing the Calibre output preference "user author sort for author").

If side-loaded epubs had been doing this since the beginning, I wouldn't have thought much of it, seeing as consistent with the mobi flaw. However, the first several hundred epubs I sided-loaded over the course of a couple months all properly sort by last name. It's only the newer side-loaded epubs that are sorting by first name. Which suggest something was changed on the backend at Amazon (at the same time as the change that resulted in missing covers).

I've found a work around. In Calibre I use LAST NAME, FIRST NAME in both the "author" field and the "author sort" field. That fixes the problem so that my side-loaded epubs sort by last name. Nevertheless, I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this problem or might know what's causing it?

JSWolf · 09-23-2022, 06:10 PM

There is a very very very simple solution. Run Calibre with your library loaded. Plug your Kindle into the USB port and transfer the eBooks to your Kindle. Problem solved.

A Lurker · 09-23-2022, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

There is a very very very simple solution. Run Calibre with your library loaded. Plug your Kindle into the USB port and transfer the eBooks to your Kindle. Problem solved.

As I explained, I already solved the problem / found a work-around. I didn't posting looking for a solution. I asked if anyone else has experienced this problem or might know what's causing it?

JSWolf · 09-24-2022, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Lurker

As I explained, I already solved the problem / found a work-around. I didn't posting looking for a solution. I asked if anyone else has experienced this problem or might know what's causing it?

I was giving a solution that will work without a work around and this will always work.

A Lurker · 09-26-2022, 10:27 AM

I just side-loaded an epub on my Kindle. The author displayed as "unknown". Odd. I converted to mobi and side-loaded that. The author was stripped again.

I don't know if there's something particular about this file's author field Amazon/my device doesn't like, or if this a new wrinkle in Amazon trying to automatically replace the metadata of side-loaded documents. I'll experiment by trying to side-load additional books later today.

I assume I'll be able to solve this hardwiring my device to my PC and syncing it with my Calibre library, but it's still annoying. Has any one seen this bug?

CathyA · 09-26-2022, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Lurker

I just side-loaded an epub on my Kindle. The author displayed as "unknown". Odd. I converted to mobi and side-loaded that. The author was stripped again.

I don't know if there's something particular about this file's author field Amazon/my device doesn't like, or if this a new wrinkle in Amazon trying to automatically replace the metadata of side-loaded documents. I'll experiment by trying to side-load additional books later today.

I assume I'll be able to solve this hardwiring my device to my PC and syncing it with my Calibre library, but it's still annoying. Has any one seen this bug?

It's a bug in the Amazon conversion process that seems to have been introduced around September 21, 2022. Further discussion is near the end of this older thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=333506

A Lurker · 09-26-2022, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CathyA

It's a bug in the Amazon conversion process that seems to have been introduced around September 21, 2022. Further discussion is near the end of this older thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=333506

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll check out this thread.

JSWolf · 09-26-2022, 05:56 PM

This thread needs to clarified that this is not side loaded as in using Calibre. This is emailing to Amazon to download to your Kindle.

09-23-2022, 05:23 PM	#1
A Lurker Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 335288 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle	author sort for side-loaded epubs (Kindle) I've been side-loading epubs onto my Kindle every since Amazon made the format compatible. Initially I had zero problems. However, a few months ago two problems popped up simultaneously. The first problem is that newly side-loaded epubs are missing their covers. I see this issue has already been addressed on this forum, so I won't rehash it (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=329945). However, I've not seen any threads on my second problem (which started at the same time as the missing covers). Namely, newly side-loaded epubs are sorting by the author's first name, rather than last. I know this was always an issue with side-loaded mobi files (which can be easily fixed by changing the Calibre output preference "user author sort for author"). If side-loaded epubs had been doing this since the beginning, I wouldn't have thought much of it, seeing as consistent with the mobi flaw. However, the first several hundred epubs I sided-loaded over the course of a couple months all properly sort by last name. It's only the newer side-loaded epubs that are sorting by first name. Which suggest something was changed on the backend at Amazon (at the same time as the change that resulted in missing covers). I've found a work around. In Calibre I use LAST NAME, FIRST NAME in both the "author" field and the "author sort" field. That fixes the problem so that my side-loaded epubs sort by last name. Nevertheless, I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this problem or might know what's causing it?

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09-23-2022, 06:10 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	There is a very very very simple solution. Run Calibre with your library loaded. Plug your Kindle into the USB port and transfer the eBooks to your Kindle. Problem solved.

09-26-2022, 10:27 AM	#5
A Lurker Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 335288 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle	I just side-loaded an epub on my Kindle. The author displayed as "unknown". Odd. I converted to mobi and side-loaded that. The author was stripped again. I don't know if there's something particular about this file's author field Amazon/my device doesn't like, or if this a new wrinkle in Amazon trying to automatically replace the metadata of side-loaded documents. I'll experiment by trying to side-load additional books later today. I assume I'll be able to solve this hardwiring my device to my PC and syncing it with my Calibre library, but it's still annoying. Has any one seen this bug?

09-26-2022, 05:56 PM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,037 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	This thread needs to clarified that this is not side loaded as in using Calibre. This is emailing to Amazon to download to your Kindle.