What an idiot - I just bought a book without an ePub file!

HarleyB · 08-08-2010, 06:43 PM

I can't believe I have done this...
I just purchased a book from Kobobooks.com and it doesn't have an ePub file so I can't read it on my Kobo.
There was a thread a few weeks ago about this so I KNEW to check that there was an ePub file first but I was so excited to see a book I wanted at a cheap price that I grabbed it before it disappeared.
Now I know why it was so cheap... I can't actually read it on my Kobo.

So it is available as mobile or web. Is there anyway I can convert these to a PDF or ePub because I hate reading on my computer screen and I don't have a smart phone. It will have DRM issues so I don't know if Calibre will help. But I don't even know if I can get it into Calibre? Suggestions anyone?
I have sent a message to Kobo but I know from experience that I get faster and better answers here.

Just a reminder if you want to read a book on your Kobo remember to check that it is available in ePub BEFORE you buy it.

Leep · 08-08-2010, 06:58 PM

If you contact Kobo customer service right away, they will probably let you return the book and give you credit. I had the same problem and they were very nice.

cheers

HarleyB · 08-08-2010, 07:09 PM

Thanks I did send an email to Kobo (before I posted here) but I haven't heard back yet. They ususally take a while....
My problem is that I still want to read this book. I almost bought a paperback the other day as I hadn't seen it as an ebook before. Probably because I usually remember to only look at books available as ePubs.

wrenn1 · 08-08-2010, 07:39 PM

There should be a search option as there are with library sites or most bookstores to search by format.

sabredog · 08-08-2010, 07:55 PM

Well you could remove DRM and convert via Calibre.

Otherwise, contacting customer support at Kobo to explain the situation may well resolve the issue.

Solicitous · 08-08-2010, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyB

So it is available as mobile or web. Is there anyway I can convert these to a PDF or ePub because I hate reading on my computer screen and I don't have a smart phone. It will have DRM issues so I don't know if Calibre will help. But I don't even know if I can get it into Calibre? Suggestions anyone?
I have sent a message to Kobo but I know from experience that I get faster and better answers here.

Wont the Kobo-Desktop software sync the book with the reader? I noticed some of the free classics are not epub downloadable, only web.

HarleyB · 08-08-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

There should be a search option as there are with library sites or most bookstores to search by format.

Yes there is a search function that will only display ePubs which I often use. But this time I forgot/didn't think/was so excited about finding a cheap book that I had been looking for for ages that I didn't notice there was no ePub file until after I had purchased it.

HarleyB · 08-08-2010, 08:40 PM

How do I get the web or mobile format into Calibre? I have only ever used PDF and ePub with Calibre and ADE.
I don't have the Kobo-Desktop software as I bought my Kobo from Borders and so I have the Borders software which I don't use as I prefer ADE. I believe the Kobo-Desktop software is similar.
I could download the Kobo-Desktop application but would this file be there if it is not an ePub?

sabredog · 08-08-2010, 08:45 PM

Calibre will directly read HTML format files.

What is the extension of the web format?

JSWolf · 08-08-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenn1

There should be a search option as there are with library sites or most bookstores to search by format.

Yes, Kobo does have a way to filter for books with an ePub version after the search.

3d0g · 08-08-2010, 08:55 PM

Every book purchased on kobobooks.com can be read on the kobo. The three formats available are:

WEB: Read online on kobobooks.com
MOBILE: Kobo's proprietary internal format (stored in the built-in sqlite database)
EPUB: For other eReaders like Sony and Nook via Adobe Digital Editions (yes the kobo supports this too)

You simply need to update the library on your kobo desktop app and then sync the kobo. Your purchase will be there.

sabredog · 08-08-2010, 09:45 PM

Excellent!

Thanks for the clarification

HarleyB · 08-08-2010, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3d0g

Every book purchased on kobobooks.com can be read on the kobo. The three formats available are:

WEB: Read online on kobobooks.com
MOBILE: Kobo's proprietary internal format (stored in the built-in sqlite database)
EPUB: For other eReaders like Sony and Nook via Adobe Digital Editions (yes the kobo supports this too)

You simply need to update the library on your kobo desktop app and then sync the kobo. Your purchase will be there.

At the moment I don't have the kobo desktop app - I have the Borders desktop app. I have looked at the Kobo website until my eyes hurt and I can't find it to download. Have found apps for mobiles etc and the confident message that it will be on my Kobo reader but of course it isn't.
The Borders app doesn't know anything about books from kobobooks.com

I know there was a link somewhere in these forums to get the kobo desktop app but I just can't find it. Does anyone have the link?
Also if I am successful in downloading the kobo app will it peacefully coexist on my computer with the Borders app?

3d0g · 08-08-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyB

At the moment I don't have the kobo desktop app - I have the Borders desktop app. I have looked at the Kobo website until my eyes hurt and I can't find it to download. Have found apps for mobiles etc and the confident message that it will be on my Kobo reader but of course it isn't.
The Borders app doesn't know anything about books from kobobooks.com

I know there was a link somewhere in these forums to get the kobo desktop app but I just can't find it. Does anyone have the link?
Also if I am successful in downloading the kobo app will it peacefully coexist on my computer with the Borders app?

Ah! Now this thread makes sense.

You can get the native kobo app from:
http://download.kobobooks.com/desktop/0/KoboSetup.exe (Windows)
http://download.kobobooks.com/desktop/0/KoboSetup.dmg (Mac)

Unfortunately, it does NOT peacefully coexist with the Borders app. One will overwrite the others sync to the kobo.

jes1 · 08-08-2010, 10:21 PM

If you go to the Kobo website and look in your library, does it have a choice to download epub? If so, you can download it to your computer. I don't have a Kobo reader, but I assume there is a way to drag and drop the file into it with usb. That's how I put Kobo books on my nook and EZReader.

08-08-2010, 06:43 PM	#1
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	What an idiot - I just bought a book without an ePub file! I can't believe I have done this... I just purchased a book from Kobobooks.com and it doesn't have an ePub file so I can't read it on my Kobo. There was a thread a few weeks ago about this so I KNEW to check that there was an ePub file first but I was so excited to see a book I wanted at a cheap price that I grabbed it before it disappeared. Now I know why it was so cheap... I can't actually read it on my Kobo. So it is available as mobile or web. Is there anyway I can convert these to a PDF or ePub because I hate reading on my computer screen and I don't have a smart phone. It will have DRM issues so I don't know if Calibre will help. But I don't even know if I can get it into Calibre? Suggestions anyone? I have sent a message to Kobo but I know from experience that I get faster and better answers here. Just a reminder if you want to read a book on your Kobo remember to check that it is available in ePub BEFORE you buy it.

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08-08-2010, 06:58 PM	#2
Leep Guru Posts: 739 Karma: 1018859 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Seattle Device: kindle1, K3, K3G (thanks MR), iTouch, Kindle Touch	If you contact Kobo customer service right away, they will probably let you return the book and give you credit. I had the same problem and they were very nice. cheers

08-08-2010, 07:09 PM	#3
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	Thanks I did send an email to Kobo (before I posted here) but I haven't heard back yet. They ususally take a while.... My problem is that I still want to read this book. I almost bought a paperback the other day as I hadn't seen it as an ebook before. Probably because I usually remember to only look at books available as ePubs.

08-08-2010, 07:39 PM	#4
wrenn1 Addict Posts: 259 Karma: 48576 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	There should be a search option as there are with library sites or most bookstores to search by format.

08-08-2010, 07:55 PM	#5
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Well you could remove DRM and convert via Calibre. Otherwise, contacting customer support at Kobo to explain the situation may well resolve the issue.

08-08-2010, 08:40 PM	#8
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	How do I get the web or mobile format into Calibre? I have only ever used PDF and ePub with Calibre and ADE. I don't have the Kobo-Desktop software as I bought my Kobo from Borders and so I have the Borders software which I don't use as I prefer ADE. I believe the Kobo-Desktop software is similar. I could download the Kobo-Desktop application but would this file be there if it is not an ePub?

08-08-2010, 08:45 PM	#9
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Calibre will directly read HTML format files. What is the extension of the web format?

08-08-2010, 08:55 PM	#11
3d0g I make fjords. Posts: 304 Karma: 11192 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Device: kobo 1 (retired), kobo 2, iPad, G2, Galaxy Tab 7+	Every book purchased on kobobooks.com can be read on the kobo. The three formats available are: WEB: Read online on kobobooks.com MOBILE: Kobo's proprietary internal format (stored in the built-in sqlite database) EPUB: For other eReaders like Sony and Nook via Adobe Digital Editions (yes the kobo supports this too) You simply need to update the library on your kobo desktop app and then sync the kobo. Your purchase will be there.

08-08-2010, 09:45 PM	#12
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Excellent! Thanks for the clarification

08-08-2010, 10:21 PM	#15
jes1 Zealot Posts: 139 Karma: 698 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Device: Astak EZReader, Dell Axim x50v, iPod Touch, nook	If you go to the Kobo website and look in your library, does it have a choice to download epub? If so, you can download it to your computer. I don't have a Kobo reader, but I assume there is a way to drag and drop the file into it with usb. That's how I put Kobo books on my nook and EZReader.

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