Kindle page numbers

JaneFancher · 03-17-2011, 01:50 AM

Got a weird one. Just put my first book up on Kindle and one of my readers says the new page number function doesn't work. She put the file through Calibre to reformat some meta data, and the resultant file does show the page numbers.

I originally made the file that I uploaded to Kindle with MobiPocket Creator and converted to mobi with KindleGen. (Don't ask my why. I use calibre for everything else, but I know how to direct MPC to link the opf file to my TOC so that the kindle Contents tab goes there. I like my one page TOC better than the generated one. Also, I understand KindleGen gives a slightly higher cover image than Mobi or Calibre.

Anyway...just wondering if anyone understands how Kindle is creating these page numbers. Does it need the generated ToC?

As always...thanks!

kovidgoyal · 03-17-2011, 02:03 AM

Page numbers are not a function of the file. If you load the file onto your kindle using calibre, calibre automatically generates the page numbers.

Or if you publish your book through Amazon and the user gets the book delivered wirelessly from amazon to their Kindle, then amazon generates the page numbers.

Don't ask me why Amazon came up with this brain dead scheme for page numbers instead of just embedding them in the ebook file itself.

avantman42 · 03-17-2011, 03:49 AM

Kindle page numbers are matched to the page numbers of a paper edition of the book, see http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...0505500&#pages

Amazon haven't created page numbers for all Kindle books with paper editions yet. If your book isn't available in a paper edition, you'll definitely not get page numbers. If it is available in a paper edition, you may get page numbers at some point in the future.

Calibre works in a different way - it does a "best guess" of page numbers, and generates them accordingly, so it doesn't depend on a paper edition.

DoctorOhh · 03-17-2011, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaneFancher

Anyway...just wondering if anyone understands how Kindle is creating these page numbers. Does it need the generated ToC?

Read this thread to see how the page number feature was added to calibre and how it works.

03-17-2011, 01:50 AM	#1
JaneFancher Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 496 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spokane, Washington Device: Kindle2	Kindle page numbers Got a weird one. Just put my first book up on Kindle and one of my readers says the new page number function doesn't work. She put the file through Calibre to reformat some meta data, and the resultant file does show the page numbers. I originally made the file that I uploaded to Kindle with MobiPocket Creator and converted to mobi with KindleGen. (Don't ask my why. I use calibre for everything else, but I know how to direct MPC to link the opf file to my TOC so that the kindle Contents tab goes there. I like my one page TOC better than the generated one. Also, I understand KindleGen gives a slightly higher cover image than Mobi or Calibre. Anyway...just wondering if anyone understands how Kindle is creating these page numbers. Does it need the generated ToC? As always...thanks! Last edited by JaneFancher; 03-17-2011 at 01:50 AM. Reason: spelling

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kindle Page Numbers	goaspy	Devices	124	01-18-2019 01:55 PM
Firmware Update Kindle adds Page Numbers (and more)	koland	Amazon Kindle	304	07-02-2011 03:54 AM
Kindle adds Page Numbers (and more)	koland	News	53	03-03-2011 04:30 PM
Kindle page numbers	foghat	Devices	6	02-20-2011 12:01 PM
Epub to Kindle and page numbers	apropos	Calibre	11	12-09-2010 01:42 PM

03-17-2011, 02:03 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,842 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Page numbers are not a function of the file. If you load the file onto your kindle using calibre, calibre automatically generates the page numbers. Or if you publish your book through Amazon and the user gets the book delivered wirelessly from amazon to their Kindle, then amazon generates the page numbers. Don't ask me why Amazon came up with this brain dead scheme for page numbers instead of just embedding them in the ebook file itself.

03-17-2011, 03:49 AM	#3
avantman42 Wizard Posts: 1,090 Karma: 6058305 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Kindle page numbers are matched to the page numbers of a paper edition of the book, see http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...0505500&#pages Amazon haven't created page numbers for all Kindle books with paper editions yet. If your book isn't available in a paper edition, you'll definitely not get page numbers. If it is available in a paper edition, you may get page numbers at some point in the future. Calibre works in a different way - it does a "best guess" of page numbers, and generates them accordingly, so it doesn't depend on a paper edition.

Advert