Calibre only partly converting files

LuvReadin · 05-09-2012, 10:45 AM

Thanks to the lovely people who post all those links, I've downloaded quite a few free books from Amazon in recent days. Because I have a Sony, I've, er, taken Alf's advice, and they are apparently good to go. The only problem is when they're converted from AZW to ePub, only a bit of the file seems to convert - usually the cover and one blank page. I'm a bit confused as to why this is; I've seen some posts that indicate AZW files can't be converted, but others saying this was fixed. Should these be converting, or is this a lost cause?

I did do a search for this problem, but couldn't find anything, but if there is an earlier thread somewhere, a link would be really helpful, thanks.

HarryT · 05-09-2012, 01:17 PM

If you're seeing them in Calibre as AZW that means that your friend Alf hasn't done his job - they should be converted to Mobi on import by Alf's little helpers.

LuvReadin · 05-09-2012, 01:31 PM

Sorry, just rechecked - they are MOBI. Also, I tried out an online converter - I changed the AZW suffix of the file to MOBI and then converted a couple of the files, and they were fine; the entire book (as far as I could judge from a quick scroll-through) was there. Tried again with Calibre, both before and after changing the suffix -just the cover again. BTW, I checked these books in the Sony Reader software and ADE, just in case the problem was with the Calibre viewer, but they all gave the same results.

Can't work it out - I reckon I get a success rate of about 1 in 3, and there's nothing obviously weird about those books.

HarryT · 05-10-2012, 03:38 AM

What stage is the problem occuring at - when you import the books into Calibre, or when you convert them to ePub? ie, if you open the Mobi book in Calibre do you see the entire book?

There's certainly something strange going on; I've imported many HUNDREDS of Amazon books into Calibre, all entirely without problems.

LuvReadin · 05-11-2012, 04:08 AM

Don't think it's the importing; that seems to be fine. The books appear in the book list as MOBI, and there's no apparent difference between the 'good' and the 'bad' books. Then I convert them by selecting the relevant books and clicking on the 'Convert books' button, and all converted books show that they've got an EPUB file in addition to the existing MOBI. Again, so far, so good, and again, no apparent difference. But then, if I click on the 'EPUB' link (or find the folder and click directly on the EPUB file), the 'good' books will give me an entire book, but the 'bad' ones will just give me the cover followed by a blank page.

LuvReadin · 05-11-2012, 04:37 AM

Oh, actually, it might be the import. I didn't realise the Calibre viewer could open MOBI files (

), but I accidentally clicked on that link when I was trying out one of the 'good' ones as an example, and realised it could. The MOBI file opened in the E-book Viewer, and looks, as far as I can see, just like the EPUB one - there's a slight difference in the page numbers, but all the chapter headings look the same.

Anyhoo, I imported one of the 'bad' files, and tried out that MOBI and it's one, apparently blank, page. When I convert it, I then get the cover, followed by one blank page. 'Sweird!

Dopedangel · 05-11-2012, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvReadin

Oh, actually, it might be the import. I didn't realise the Calibre viewer could open MOBI files (

), but I accidentally clicked on that link when I was trying out one of the 'good' ones as an example, and realised it could. The MOBI file opened in the E-book Viewer, and looks, as far as I can see, just like the EPUB one - there's a slight difference in the page numbers, but all the chapter headings look the same.

Anyhoo, I imported one of the 'bad' files, and tried out that MOBI and it's one, apparently blank, page. When I convert it, I then get the cover, followed by one blank page. 'Sweird!

get the latest from Alf

tilia · 05-11-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvReadin

Oh, actually, it might be the import. I didn't realise the Calibre viewer could open MOBI files (

), but I accidentally clicked on that link when I was trying out one of the 'good' ones as an example, and realised it could. The MOBI file opened in the E-book Viewer, and looks, as far as I can see, just like the EPUB one - there's a slight difference in the page numbers, but all the chapter headings look the same.

Anyhoo, I imported one of the 'bad' files, and tried out that MOBI and it's one, apparently blank, page. When I convert it, I then get the cover, followed by one blank page. 'Sweird!

Actually, the calibre viewer doesn't open mobis. It's basically an epub viewer that can open other formats by converting them. Your mobi is converted to epub, and then opened for viewing.

Have you tried opening up the imported mobis in KindlePreviewer or K4PC/mac?

LuvReadin · 05-14-2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

get the latest from Alf

Think I've got the latest - downloaded it only a few days ago.

LuvReadin · 05-14-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilia

Actually, the calibre viewer doesn't open mobis. It's basically an epub viewer that can open other formats by converting them. Your mobi is converted to epub, and then opened for viewing.

Oh, OK, although I'm even more confused now as to why it looks different with ePub and MOBI.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilia

Have you tried opening up the imported mobis in KindlePreviewer or K4PC/mac?

Just done so - it shows a full book with the mobi file, but only the cover with the ePub. So seems like it's a conversion problem then?

HarryT · 05-15-2012, 01:26 AM

I'd suggest that you open a fault ticket on Kovid's site and attach one of the books that's failing to convert.

LuvReadin · 05-16-2012, 06:55 AM

Thanks - will do.

05-09-2012, 10:45 AM	#1
LuvReadin Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1925568 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-T1 and Cool-ER	Calibre only partly converting files Thanks to the lovely people who post all those links, I've downloaded quite a few free books from Amazon in recent days. Because I have a Sony, I've, er, taken Alf's advice, and they are apparently good to go. The only problem is when they're converted from AZW to ePub, only a bit of the file seems to convert - usually the cover and one blank page. I'm a bit confused as to why this is; I've seen some posts that indicate AZW files can't be converted, but others saying this was fixed. Should these be converting, or is this a lost cause? I did do a search for this problem, but couldn't find anything, but if there is an earlier thread somewhere, a link would be really helpful, thanks.

05-11-2012, 04:37 AM	#6
LuvReadin Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1925568 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-T1 and Cool-ER	Oh, actually, it might be the import. I didn't realise the Calibre viewer could open MOBI files (), but I accidentally clicked on that link when I was trying out one of the 'good' ones as an example, and realised it could. The MOBI file opened in the E-book Viewer, and looks, as far as I can see, just like the EPUB one - there's a slight difference in the page numbers, but all the chapter headings look the same. Anyhoo, I imported one of the 'bad' files, and tried out that MOBI and it's one, apparently blank, page. When I convert it, I then get the cover, followed by one blank page. 'Sweird!

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05-09-2012, 01:17 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you're seeing them in Calibre as AZW that means that your friend Alf hasn't done his job - they should be converted to Mobi on import by Alf's little helpers.

05-09-2012, 01:31 PM	#3
LuvReadin Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1925568 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-T1 and Cool-ER	Sorry, just rechecked - they are MOBI. Also, I tried out an online converter - I changed the AZW suffix of the file to MOBI and then converted a couple of the files, and they were fine; the entire book (as far as I could judge from a quick scroll-through) was there. Tried again with Calibre, both before and after changing the suffix -just the cover again. BTW, I checked these books in the Sony Reader software and ADE, just in case the problem was with the Calibre viewer, but they all gave the same results. Can't work it out - I reckon I get a success rate of about 1 in 3, and there's nothing obviously weird about those books.

05-10-2012, 03:38 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What stage is the problem occuring at - when you import the books into Calibre, or when you convert them to ePub? ie, if you open the Mobi book in Calibre do you see the entire book? There's certainly something strange going on; I've imported many HUNDREDS of Amazon books into Calibre, all entirely without problems.

05-11-2012, 04:08 AM	#5
LuvReadin Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1925568 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-T1 and Cool-ER	Don't think it's the importing; that seems to be fine. The books appear in the book list as MOBI, and there's no apparent difference between the 'good' and the 'bad' books. Then I convert them by selecting the relevant books and clicking on the 'Convert books' button, and all converted books show that they've got an EPUB file in addition to the existing MOBI. Again, so far, so good, and again, no apparent difference. But then, if I click on the 'EPUB' link (or find the folder and click directly on the EPUB file), the 'good' books will give me an entire book, but the 'bad' ones will just give me the cover followed by a blank page.

05-15-2012, 01:26 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'd suggest that you open a fault ticket on Kovid's site and attach one of the books that's failing to convert.

05-16-2012, 06:55 AM	#12
LuvReadin Addict Posts: 372 Karma: 1925568 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-T1 and Cool-ER	Thanks - will do.

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