Export book from Kobo to Calibre

Deskisamess · 06-05-2018, 10:58 AM

Not sure which forum is correct...I just bought a book on Kobo, and it delivered to my Kobo Glo with no issues. I was able to get a 90% discount, which is why I bought it from Kobo.

I can't see the book on the device in Windows file manager, and Calibre also doesn't "see" the book on the device.

It's been some time since I attempted to get a book from the Kobo to Calibre so I could format shift it, and get it to a Paperwhite. It's not a huge deal right now, as hubby can certainly read the book on the Kobo, but I'd like to get to Calibre.

ADE on my computer also does not see this particular book, when the Kobo is plugged in to the USB port on my computer. I admit to never fully grasping the ADE world, and never really used it either.

I'm obviously missing something.

ilovejedd · 06-05-2018, 11:05 AM

As the answer to this requires details on how to remove DRM from Kobo ebooks, best to post this question on Apprentice Alf.

Deskisamess · 06-05-2018, 11:09 AM

That part I understand. I'm more concerned with why I can't "see" the book on the device when using Windows file management.

jackie_w · 06-05-2018, 11:10 AM

If it downloaded OTA to your Kobo the book will be a kepub and stored in the /.kobo/kepub directory. It will have no file extension and the filename will be gobbledegook something like this 03fd9619-61e2-4758-a4bf-3ad7eb5c06c5.

If it contains DRM you're going to need the help of Apprentice Alf and his Obok plugin for calibre. As long as you're connected via USB this plugin can read your device directly and decrypt/transfer it to calibre.

If it doesn't contain DRM you can probably just copy it to the PC and rename it to have a file extension of .kepub (or maybe .kepub.epub) then drag into calibre in the normal way.

Deskisamess · 06-05-2018, 11:13 AM

Ah, so my plugins are most likely not current for this device since I've not used it in a while. Thanks...

Deskisamess · 06-05-2018, 12:54 PM

Had a seriously duh moment here. Now I remember exactly why I didn't like buying books from Kobo. I remember now that you can't see the book files the way I wanted on the device. Even after I bought the Glo I continued to buy books from Amazon.

I'm abandoning the attempts to get this book converted at this point. All roads have been a dead end.

Mrs_Often · 06-05-2018, 01:00 PM

To get the actual ePub you should download it from your Kobo account (via the browser), not try to get it off your device. The thing on your Glo is a kepub, not an ePub.

In your Kobo account, find the purchased book under "My Books", click the "..." and select "Download". That will give you the ascm to download the ePub with in ADE.

Mrs_Often · 06-05-2018, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

Had a seriously duh moment here. Now I remember exactly why I didn't like buying books from Kobo. I remember now that you can't see the book files the way I wanted on the device. Even after I bought the Glo I continued to buy books from Amazon.

I'm abandoning the attempts to get this book converted at this point. All roads have been a dead end.

You can actually see epubs on the Kobo if you out epubs on the Kobo. It works just like a USB stick. The reason why you can't see books that are put on your Glo directly through your Kobo account is because they're not epubs but kepubs. See my post above for how to get the ePub

jackie_w · 06-05-2018, 01:12 PM

@Deskisamess,

I'm not sure what you're saying. Using Alf's Obok plugin for Kobo is no more difficult than using his plugin for Adobe/Amazon - it's just slightly different.

And if you sideload books from calibre the filenames on the device are human-readable (containing Author and Title) with standard file extensions of .epub for standard epubs and .kepub.epub for kepubs.

Deskisamess · 06-05-2018, 01:52 PM

Success! Thanks Jackie...I had stepped away from the computer, and thought the process through again. I had to sort of "start over" after reading your posts, and finally was able to do all the steps in the correct order.

I don't know why working with the Kobo has always been difficult for me...I manage Amazon bought books easily in Calibre. I think it is because I rarely purchased from Kobo, so never really wrapped my head around the process. I had Calibre all set to handle Amazon books without a second thought. I'm distracted today also by family stuff.

But I do appreciate the help, and hubby can read his book on his Paperwhite now. And I'm happy I figured it out. I get frustrated when I don't understand stuff, and am pleased to finally get it.

jackie_w · 06-05-2018, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I get frustrated when I don't understand stuff, and am pleased to finally get it.

Me too! Glad you finally got there

patrik · 06-05-2018, 02:06 PM

This is why I probably will keep using Kobos. People like jackie_w, davidfor etc. are not only helpful, they know their stuff.

Incanus · 06-05-2018, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrik

This is why I probably will keep using Kobos. People like jackie_w, davidfor etc. are not only helpful, they know their stuff.

Hear, hear!

06-05-2018, 10:58 AM	#1
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,750 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Export book from Kobo to Calibre Not sure which forum is correct...I just bought a book on Kobo, and it delivered to my Kobo Glo with no issues. I was able to get a 90% discount, which is why I bought it from Kobo. I can't see the book on the device in Windows file manager, and Calibre also doesn't "see" the book on the device. It's been some time since I attempted to get a book from the Kobo to Calibre so I could format shift it, and get it to a Paperwhite. It's not a huge deal right now, as hubby can certainly read the book on the Kobo, but I'd like to get to Calibre. ADE on my computer also does not see this particular book, when the Kobo is plugged in to the USB port on my computer. I admit to never fully grasping the ADE world, and never really used it either. I'm obviously missing something.

06-05-2018, 11:10 AM	#4
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,251 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	If it downloaded OTA to your Kobo the book will be a kepub and stored in the /.kobo/kepub directory. It will have no file extension and the filename will be gobbledegook something like this 03fd9619-61e2-4758-a4bf-3ad7eb5c06c5. If it contains DRM you're going to need the help of Apprentice Alf and his Obok plugin for calibre. As long as you're connected via USB this plugin can read your device directly and decrypt/transfer it to calibre. If it doesn't contain DRM you can probably just copy it to the PC and rename it to have a file extension of .kepub (or maybe .kepub.epub) then drag into calibre in the normal way. Last edited by jackie_w; 06-05-2018 at 11:18 AM. Reason: I hope I haven't said too much here

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06-05-2018, 11:05 AM	#2
ilovejedd hopeless n00b Posts: 5,110 Karma: 19597086 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: in the middle of nowhere Device: PW4, PW3, Libra H2O, iPad 10.5, iPad 11, iPad 12.9	As the answer to this requires details on how to remove DRM from Kobo ebooks, best to post this question on Apprentice Alf.

06-05-2018, 11:09 AM	#3
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,750 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	That part I understand. I'm more concerned with why I can't "see" the book on the device when using Windows file management.

06-05-2018, 11:13 AM	#5
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,750 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Ah, so my plugins are most likely not current for this device since I've not used it in a while. Thanks...

06-05-2018, 12:54 PM	#6
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,750 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Had a seriously duh moment here. Now I remember exactly why I didn't like buying books from Kobo. I remember now that you can't see the book files the way I wanted on the device. Even after I bought the Glo I continued to buy books from Amazon. I'm abandoning the attempts to get this book converted at this point. All roads have been a dead end.

06-05-2018, 01:00 PM	#7
Mrs_Often Wizard Posts: 1,775 Karma: 2694823 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: The Netherlands Device: Kobo Touch, Glo, Clara HD	To get the actual ePub you should download it from your Kobo account (via the browser), not try to get it off your device. The thing on your Glo is a kepub, not an ePub. In your Kobo account, find the purchased book under "My Books", click the "..." and select "Download". That will give you the ascm to download the ePub with in ADE.

06-05-2018, 01:12 PM	#9
jackie_w Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,251 Karma: 16539642 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: UK Device: ClaraHD, Forma, Libra2, Clara2E, LibraCol, PBTouchHD3	@Deskisamess, I'm not sure what you're saying. Using Alf's Obok plugin for Kobo is no more difficult than using his plugin for Adobe/Amazon - it's just slightly different. And if you sideload books from calibre the filenames on the device are human-readable (containing Author and Title) with standard file extensions of .epub for standard epubs and .kepub.epub for kepubs.

06-05-2018, 01:52 PM	#10
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,750 Karma: 45300001 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Success! Thanks Jackie...I had stepped away from the computer, and thought the process through again. I had to sort of "start over" after reading your posts, and finally was able to do all the steps in the correct order. I don't know why working with the Kobo has always been difficult for me...I manage Amazon bought books easily in Calibre. I think it is because I rarely purchased from Kobo, so never really wrapped my head around the process. I had Calibre all set to handle Amazon books without a second thought. I'm distracted today also by family stuff. But I do appreciate the help, and hubby can read his book on his Paperwhite now. And I'm happy I figured it out. I get frustrated when I don't understand stuff, and am pleased to finally get it.

06-05-2018, 02:06 PM	#12
patrik Guru Posts: 682 Karma: 4568205 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kobo Forma	This is why I probably will keep using Kobos. People like jackie_w, davidfor etc. are not only helpful, they know their stuff.

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