kepub or plain old epub?

[Crowriver]

I'm in the process of preparing Kobo readers for my family. I'll be sideloading books using Calibre on my Mac.

I have read a few things about kepub being the optimal format for Kobo readers, but I'm not sure how to convert existing epubs to this format in Calibre, or whether this is necessary. Will straight epub do the job fine, or is there some extra benefit to converting to kepub? If so, how would I go about it?

For reference, the target devices are a Glo, a Touch and a Mini.

Any comments, tips appreciated.

[davidfor]

It isn't needed, unless you want it. The features of kepubs include:

• Popup for footnotes
• Can zoom images
• In-book progress stats
• Slightly faster page turning (but not fast enough that I notice it)

The features of epubs include:

• Uses Adobe page numbering
• Supports rendering features such as ligatures

Note that I have deliberately used the word "features" rather than pros and cons. I'll let others make claims on as to what they are and which format is "optimal".

But, overall, if you don't read books with images and footnotes, there are not that many differences. If you read those sort of books, then kepubs have a distinct advantage.

Honestly, the best thing is to try it and see what you like. As you are a calibre user, install the KoboTouchExtended driver. That transforms books to kepubs as you send them to the device. Try a couple of epubs, try a couple of kepubs and see which you prefer.

[Crowriver]

Thanks for the advice. I will try out the plugin you suggest, looks useful. I note that Standard Ebooks offer kepub as a format option for their well designed editions, so I can try some of those too.

The Kobo readers are for my family, it will mostly be fiction that I'll load on. Will be adding some manga too for the kids, but I'm reasonably au fait now with KCC to optimise the images in cbz files for the Kobo readers.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Crowriver

I note that Standard Ebooks offer kepub as a format option for their well designed editions, so I can try some of those too.

I'm sure I'd seen some discussions in the past that their kepub format was disastrous and should be avoided.

You might want to look at the MobileReads library as a great source for well formatted Epub content.

[geek1011]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'm sure I'd seen some discussions in the past that their kepub format was disastrous and should be avoided.

You might want to look at the MobileReads library as a great source for well formatted Epub content.

Yes, they only add spans.

[koboy]

Originally Posted by Crowriver

I'm in the process of preparing Kobo readers for my family. I'll be sideloading books using Calibre on my Mac.

I have read a few things about kepub being the optimal format for Kobo readers, but I'm not sure how to convert existing epubs to this format in Calibre, or whether this is necessary. Will straight epub do the job fine, or is there some extra benefit to converting to kepub? If so, how would I go about it?

For reference, the target devices are a Glo, a Touch and a Mini.

Any comments, tips appreciated.

i'll echo advise already given. try both and decide which you prefer. you can also use kepubify to convert epub to kepub. https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=326652

best wishes koboy

[PeterT]

See https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=328328 or https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh....php?p=3939831

[Crowriver]

All very interesting! I can see there is more to this kepub - epub thing than meets the eye.
I think I shall go for kepub for the feature set. But I will try out some standard epubs too for comparison.

Thanks folks.

[ZodWallop]

TL;DR: Both are nice. You really can't go wrong with either.

If you'd like to read too much info on each, please proceed:

ePubs and kepubs use different layout engines. ePubs use RMDSK and kepubs use access. Each has strengths and weaknesses.

I use kepubs primarily because of the way page numbering works. If a chapter says it is 22 pages, then you turn the page 22 times and you will be at the end of the chapter. If you enlarge the font so now fewer words fit on the screen, the chapter length will change to reflect that.

EPub uses some formula, so a page can be anything from less than a screen to three screens. So a 22 page chapter could mean you would be turning the page anywhere from 20 to 60 times. But the page count will stay the same no matter how large or how small the font is.

This used to matter when I was in the office and would read on fifteen minute breaks. Kepubs page count felt more accurate to me.

Since I've been working from home and time isn't so regimented, I've been switching between reading kepubs on my Kobo and ePubs on my Nook.

ePubs tend to have better layout. Kepubs will sometimes leave big gaps between words when the text is justified. Fonts also tend to look better on ePub.

The pop-up footnotes are nice, but if you don't read a lot of fiction with footnotes, you won't use it much.

If you are giving these to relatives, I would say use kepubs. The most common question from people new to ereaders (that handle epubs) is why the page number doesn't change when they turn the page.

[John F]

In addition to the kepub having popup footnotes, I believe the consensus is that footnotes are easier to activate with kepubs.

[ZodWallop]

Whatever format you wind up using, I would recommend using JSWolf's Better Hyphenation dictionary. It will make the books look nicer. You can get it here.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Crowriver

Thanks for the advice. I will try out the plugin you suggest, looks useful. I note that Standard Ebooks offer kepub as a format option for their well designed editions, so I can try some of those too.

I like Standard Ebooks myself. I've never downloaded a kepub from them. I download ePub and use the Kobo extended driver to convert it to kepub when I send it to my Kobo.

[Crowriver]

Lots of useful tips, thanks!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by davidfor

It isn't needed, unless you want it. The features of kepubs include:

• Popup for footnotes
• Can zoom images
• In-book progress stats
• Slightly faster page turning (but not fast enough that I notice it)

The features of epubs include:

• Uses Adobe page numbering
• Supports rendering features such as ligatures

Note that I have deliberately used the word "features" rather than pros and cons. I'll let others make claims on as to what they are and which format is "optimal".

But, overall, if you don't read books with images and footnotes, there are not that many differences. If you read those sort of books, then kepubs have a distinct advantage.

Honestly, the best thing is to try it and see what you like. As you are a calibre user, install the KoboTouchExtended driver. That transforms books to kepubs as you send them to the device. Try a couple of epubs, try a couple of kepubs and see which you prefer.

Couple of things. KePub has a bug whee you need a larger line height or you get part of the top line of the next page showing. With ePub, you can have whatever line height you want.

Next if you do have have the patches installed to normalize the font sizes so KePub matches ePub, the KePub font size is much smaller and switching between is a pain because of the significant font size differences.

I read ePub mostly because I want a smaller line height and the better type setting.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I'm sure I'd seen some discussions in the past that their kepub format was disastrous and should be avoided.

You might want to look at the MobileReads library as a great source for well formatted Epub content.

Standard Ebooks lies.

epub - All devices and apps except Amazon Kindle and Kobo.

It's ePub 3 and it does work on Kobo.

azw3 - Amazon Kindle devices and apps. Also download the Kindle cover thumbnail to see the cover in your Kindle’s library.

KF8 does not work on the iOS Kindle app. It's AZK that's needed.

kepub — Kobo devices and apps.

Not correctly made so it doesn't work properly

epub3 — Advanced format not yet fully compatible with most ereaders.

The ePub 3 is worthless as they have an epub 3 that is backwards compatible. This one is not backwards compatible.

So overall, rubbish.