K4 Mac or PC How does one identify books in Topaz format?

AlexBell · 04-09-2010, 06:46 AM

I recently bought a Kindle for PC ebook, and found it to be in Topaz format. I'd like to avoid buying ebooks in Topaz format in future, but don't know how to identify them. The file suffix was .prc, and I can see no difference in its display on Amazon from a Kindle for PC book in prc/mobi format.

Is there a way to tell before buying whether an ebook is in prc/mobi format or in Topaz format?

Regards, Alex

greyparrot · 04-09-2010, 06:57 AM

Yes, if they don't show 'File Size' on the books page it is most likely a topaz book. Also you can download a sample and if it has 'azw1' extension then its topaz.

tomsem · 04-09-2010, 12:02 PM

With Kindle4Mac (probably Kindle4PC also), everything you download has '.azw' file extension. So unfortunately you can't tell from the file extension with these.

wallcraft · 04-09-2010, 01:26 PM

With K4PC, all the ebooks download as .prc files. I find that the lack of a filesize on the Kindle Store web page is a reliable tell, but the safest approach is to download the sample and use a text editor to look at the file. A TOPAZ ebook will start with TPZ0.

poohbear_nc · 04-09-2010, 01:28 PM

Download a sample and look at it - most Topaz books are hideously formatted.

04-09-2010, 06:46 AM	#1
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	How does one identify books in Topaz format? I recently bought a Kindle for PC ebook, and found it to be in Topaz format. I'd like to avoid buying ebooks in Topaz format in future, but don't know how to identify them. The file suffix was .prc, and I can see no difference in its display on Amazon from a Kindle for PC book in prc/mobi format. Is there a way to tell before buying whether an ebook is in prc/mobi format or in Topaz format? Regards, Alex

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04-09-2010, 06:57 AM	#2
greyparrot eBook enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 17 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Device: Kindle DX/Kindle 2/Sony PRS-505	Yes, if they don't show 'File Size' on the books page it is most likely a topaz book. Also you can download a sample and if it has 'azw1' extension then its topaz.

04-09-2010, 12:02 PM	#3
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,900 Karma: 27013865 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	With Kindle4Mac (probably Kindle4PC also), everything you download has '.azw' file extension. So unfortunately you can't tell from the file extension with these.

04-09-2010, 01:26 PM	#4
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	With K4PC, all the ebooks download as .prc files. I find that the lack of a filesize on the Kindle Store web page is a reliable tell, but the safest approach is to download the sample and use a text editor to look at the file. A TOPAZ ebook will start with TPZ0.

04-09-2010, 01:28 PM	#5
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,779 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Download a sample and look at it - most Topaz books are hideously formatted.

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