ePub to mobi

random43743 · 01-18-2011, 10:10 AM

hi,

atm, i convert ePub to mobi using kindlegen by amazon, though i could as easy convert with calibre. as yet i haven't noticed much difference.

what are your experiences? which one is the better?
or is there an even better alternative as easy to use as those?

thx, r.

pdurrant · 01-18-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by random43743

atm, i convert ePub to mobi using kindlegen by amazon, though i could as easy convert with calibre. as yet i haven't noticed much difference.

what are your experiences? which one is the better?
or is there an even better alternative as easy to use as those?

Kindlegen is guaranteed to produce a valid Kindle file. Calibre is using code that Generates a Kindle (Mobipocket) file from a reverse-engineered specification, as the binary format of a Kindle file has never been documented externally.

OTOH, Calibre sometimes does a better job on converting the XHTML/CSS of an ePub to Kindle (Mobipocket) HTML.

docroc67 · 01-19-2011, 07:13 AM

Hi - If this has been answered here already, I apologize for the duplicate question, but, so far, I haven't found the answer to my question.

I am deciding whether to buy Kindle or Nook. One big issue for me is that I borrow ebooks from my local library in EPUB format. I have read various things in various places about the convertibility of EPUB files to Kindle-supported format(s) but can't seem to find a straight answer to whether DRM-protected library books can be converted.

I am not trying to steal books or circumvent anyone's copyright protection -- I just want to be able to read my library books on a Kindle.

I don't mind using Calibre or similar software to do the conversion, but, if it can only convert stuff that's in the public domain, then it's not going to help me with my library books.

Can anyone answer this unequivocally?

Thanks!

DMSmillie · 01-19-2011, 09:31 AM

The only way you would be able to convert DRM-protected EPUB library books to read on a Kindle would be if you removed the DRM from the file first.

docroc67 · 01-19-2011, 09:46 AM

Thanks for the answer on this. After I posted my question, I decided to download Calibre and try it. It refuses to convert a randomly-chosen library book and the error msg is specific about the cause being the DRM. They also have a fairly nice rant about how DRM is no barrier to crooks but a major inconvenience to ordinary users like me.

DMSmillie · 01-19-2011, 11:40 AM

For more information about ebooks and DRM, google 'Apprentice Alf's Blog'.

twedigteam · 01-21-2011, 05:28 PM

We're in the same boat, just working through a large library of ePub files, converting to MobiPocket. @random43743 we'd like to share your experience with using either the KindleGen or Calibre. I'm also wondering if creating Mobi files from scratch is doable + worht the time.

DMSmillie · 01-21-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twedigteam

We're in the same boat, just working through a large library of ePub files, converting to MobiPocket. @random43743 we'd like to share your experience with using either the KindleGen or Calibre. I'm also wondering if creating Mobi files from scratch is doable + worht the time.

It's certainly doable, but would involve creating essentially the same files that you already have in the EPUB file (XHTML content, CSS file, images, and XML .opf and .ncx files). An EPUB file simply bundles these files (plus an additional "mimetype" file) in a zip archive, whereas a MOBI file bundles them up in a proprietary format. MOBI is also more limited in the formatting options that will work successfully.

If your intention is to publish the MOBI files on Amazon for sale in the Kindle store, I'd recommend using Kindlegen to convert the EPUB files (one reason being that there is a problem with Amazon DRM, Calibre-created MOBI files, and the Kindle for PC application). Otherwise you could try a few with each application and use the one that gives the best conversion results.

st_albert · 01-22-2011, 01:41 AM

Lord knows I'm no expert on this kind of thing, but I've done a lot of epub -> mobi conversions (without having an actual kindle to test them on). Also, mostly I do fiction, so I'm usually not concerned with footnotes, illustrations, etc. My epubs are produced initially from the InDesign print book files, and heavily tweaked in sigil, by the way. Here are my observations:

Mobi format uses a table of contents (TOC) that is an "inline" html file, whereas epub uses the toc.ncx file for the same purpose. Typically, epubs do not also have an "inline" TOC within the book itself.

Given a valid epub, suitable for publication at, say, Apple Ibooks, conversion via kindlegen will not produce a TOC in the mobi. Calibre WILL produce the TOC, but it will be placed at the end of the mobi. Not an issue in a practical sense, since there will be a guide element that allows one to jump to the TOC from wherever you are, wherever the TOC is actually located. Nevertheless, the preferred place for the TOC is between the frontmatter and the "start reading" point of the book (i.e. Chapter One, or the Preface, or whatever).

However, as noted above, there is seemingly a problem with Calibre-produced mobi files not being quite compatible with Kindle DRM. In my case, my publisher prefers NOT to use DRM so we have not had any problems with this so far.

There is another issue, regarding the cover image. Given a valid sigli-produced epub, kindlegen will produce a mobi that has TWO cover images. That is, the cover image will be displayed, and on the next page, the cover image will be displayed again. This is IMHO a cosmetic issue that would likely not be noticed by the average reader, unless they navigate to the cover and then page through the ebook one page at a time, to see the frontmatter, rather than just starting at the first chapter.

And then there's the "start reading" thing. In the epub you're starting with, you can flag a given file (typically a chapter) with the guide element 'type="text" '. If the title of that element is "start reading", then the mobi file will open to that page. In order to achieve this you will have to expand the epub, edit the content.opf file, and re-zip the epub. Calibre will not respect this, however. But kindlegen will. So there's a point in favor of kindlegen.

That said, there have been a few instances where kindlegen did not properly render certain <span> elements in the mobi output, whereas calibre got it right.

So there are no absolutes, no guarantees.

If you're looking to convert epubs to mobi for your own private use, then it's a no-brainer to just use calibre. They'll work fine.

But if you want to create "PROFESSIONAL" mobi's from good epubs, then you've got some work ahead of you.

To answer the OP's original question, if I want to create a professional quality mobi, I will expand the epub and edit the content.opf file to suit, and then use kindlegen, with all its warts, to do the conversion. Then I will thoroughly check the output mobi, in all the mobi readers I can muster, to see if it all worked out as I expected. Lots, of work, but that's why they pay me the "big bucks" -- NOT!

BTW, as I said, I am no expert. If you want a real opinion, check with Hitch.

01-18-2011, 10:10 AM	#1
random43743 Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Germany Device: kindle PW + kindle 3	ePub to mobi hi, atm, i convert ePub to mobi using kindlegen by amazon, though i could as easy convert with calibre. as yet i haven't noticed much difference. what are your experiences? which one is the better? or is there an even better alternative as easy to use as those? thx, r.

01-19-2011, 07:13 AM	#3
docroc67 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Siberia, AKA Western New York Device: Deciding between Kindle and Nook	Deciding between Kindle and Nook based on EPUB convertibility Hi - If this has been answered here already, I apologize for the duplicate question, but, so far, I haven't found the answer to my question. I am deciding whether to buy Kindle or Nook. One big issue for me is that I borrow ebooks from my local library in EPUB format. I have read various things in various places about the convertibility of EPUB files to Kindle-supported format(s) but can't seem to find a straight answer to whether DRM-protected library books can be converted. I am not trying to steal books or circumvent anyone's copyright protection -- I just want to be able to read my library books on a Kindle. I don't mind using Calibre or similar software to do the conversion, but, if it can only convert stuff that's in the public domain, then it's not going to help me with my library books. Can anyone answer this unequivocally? Thanks!

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01-19-2011, 09:31 AM	#4
DMSmillie Enquiring Mind Posts: 562 Karma: 42350 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	The only way you would be able to convert DRM-protected EPUB library books to read on a Kindle would be if you removed the DRM from the file first.

01-19-2011, 09:46 AM	#5
docroc67 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Siberia, AKA Western New York Device: Deciding between Kindle and Nook	Thanks for the answer on this. After I posted my question, I decided to download Calibre and try it. It refuses to convert a randomly-chosen library book and the error msg is specific about the cause being the DRM. They also have a fairly nice rant about how DRM is no barrier to crooks but a major inconvenience to ordinary users like me.

01-19-2011, 11:40 AM	#6
DMSmillie Enquiring Mind Posts: 562 Karma: 42350 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	For more information about ebooks and DRM, google 'Apprentice Alf's Blog'.

01-21-2011, 05:28 PM	#7
twedigteam Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony eReader	We're in the same boat, just working through a large library of ePub files, converting to MobiPocket. @random43743 we'd like to share your experience with using either the KindleGen or Calibre. I'm also wondering if creating Mobi files from scratch is doable + worht the time.

01-22-2011, 01:41 AM	#9
st_albert Guru Posts: 697 Karma: 150000 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: none	Lord knows I'm no expert on this kind of thing, but I've done a lot of epub -> mobi conversions (without having an actual kindle to test them on). Also, mostly I do fiction, so I'm usually not concerned with footnotes, illustrations, etc. My epubs are produced initially from the InDesign print book files, and heavily tweaked in sigil, by the way. Here are my observations: Mobi format uses a table of contents (TOC) that is an "inline" html file, whereas epub uses the toc.ncx file for the same purpose. Typically, epubs do not also have an "inline" TOC within the book itself. Given a valid epub, suitable for publication at, say, Apple Ibooks, conversion via kindlegen will not produce a TOC in the mobi. Calibre WILL produce the TOC, but it will be placed at the end of the mobi. Not an issue in a practical sense, since there will be a guide element that allows one to jump to the TOC from wherever you are, wherever the TOC is actually located. Nevertheless, the preferred place for the TOC is between the frontmatter and the "start reading" point of the book (i.e. Chapter One, or the Preface, or whatever). However, as noted above, there is seemingly a problem with Calibre-produced mobi files not being quite compatible with Kindle DRM. In my case, my publisher prefers NOT to use DRM so we have not had any problems with this so far. There is another issue, regarding the cover image. Given a valid sigli-produced epub, kindlegen will produce a mobi that has TWO cover images. That is, the cover image will be displayed, and on the next page, the cover image will be displayed again. This is IMHO a cosmetic issue that would likely not be noticed by the average reader, unless they navigate to the cover and then page through the ebook one page at a time, to see the frontmatter, rather than just starting at the first chapter. And then there's the "start reading" thing. In the epub you're starting with, you can flag a given file (typically a chapter) with the guide element 'type="text" '. If the title of that element is "start reading", then the mobi file will open to that page. In order to achieve this you will have to expand the epub, edit the content.opf file, and re-zip the epub. Calibre will not respect this, however. But kindlegen will. So there's a point in favor of kindlegen. That said, there have been a few instances where kindlegen did not properly render certain <span> elements in the mobi output, whereas calibre got it right. So there are no absolutes, no guarantees. If you're looking to convert epubs to mobi for your own private use, then it's a no-brainer to just use calibre. They'll work fine. But if you want to create "PROFESSIONAL" mobi's from good epubs, then you've got some work ahead of you. To answer the OP's original question, if I want to create a professional quality mobi, I will expand the epub and edit the content.opf file to suit, and then use kindlegen, with all its warts, to do the conversion. Then I will thoroughly check the output mobi, in all the mobi readers I can muster, to see if it all worked out as I expected. Lots, of work, but that's why they pay me the "big bucks" -- NOT! BTW, as I said, I am no expert. If you want a real opinion, check with Hitch.

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