Help with Kindle for PC and Calibre

murphzmom · 05-02-2012, 11:16 PM

I am hoping that someone might be able to give me a walkthrough on how I can take books that are in my Kindle for PC program and get them into Calibre so that I can convert them to epub. I know about the DRM and how to go about taking care of that issue. What I have done is gone to the location on my computer where the books are downloaded to (my kindle content). When I open that folder there are a bunch of files of what I assume are my books, they are not named but just a bunch of numbers and letters. The problem I am having is that none of them have the .mobi file extension that is used for the Kindles.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Mindy

sadievan · 05-02-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphzmom

I am hoping that someone might be able to give me a walkthrough on how I can take books that are in my Kindle for PC program and get them into Calibre so that I can convert them to epub. I know about the DRM and how to go about taking care of that issue. What I have done is gone to the location on my computer where the books are downloaded to (my kindle content). When I open that folder there are a bunch of files of what I assume are my books, they are not named but just a bunch of numbers and letters. The problem I am having is that none of them have the .mobi file extension that is used for the Kindles.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Mindy

The extension for books in My Kindle Content is .azw.

Carol

Synamon · 05-02-2012, 11:22 PM

The files in that folder that end with .azw are your Kindle books. Drag and drop those into calibre.

Since the file names don't have author or title in them it gets a bit confusing keeping track of which files you've already loaded in calibre if you are buying Amazon books on a regular basis and sending them to K4PC. You can sort the list by clicking on the date header in your file manager, so you can see which files are the most recent, that makes it easier to keep track of what you've already loaded in calibre.

desertgrandma · 05-02-2012, 11:23 PM

Right. When I go to my "kindle content" the books have no titles, just numbers.........I usually go by date to see which one I want to import.

Just click "add books", on Calibre, then click on any file and when it is imported, if you have the plug ins installed correctly, the book will load with title, and cover, if provided, drm free.

If there is no cover or synopsis, you can then choose "edit metadata" on Calibre and it will find the appropriate info for you.

After all that is done, you can choose "convert books", choose 'epub' from the menu on the top right, and you're done.

All books can be converted at the same time if you like.

Once all books are loaded, I just delete them from the Kindle content file......they are always reloadable from Amazon, and it keeps the clutter down.

edit: this is just my way of doing it.......as noted, there are others!

Talldog · 05-03-2012, 06:48 AM

Are you using Kindle for PC as a reader or just for the purpose of getting the books into Calibre? I'm using it just to get books into Calibre, so I just empty the KPC folder and download the book I want. That way, there's no question that you have the right one for the import. If you do use it as a reader, but you want to import one book, move everything to a temp folder and download the one you want, import it, then move everything back. If you want to import everything, then it doesn't matter. Just select all of them.

HarryT · 05-03-2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talldog

Are you using Kindle for PC as a reader or just for the purpose of getting the books into Calibre? I'm using it just to get books into Calibre, so I just empty the KPC folder and download the book I want. That way, there's no question that you have the right one for the import. If you do use it as a reader, but you want to import one book, move everything to a temp folder and download the one you want, import it, then move everything back. If you want to import everything, then it doesn't matter. Just select all of them.

Even if you do have a lot of books, as I do myself, adding the new books into Calibre is no problem. All you have to do, as someone mentioned before, is to sort the "My Kindle Content" folder by date.

Pookeysgirl · 05-03-2012, 11:32 AM

Also, if you want to know which books are which in the future, change the name of the file in My Kindle Content to the title of the book. That's how I keep track of my books and I find it easier to find the newest book, I just look for the only file with numbers and letters as the name. Mind you, I don't know how many books you have so changing the file name for 500 books or so would be a pain.

Thanks Synamon, I didn't know you could just drag and drop into Calibre. I've always used the 'Add Books' icon.

Synamon · 05-03-2012, 12:15 PM

If anyone with a Kindle is downloading to K4PC only to get the books on their computer and into calibre, there's a better way.

Select the 'Transfer via Computer' option when you one click purchase a book or 'Download & transfer via USB' from the Actions button in your Kindle Library (Manage Your Kindle page). You'll get a popup and you can choose the Kindle you are downloading the content for, then another popup asking what folder on your computer you want to send the file to (I created a folder called 'Amazon downloads'). The ebook file that downloads won't have the number gobbledygook, it will have the book title which makes it much easier to manage.

Even better, you can set up calibre to automatically add the books from the folder that you download the files to (Preferences > Add Books > (tab) Automatic Adding). Note: calibre will delete the file from the folder after it auto adds it and you need a recent version, 0.8.44 or so.

HarryT · 05-03-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

If anyone with a Kindle is downloading to K4PC only to get the books on their computer and into calibre, there's a better way.

Select the 'Transfer via Computer' option when you one click purchase a book or 'Download & transfer via USB' from the Actions button in your Kindle Library (Manage Your Kindle page). You'll get a popup and you can choose the Kindle you are downloading the content for, then another popup asking what folder on your computer you want to send the file to. The ebook file that downloads won't have the number gobbledygook, it will have the book title which makes it much easier to manage.

That seems to be "better" only in the sense that you get to see what the title is. It's an awful lot more mouse clicks, though, especially if (like me) you buy several books at a time. All I do is:

1. Buy my books (Kindle for PC is the default destination for them).
2. Run Kindle for PC and wait for the new books to appear.
3. Open my desktop shortcut for the "My Kindle Content" folder, which is set to sort by descending date.
4. Select all the books with today's date and drag them into Calibre.

Much easier, IMHO

.

Synamon · 05-03-2012, 12:28 PM

A couple extra clicks when buying the ebook to avoid steps 2, 3, and 4 isn't better? To each his own.

HarryT · 05-03-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

A couple extra clicks when buying the ebook to avoid steps 2, 3, and 4 isn't better? To each his own.

Not to me, but as you very rightly say, the important thing is to find a method that work for you, as we've both done

.

Blossom · 05-03-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphzmom

I am hoping that someone might be able to give me a walkthrough on how I can take books that are in my Kindle for PC program and get them into Calibre so that I can convert them to epub. I know about the DRM and how to go about taking care of that issue. What I have done is gone to the location on my computer where the books are downloaded to (my kindle content). When I open that folder there are a bunch of files of what I assume are my books, they are not named but just a bunch of numbers and letters. The problem I am having is that none of them have the .mobi file extension that is used for the Kindles.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Mindy

Install Alissa's Mobi handler. Then all your Amazon mobi books will have thumbnails and in the columns of Explorer it will show title and author. You can also right click on any mobi file and go to properties and with this add on it will show the info you need. I love, love that she made this! It will not show topaz books just AZW that are really mobi. Now if only we had it for epub.

cmargm · 05-03-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

Install Alissa's Mobi handler. Then all your Amazon mobi books will have thumbnails and in the columns of Explorer it will show title and author. You can also right click on any mobi file and go to properties and with this add on it will show the info you need. I love, love that she made this! It will not show topaz books just AZW that are really mobi. Now if only we had it for epub.

Sounds like a wonderful Mobi Handler. When I went to download and install it, the program comes in as a Powerpoint file and I am unable to run the installer. Has anyone else had this problem or am I just not knowing what to do? I am running Windows 7 64 bit. If it is not user error (which it probably is), I will go to her original message and put my question there. Thanks for any help.

wallcraft · 05-03-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmargm

Sounds like a wonderful Mobi Handler. When I went to download and install it, the program comes in as a Powerpoint file and I am unable to run the installer.

I downloaded mobihandler-1-1-setup which is a .msi file and it installed ok.

Joykins · 05-03-2012, 09:07 PM

another thing, if you load a book into Calibre and Calibre already has it, it will tell you and ask you if you want to load a duplicate. If that happens, just say no and don't worry about it.

05-02-2012, 11:16 PM	#1
murphzmom Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Nook	Help with Kindle for PC and Calibre I am hoping that someone might be able to give me a walkthrough on how I can take books that are in my Kindle for PC program and get them into Calibre so that I can convert them to epub. I know about the DRM and how to go about taking care of that issue. What I have done is gone to the location on my computer where the books are downloaded to (my kindle content). When I open that folder there are a bunch of files of what I assume are my books, they are not named but just a bunch of numbers and letters. The problem I am having is that none of them have the .mobi file extension that is used for the Kindles. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Mindy

05-03-2012, 12:15 PM	#8
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	If anyone with a Kindle is downloading to K4PC only to get the books on their computer and into calibre, there's a better way. Select the 'Transfer via Computer' option when you one click purchase a book or 'Download & transfer via USB' from the Actions button in your Kindle Library (Manage Your Kindle page). You'll get a popup and you can choose the Kindle you are downloading the content for, then another popup asking what folder on your computer you want to send the file to (I created a folder called 'Amazon downloads'). The ebook file that downloads won't have the number gobbledygook, it will have the book title which makes it much easier to manage. Even better, you can set up calibre to automatically add the books from the folder that you download the files to (Preferences > Add Books > (tab) Automatic Adding). Note: calibre will delete the file from the folder after it auto adds it and you need a recent version, 0.8.44 or so. Last edited by Synamon; 05-03-2012 at 12:17 PM.

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05-02-2012, 11:22 PM	#3
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	The files in that folder that end with .azw are your Kindle books. Drag and drop those into calibre. Since the file names don't have author or title in them it gets a bit confusing keeping track of which files you've already loaded in calibre if you are buying Amazon books on a regular basis and sending them to K4PC. You can sort the list by clicking on the date header in your file manager, so you can see which files are the most recent, that makes it easier to keep track of what you've already loaded in calibre.

05-02-2012, 11:23 PM	#4
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Right. When I go to my "kindle content" the books have no titles, just numbers.........I usually go by date to see which one I want to import. Just click "add books", on Calibre, then click on any file and when it is imported, if you have the plug ins installed correctly, the book will load with title, and cover, if provided, drm free. If there is no cover or synopsis, you can then choose "edit metadata" on Calibre and it will find the appropriate info for you. After all that is done, you can choose "convert books", choose 'epub' from the menu on the top right, and you're done. All books can be converted at the same time if you like. Once all books are loaded, I just delete them from the Kindle content file......they are always reloadable from Amazon, and it keeps the clutter down. edit: this is just my way of doing it.......as noted, there are others!

05-03-2012, 06:48 AM	#5
Talldog Addict Posts: 293 Karma: 1431716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Paperwhite, KDX Graphite, Surface Pro	Are you using Kindle for PC as a reader or just for the purpose of getting the books into Calibre? I'm using it just to get books into Calibre, so I just empty the KPC folder and download the book I want. That way, there's no question that you have the right one for the import. If you do use it as a reader, but you want to import one book, move everything to a temp folder and download the one you want, import it, then move everything back. If you want to import everything, then it doesn't matter. Just select all of them.

05-03-2012, 11:32 AM	#7
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	Also, if you want to know which books are which in the future, change the name of the file in My Kindle Content to the title of the book. That's how I keep track of my books and I find it easier to find the newest book, I just look for the only file with numbers and letters as the name. Mind you, I don't know how many books you have so changing the file name for 500 books or so would be a pain. Thanks Synamon, I didn't know you could just drag and drop into Calibre. I've always used the 'Add Books' icon.

05-03-2012, 12:28 PM	#10
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	A couple extra clicks when buying the ebook to avoid steps 2, 3, and 4 isn't better? To each his own.

05-03-2012, 09:07 PM	#15
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	another thing, if you load a book into Calibre and Calibre already has it, it will tell you and ask you if you want to load a duplicate. If that happens, just say no and don't worry about it.

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