Newbie: unable to download books

Docmatix · 12-22-2013, 12:59 PM

I'm sure that I must be missing something obvious but I can't work out how to get books off my iPad onto Calibre on my Mac.

The iPad is running Kindle, iBooks and Google reader; I want to manage all my books in a single place and have downloaded Calibre to my Mac. Despite reading the Calibre instructions, consulting forums and Google I still can't work out how to get the books off the iPad and onto Calibre.

Manual 4.1 states that with the device connected to computer a Device icon will appear next to Books in toolbar. This does not seem to be the case.

An old Forum reply by Kovid Goyal states 'If you are using the latest release of calibre you can just drag and drop books from the device view onto the calibre icon to add them to your calibre library.' What is the 'device view'. An iPad icon appears in iTunes when it's connected but there is no list of purchased books. If I command (right) click on this icon it gives me the option to 'Transfer Purchases' but then tries to import all of my Apps from the iPad.

I'm sure Calibre will be useful if I can ever get it to work. There must be Mac + iPad users out there who can advise me what I'm missing.

Thanks,

Mike

eschwartz · 12-22-2013, 07:43 PM

iDevices tend to be locked down a lot, I believe there is no straightforward way of connecting to them. Try using the iOS reader applications plugin and beware that it doesn't work with iBooks on OSX 10.9 (Mavericks).

A good general resource for iDevices used with calibre is calibre manual FAQ -- iDevices or the following MR thread: Calibre + Apple iDevices: Start here

Docmatix · 12-23-2013, 01:23 AM

Eschwartz,

thanks for your reply but it doesn't help. Forums are full of advice, such as this, on how to send Calibre content to iOS devices.
My problem is the opposite: I want to send content from an iPad to Calibre running on a Mac. I surely can't be the only person who needs a solution to this issue.

Mike

eschwartz · 12-23-2013, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docmatix

Eschwartz,

thanks for your reply but it doesn't help. Forums are full of advice, such as this, on how to send Calibre content to iOS devices.
My problem is the opposite: I want to send content from an iPad to Calibre running on a Mac. I surely can't be the only person who needs a solution to this issue.

Mike

I don't know of any way you can.

For Kindle books, you should just install the Kindle for Mac and download through there. iBooks should also be in iTunes purchases, but will be DRM'ed to death anyway, and Google books should be downloadable from https://play.google.com/books as .acsm files which you can verify with Adobe Digital editions.

Docmatix · 12-23-2013, 02:28 AM

Eschwartz,

thanks. I'll just forget about Calibre and stick with my current random distribution of books across multiple reader formats. It's a bit disappointing as I thought Calibre was supposed to be the solution to this problem.

Docmatix

eschwartz · 12-23-2013, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docmatix

Eschwartz,

thanks. I'll just forget about Calibre and stick with my current random distribution of books across multiple reader formats. It's a bit disappointing as I thought Calibre was supposed to be the solution to this problem.

Docmatix

calibre has difficulty reading from locations that have been designed to be as unreadable as possible... Any iDevice will require workarounds to do ANYTHING Apple doesn't like.

meeera · 12-23-2013, 02:53 AM

Docmatix: If you want your books free and organised, buying from iBooks is the worst possible choice. Stick to Amazon and the various ADE-compatible stores (Google, Sony, (most of) Kobo, etc) and you will be fine. There is a small learning curve on how to access your books once you have downloaded them from the relevant stores, and another one on how to free them from DRM (which we cannot advise you on here, it's against forum rules.) None of this is the fault of Calibre programmers.

After that, once you have your books in Calibre, you'll be able to do whatever you want with them, convert formats, edit them, back them up in one place, dump them onto various devices, and so on.

Kai Winters · 12-23-2013, 07:24 AM

Like all software applications there are limitations and a learning curve. Also some devices act differently than others as well as ebook sites.
I've been using Calibre for years with no problems. I've read the manuals and spent time learning how to use the program and how it interacts.

Perhaps some patience, experimenting and learning would be better than a fast try and rebuff but if you do stop using Calibre...good luck to you...

pdurrant · 12-23-2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docmatix

The iPad is running Kindle, iBooks and Google reader; I want to manage all my books in a single place and have downloaded Calibre to my Mac. Despite reading the Calibre instructions, consulting forums and Google I still can't work out how to get the books off the iPad and onto Calibre.

For Kindle ebooks, your simplest solution is to install Kindle for Mac, download your books onto your Mac using that, and you can then import them into calibre. You'll probably also want to google for Apprentice Alf, as his blog has a calibre plugin you'll find useful.

For ebooks from the Apple iBooks store, you're got problems. First off, getting them off your iPad is difficult. You'll need something that can either browse the iPad when connected (e.g. iPhone Explorer) or the backup files (e.g. iPhone Backup Extractor). But you'll still have the problem that the books have DRM. Apprentice Alf has some info at his blog, but it's a lot more complicated than for Kindle ebooks.

For Google reader, see if you can get them downloaded to Adobe Digital Editions on your Mac. Then it's a simple process to get them into calibre.

Docmatix · 12-24-2013, 02:49 AM

"For Google reader, see if you can get them downloaded to Adobe Digital Editions on your Mac. Then it's a simple process to get them into calibre."

As advised by most of you, I've given up on iBooks and am struggling with other formats. I've been able to download purchases from Google Books to my Mac but can't open them by dragging and dropping into Calibre - despite the above quote - because of DRM. This may be a simple process for some of you but for a newbie it's proving painful. Calibre won't let me import and open DRM protected books, even though I've registered my computer with Adobe Digital Editions.

Thanks for helping me so far. Can anyone advise me what to do next.

Docmatix

meeera · 12-24-2013, 02:51 AM

We can't help you on stripping DRM, except to say "Google Apprentice Alf".

Docmatix · 12-24-2013, 03:33 AM

Meera,

Thanks to you and to Apprentice Alf.

Job done.

Docmatix

pdurrant · 12-24-2013, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docmatix

Meera,

Thanks to you and to Apprentice Alf.

Job done.

Good news! Thanks for letting us know.

meeera · 12-24-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docmatix

Meera,

Thanks to you and to Apprentice Alf.

Job done.

Docmatix

(pdurrant did say it first, though!) Enjoy your reading.

Docmatix · 12-28-2013, 02:06 AM

I should also have thanked pdurrant but didn't realise the significance of his/her suggestion that I google Apprentice Alf.

12-22-2013, 12:59 PM	#1
Docmatix Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: ipad mini	Newbie: unable to download books I'm sure that I must be missing something obvious but I can't work out how to get books off my iPad onto Calibre on my Mac. The iPad is running Kindle, iBooks and Google reader; I want to manage all my books in a single place and have downloaded Calibre to my Mac. Despite reading the Calibre instructions, consulting forums and Google I still can't work out how to get the books off the iPad and onto Calibre. Manual 4.1 states that with the device connected to computer a Device icon will appear next to Books in toolbar. This does not seem to be the case. An old Forum reply by Kovid Goyal states 'If you are using the latest release of calibre you can just drag and drop books from the device view onto the calibre icon to add them to your calibre library.' What is the 'device view'. An iPad icon appears in iTunes when it's connected but there is no list of purchased books. If I command (right) click on this icon it gives me the option to 'Transfer Purchases' but then tries to import all of my Apps from the iPad. I'm sure Calibre will be useful if I can ever get it to work. There must be Mac + iPad users out there who can advise me what I'm missing. Thanks, Mike

12-24-2013, 02:49 AM	#10
Docmatix Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: ipad mini	More help requested "For Google reader, see if you can get them downloaded to Adobe Digital Editions on your Mac. Then it's a simple process to get them into calibre." As advised by most of you, I've given up on iBooks and am struggling with other formats. I've been able to download purchases from Google Books to my Mac but can't open them by dragging and dropping into Calibre - despite the above quote - because of DRM. This may be a simple process for some of you but for a newbie it's proving painful. Calibre won't let me import and open DRM protected books, even though I've registered my computer with Adobe Digital Editions. Thanks for helping me so far. Can anyone advise me what to do next. Docmatix

12-28-2013, 02:06 AM	#15
Docmatix Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: ipad mini	Apprentice Alf I should also have thanked pdurrant but didn't realise the significance of his/her suggestion that I google Apprentice Alf.

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12-22-2013, 07:43 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	iDevices tend to be locked down a lot, I believe there is no straightforward way of connecting to them. Try using the iOS reader applications plugin and beware that it doesn't work with iBooks on OSX 10.9 (Mavericks). A good general resource for iDevices used with calibre is calibre manual FAQ -- iDevices or the following MR thread: Calibre + Apple iDevices: Start here

12-23-2013, 01:23 AM	#3
Docmatix Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: ipad mini	Eschwartz, thanks for your reply but it doesn't help. Forums are full of advice, such as this, on how to send Calibre content to iOS devices. My problem is the opposite: I want to send content from an iPad to Calibre running on a Mac. I surely can't be the only person who needs a solution to this issue. Mike

12-23-2013, 02:28 AM	#5
Docmatix Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: ipad mini	Eschwartz, thanks. I'll just forget about Calibre and stick with my current random distribution of books across multiple reader formats. It's a bit disappointing as I thought Calibre was supposed to be the solution to this problem. Docmatix

12-23-2013, 02:53 AM	#7
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,806 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Docmatix: If you want your books free and organised, buying from iBooks is the worst possible choice. Stick to Amazon and the various ADE-compatible stores (Google, Sony, (most of) Kobo, etc) and you will be fine. There is a small learning curve on how to access your books once you have downloaded them from the relevant stores, and another one on how to free them from DRM (which we cannot advise you on here, it's against forum rules.) None of this is the fault of Calibre programmers. After that, once you have your books in Calibre, you'll be able to do whatever you want with them, convert formats, edit them, back them up in one place, dump them onto various devices, and so on.

12-23-2013, 07:24 AM	#8
Kai Winters Lover of Books Posts: 218 Karma: 1073074 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern NY Device: iPhone 7+	Like all software applications there are limitations and a learning curve. Also some devices act differently than others as well as ebook sites. I've been using Calibre for years with no problems. I've read the manuals and spent time learning how to use the program and how it interacts. Perhaps some patience, experimenting and learning would be better than a fast try and rebuff but if you do stop using Calibre...good luck to you...

12-24-2013, 02:51 AM	#11
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,806 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	We can't help you on stripping DRM, except to say "Google Apprentice Alf".

12-24-2013, 03:33 AM	#12
Docmatix Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2013 Device: ipad mini	Meera, Thanks to you and to Apprentice Alf. Job done. Docmatix

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