Kindle Previewer 3.21 won't export file

minca · 05-07-2018, 03:36 AM

I have uploaded an epub file to the latest previewer. When I view book information it recognises that it is in English, but when I try to export I get a warning that Export is not supported for Arabic and Indian languages.
The book is entirely in English but has quite a few foreign words and characters. It is a fantasy book with invented "elf language".
All the metadata specifies English as the language.

Doitsu · 05-07-2018, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minca

I have uploaded an epub file to the latest previewer. When I view book information it recognises that it is in English, but when I try to export I get a warning that Export is not supported for Arabic and Indian languages.

Install the Calibre KFX Output plugin and convert your book to a .kfx.file.

minca · 05-07-2018, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doitsu

Install the Calibre KFX Output plugin and convert your book to a .kfx.file.

Thanks for your reply, but my purpose in using previewer is to see the conversion log, so I know if my file will upload OK on KDP.
Haven't done this for a while and I used to use kindlegen on my ubuntu system. Now that I have a laptop with Win10 I thought I would try Previewer, but if I can't get a conversion log there is not much point.
I wanted to know if this is a previewer problem or am I doing something wrong? (wouldn't be the first time

)

Doitsu · 05-07-2018, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minca

I wanted to know if this is a previewer problem or am I doing something wrong? (wouldn't be the first time )

This appears to be Previewer issue, because I just tested Kindle Previewer 3.21.0 with an actual Arabic book and I couldn't export it either. (The same Arabic book converted fine with the KFX output plugin.)

I.e., the message doesn't necessarily mean that there's something wrong with your book. Most likely the conlang in the book uses Arabic or Indic characters and KindleGen erroneously assumed that the book contains Arabic or Indic text.

You can generate a list of the characters used in the book with Calibre Editor and Sigil:

Calibre Editor:

Tools > Reports > Characters

Sigil:

Tools > Reports > Characters in HTML files

BTW, the Calibre KFX Output plugin can also be used as a command line tool and will display Kindle Previewer/KindleGen messages.

jhowell · 05-07-2018, 08:43 AM

It does seem that the Previewer is categorizing your book as being in Arabic or an Indic language based on the unicode characters you have chosen for your made-up language.

This might just be an oddity of the Previewer, but I suggest that you check carefully what Amazon does when you actually publish the book, just in case the publishing process makes the same determination.

Books in Indic and Arabic languages are more restricted regarding on which Kindle devices and apps they can be read. This might prevent some potential customers from accessing your book. The available font choices for reading might also be affected.

I don't know what happens when you mix characters that are normally rendered right-to-left in the same word with characters rendered left-to-right.

Hitch · 05-07-2018, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhowell

It does seem that the Previewer is categorizing your book as being in Arabic or an Indic language based on the unicode characters you have chosen for your made-up language.

This might just be an oddity of the Previewer, but I suggest that you check carefully what Amazon does when you actually publish the book, just in case the publishing process makes the same determination.

Books in Indic and Arabic languages are more restricted regarding on which Kindle devices and apps they can be read. This might prevent some potential customers from accessing your book. The available font choices for reading might also be affected.

I don't know what happens when you mix characters that are normally rendered right-to-left in the same word with characters rendered left-to-right.

Not to mention, you *can't* upload an Indic book, in MOBI, any-damned-way. You can only upload those in Word format, at this time.

FWIW.

Hitch

minca · 05-07-2018, 08:50 PM

OK
Looks like my job for today, is update my Calibre and load the plugin.
(Doitsu thanks for the tip about character lists)

Not sure why Previewer is categorising the characters as Arabic/Indic they are mostly Nordic/Germanic type, ie English with accents and a few ae ligatures.
(My friend the author has been instructed not to write any more of this elf-nonsense, but he will probably ignore me)

The first 2 volumes uploaded OK but that was about 4 years ago. I really need to revisit them after I sort out Vol 3.
Not sure what Amazon may have done with them recently as they "threaten" in their guidlines, to update books to their new advanced typesetting mode.

Thanks for all the help, guys,
/Lyn

05-07-2018, 03:36 AM	#1
minca Forum Lurker Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia Device: Cybook Gen3	Kindle Previewer 3.21 won't export file I have uploaded an epub file to the latest previewer. When I view book information it recognises that it is in English, but when I try to export I get a warning that Export is not supported for Arabic and Indian languages. The book is entirely in English but has quite a few foreign words and characters. It is a fantasy book with invented "elf language". All the metadata specifies English as the language.

05-07-2018, 08:43 AM	#5
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,062 Karma: 91577715 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	It does seem that the Previewer is categorizing your book as being in Arabic or an Indic language based on the unicode characters you have chosen for your made-up language. This might just be an oddity of the Previewer, but I suggest that you check carefully what Amazon does when you actually publish the book, just in case the publishing process makes the same determination. Books in Indic and Arabic languages are more restricted regarding on which Kindle devices and apps they can be read. This might prevent some potential customers from accessing your book. The available font choices for reading might also be affected. I don't know what happens when you mix characters that are normally rendered right-to-left in the same word with characters rendered left-to-right. Last edited by jhowell; 05-07-2018 at 11:18 AM.

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05-07-2018, 08:50 PM	#7
minca Forum Lurker Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia Device: Cybook Gen3	OK Looks like my job for today, is update my Calibre and load the plugin. (Doitsu thanks for the tip about character lists) Not sure why Previewer is categorising the characters as Arabic/Indic they are mostly Nordic/Germanic type, ie English with accents and a few ae ligatures. (My friend the author has been instructed not to write any more of this elf-nonsense, but he will probably ignore me) The first 2 volumes uploaded OK but that was about 4 years ago. I really need to revisit them after I sort out Vol 3. Not sure what Amazon may have done with them recently as they "threaten" in their guidlines, to update books to their new advanced typesetting mode. Thanks for all the help, guys, /Lyn

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