[Conversion Output] KFX Output

[jacobp]

Thanks for this plugin jwhowell. I'm having issues updating the cover of my PDOC kfx kindle documents. Some context:

I make an exact replica kindle create, import my pdf, preserve links, and export as a kpf. I then convert to kfx with `calibre-debug -r "KFX Output" -- -p 0 "book.kpf"`. Within Calibre, I have the kfx output plugin installed with the 'Enable updating of all KFX metadata` option enabled, along with the included KFX metadata plugin enabled. However, when I send the book to the kindle with the proper cover in the calibre book metadata, the kindle shows the first page of the book as the cover. I've tried resending it, waiting a while, and playing around with the metadata within Calibre but no luck.

If anyone could help me out with this I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[tomsem]

Conversion to Print Replica is not supported by Kindle Previewer, which is what KFX output uses to convert KPF to KFX. So what you see is what you get.

If you want to create print replica the best way to do that is to send a PDF to Send To Kindle service. You do not get a cover thumbnail, but at least it will be more functional.

Or just side loading PDF will be more functional, as text will be searchable, annotations can be extracted from Clippings file, etc.

[jacobp]

Hi tomsem. Thanks for your quick response. I'm happy with whats rendered in kindle preview, and my question isn't to issues with the replica format. I'm having issues with changing the cover.

[jacobp]

I followed the instructions here, to allow for annotations on kindle scribe:

Scribe users can only write directly on pages if the book is in the Print Replica variant of KFX format. Colorsoft Kindles do not display PDF files in color but will show color if the file is converted to Print Replica KFX. That format is normally produced when sending a PDF though Amazon's send-to-kindle service for delivery to those device types.

To generate that format for sideloading you need to import a document in PDF format into Amazon's Kindle Create software. Choose Create New and select Print Replica as the format. After importing the PDF file chose Edit, Preserve Links in order to keep as much functionality of the original PDF as possible. Use the Publish option to produce a KPF file and then convert that to KFX using the plugin's command line interface.

For example, if the KPF file is named my book.kpf it can be converted to KFX using the following command:

Code:
calibre-debug -r "KFX Output" -- "my book.kpf"

Print Replica KFX format is only supported on Scribe and Colorsoft devices, not on regular Kindles. Despite being unsupported it appears to display properly on newer Kindle models running the latest firmware but not on older ones.

Exporting annotations made to side loaded Print Replica KFX will probably not be possible via email. Hand drawn annotations are stored on the Scribe as hidden notebooks. Those can be extracted from the Scribe and then converted to EPUB format containing SVG images by using the KFX Input plugin, however the EPUB will only contain the annotations and not the underlying PDF page backgrounds.

[jacobp]

I followed the instructions for allowing annotations on the kindle scribe.

[jhowell]

I am traveling on vacation at the moment and will not be able to address issues related to this plugin until the end of next week.

[MidnightRose]

Is it normal for this plugin to take a minimum of ten minutes for every conversion, regardless of book length?

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by MidnightRose

Is it normal for this plugin to take a minimum of ten minutes for every conversion, regardless of book length?

Not normal at all. It’s never been lightning fast but I’ve done several books at one time and the entire process has never taken 10min. I’m using a 2024 M3 iMac.