Kobo H2O newbie

MandyMill · 01-07-2015, 04:35 PM

I was fortunate to receive the Kindle Voyage and Kobo H2O for Christmas due to a misunderstanding between my mother and husband. Anyhoooo, I'm after some help with the Kobo as it's new to me. I'm a dab hand with Calibre and Kindles. My husband will be using one of the devices. When I have set both up with my books and settings, then I'll be happy to post a review/comparison and answer any questions. My query is how to sideload converted AZW3/mobi books without DRM to the Kobo and how best to modify any settings. The Voyage is up and running beautifully as I'm an Amazon customer with an old kindle, but I'd really like to use the Kobo for its larger screen, nicer customisable fonts etc. Any advice would be appreciated. Can someone please tell me exactly which plugins to load for Calibre, and best conversion from AZW3 or mobi ? I'm ok with eBooks and Calibre, it's just that the Kobo is new and I'd really like some hints and tips. Thanks very much

Lynx-lynx · 01-07-2015, 06:15 PM

Well congratulations on getting two new devices for Christmas!!

I'm not the best person to answer your questions but I can say that I just use Calibre's own program to convert Amazon's ebooks to epub, and I think that that's what the majority of Kobo folk do.

Then I sideload the book to my Kobo device and read away.

Other folk here will help you with attributes such as Book Shelves and fine tuning your use of the device with plug ins etc.

Also, you need to be aware that Kobo uses two ebook formats - kepub and epub.

The kepub format is Kobo's proprietary ebook format that is used to sync the device between the Kobo server and Kobo apps and the Desktop for Kobo.

When you buy a Kobo book you usually get a choice to download the epub version (go to My Library on the kobobooks.com site). If there's no download option then it's a kepub only book, which means that you can only get the book onto your device by syncing your device with the desktop, or by using the wifi feature on the device, or by using obok. Here is the address to download obok, and the Article also describes what it does: The Digital Reader

The instructions for getting obok into Calibre are also in that Article.

Keep asking questions as you need to, and happy reading ...

Edit
I nearly forgot ... the most important thing you need to know is to follow the Kobo Discounts thread to get all the latest info on the discount codes that work and (usually) monthly Contest info!!

Lynx-lynx · 01-07-2015, 06:54 PM

On re-reading your post I'm not sure if you realise that to sideload onto your H2O all you need to do is to plug your device in when Calibre is open and then Calibre will show it as connected.

I can't speak of the Voyager because I don't have one (but I'm guessing that it's the same, you just plug it in when Calibre's open).

PeterT · 01-07-2015, 07:10 PM

For shelves / collections take a look at either Kobo_Shelves_and_Collections or the slightly older version Quick Guide to Shelf Management with calibre 0.9.1 & above (Touch / Glo / Mini /Aura)

Using calibre I strongly recommend installing [GUI Plugin] Kobo Utilities and configuring it to do things like backup your Kobo database

Remember the use of metadata plugboard to help with including series info in the titles as send to Kobo. See either the Shelves and collections link or the dedicated thread Techniques to use plugboards, custom columns and templates

If you decide you want to use Kobo's other reader (ACCESS vs RMSDK) install [Device Plugin] Kobo Touch Extended Driver. Don't worry about the unsupported nature of this.

I would suggest ignoring the hacking aspect of the Kobo device for the time being; don't bother with the various patches / hacks available for it at first, and don't feel the need to install either of the 3rd party eBook reading mods (KoReader and CoolReader) yet.

MandyMill · 01-08-2015, 03:31 AM

Thanks Guys, that's a great help. I've managed to sideload several ePubs that I'd converted from mobi and they seem to display fine apart from no stats which I think is KePub only. Vi have installed the Calibre plugins, but I'm still finding out how to convert to KePub to see if I can display reading stats. I'd like to mess with collections too.

howyoudoin · 01-08-2015, 03:44 AM

Convert to kepub instead of epub, IMO.

Renders beautifully, faster page turns, and you get the per-chapter stats.

MandyMill · 01-08-2015, 11:37 AM

I've installed the touch extended plugin and converted my mobi eBooks to KePub, but I'm not getting the reading statistics on my Kobo. Can anyone please help? Thanks in advance.

PeterT · 01-08-2015, 11:44 AM

(See your other thread. As a rule of thumb posting the same request or question multiple times is not necessary).

khalleron · 01-08-2015, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

Convert to kepub instead of epub, IMO.

Renders beautifully, faster page turns, and you get the per-chapter stats.

I did that at first because of several recommendations here, but I've had a problem with the right side of the page being cut off in several books, plus formatting problems that don't happen with epub.

The only plus I found with kepub was faster page turns. I don't care about per-chapter stats, myself.

PeterT · 01-08-2015, 05:16 PM

If you have the FullScreen option set, that can lead to text being cut off.

khalleron · 01-09-2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

If you have the FullScreen option set, that can lead to text being cut off.

Where is that setting, I don't see it? Do you mean having the 'show header and footer' setting turned off?

PeterT · 01-09-2015, 07:20 PM

Yup; that's the feature I meant. Try turning it on and see if the cut-off text disappears.

khalleron · 01-09-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Yup; that's the feature I meant. Try turning it on and see if the cut-off text disappears.

So my choices are cut-off text or lots of wasted space with the header/footer?

I'll stick with epub, thanks.

dordale · 01-10-2015, 02:55 AM

I recently had the problem with cut-off text in one of my kepubs. It was just one book, and it didn't matter if I had headers/footers turned on or not. I ended up reconverting from ePub to ePub in Calibre and then transferring to my Kobo Aura HD with the extended Kobo driver. After conversion and retransferring, the resulting kePub on my HD worked perfectly.

That being said, I like having the header and footer on, so I don't see the problem with cut off text when these are turned off.

Lyn2012 · 01-10-2015, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khalleron

So my choices are cut-off text or lots of wasted space with the header/footer?

I'll stick with epub, thanks.

This is exactly my own opinion. I'll pass on the kepub slightly faster page turns and not have a lot of wasted (to me) space at the top of the screen. I'm not yet so old or forgetful that I can't remember which book I'm reading!

01-07-2015, 04:35 PM	#1
MandyMill Member Posts: 12 Karma: 131874 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	Kobo H2O newbie I was fortunate to receive the Kindle Voyage and Kobo H2O for Christmas due to a misunderstanding between my mother and husband. Anyhoooo, I'm after some help with the Kobo as it's new to me. I'm a dab hand with Calibre and Kindles. My husband will be using one of the devices. When I have set both up with my books and settings, then I'll be happy to post a review/comparison and answer any questions. My query is how to sideload converted AZW3/mobi books without DRM to the Kobo and how best to modify any settings. The Voyage is up and running beautifully as I'm an Amazon customer with an old kindle, but I'd really like to use the Kobo for its larger screen, nicer customisable fonts etc. Any advice would be appreciated. Can someone please tell me exactly which plugins to load for Calibre, and best conversion from AZW3 or mobi ? I'm ok with eBooks and Calibre, it's just that the Kobo is new and I'd really like some hints and tips. Thanks very much

01-07-2015, 06:15 PM	#2
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,113 Karma: 92523791 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	Well congratulations on getting two new devices for Christmas!! I'm not the best person to answer your questions but I can say that I just use Calibre's own program to convert Amazon's ebooks to epub, and I think that that's what the majority of Kobo folk do. Then I sideload the book to my Kobo device and read away. Other folk here will help you with attributes such as Book Shelves and fine tuning your use of the device with plug ins etc. Also, you need to be aware that Kobo uses two ebook formats - kepub and epub. The kepub format is Kobo's proprietary ebook format that is used to sync the device between the Kobo server and Kobo apps and the Desktop for Kobo. When you buy a Kobo book you usually get a choice to download the epub version (go to My Library on the kobobooks.com site). If there's no download option then it's a kepub only book, which means that you can only get the book onto your device by syncing your device with the desktop, or by using the wifi feature on the device, or by using obok. Here is the address to download obok, and the Article also describes what it does: The Digital Reader The instructions for getting obok into Calibre are also in that Article. Keep asking questions as you need to, and happy reading ... Edit I nearly forgot ... the most important thing you need to know is to follow the Kobo Discounts thread to get all the latest info on the discount codes that work and (usually) monthly Contest info!! Last edited by Lynx-lynx; 01-07-2015 at 06:56 PM. Reason: add the wifi feature bit

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01-07-2015, 06:54 PM	#3
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,113 Karma: 92523791 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	On re-reading your post I'm not sure if you realise that to sideload onto your H2O all you need to do is to plug your device in when Calibre is open and then Calibre will show it as connected. I can't speak of the Voyager because I don't have one (but I'm guessing that it's the same, you just plug it in when Calibre's open).

01-07-2015, 07:10 PM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,271 Karma: 78869092 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	For shelves / collections take a look at either Kobo_Shelves_and_Collections or the slightly older version Quick Guide to Shelf Management with calibre 0.9.1 & above (Touch / Glo / Mini /Aura) Using calibre I strongly recommend installing [GUI Plugin] Kobo Utilities and configuring it to do things like backup your Kobo database Remember the use of metadata plugboard to help with including series info in the titles as send to Kobo. See either the Shelves and collections link or the dedicated thread Techniques to use plugboards, custom columns and templates If you decide you want to use Kobo's other reader (ACCESS vs RMSDK) install [Device Plugin] Kobo Touch Extended Driver. Don't worry about the unsupported nature of this. I would suggest ignoring the hacking aspect of the Kobo device for the time being; don't bother with the various patches / hacks available for it at first, and don't feel the need to install either of the 3rd party eBook reading mods (KoReader and CoolReader) yet.

01-08-2015, 03:31 AM	#5
MandyMill Member Posts: 12 Karma: 131874 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	Thanks Guys, that's a great help. I've managed to sideload several ePubs that I'd converted from mobi and they seem to display fine apart from no stats which I think is KePub only. Vi have installed the Calibre plugins, but I'm still finding out how to convert to KePub to see if I can display reading stats. I'd like to mess with collections too.

01-08-2015, 03:44 AM	#6
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	Convert to kepub instead of epub, IMO. Renders beautifully, faster page turns, and you get the per-chapter stats.

01-08-2015, 11:37 AM	#7
MandyMill Member Posts: 12 Karma: 131874 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-350	I've installed the touch extended plugin and converted my mobi eBooks to KePub, but I'm not getting the reading statistics on my Kobo. Can anyone please help? Thanks in advance.

01-08-2015, 11:44 AM	#8
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,271 Karma: 78869092 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	(See your other thread. As a rule of thumb posting the same request or question multiple times is not necessary).

01-08-2015, 05:16 PM	#10
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,271 Karma: 78869092 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	If you have the FullScreen option set, that can lead to text being cut off.

01-09-2015, 07:20 PM	#12
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,271 Karma: 78869092 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Yup; that's the feature I meant. Try turning it on and see if the cut-off text disappears.

01-10-2015, 02:55 AM	#14
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	I recently had the problem with cut-off text in one of my kepubs. It was just one book, and it didn't matter if I had headers/footers turned on or not. I ended up reconverting from ePub to ePub in Calibre and then transferring to my Kobo Aura HD with the extended Kobo driver. After conversion and retransferring, the resulting kePub on my HD worked perfectly. That being said, I like having the header and footer on, so I don't see the problem with cut off text when these are turned off.