Decompress Mobi Format

SteveC100 · 04-28-2011, 11:37 AM

I hope this is a basic question, but I can't find the answer anywhere. All I want to do is take a non-DRM'd mobi file and decompress it. Then I'll make some changes in the css. When that's done, I want to recompress it back to mobi format. I'm using a Mac.

I can do this easily with epub files, but I can't see how to do it with mobi files.

I'm not eager to convert mobi to epub. I don't want to convert anything or rewrite any of the files. Just decompress, so I can edit. Then recompress.

Is there a way to do this?

Thanks to anyone who can help,
Steve

user_none · 04-28-2011, 12:00 PM

https://dev.mobileread.com/trac/mobiperl

SteveC100 · 04-28-2011, 04:09 PM

Thanks very much.

I'm working on a Mac. OSX 10.6.6

I downloaded it and tried running mobi2html. Terminal opens and tells me that it "Can't locate GD.pm"

I wish I were a little more savvy with Terminal, but this isn't for the faint of heart. Got any suggestions?

Thanks again,
Steve

GRiker · 04-28-2011, 04:16 PM

Try this MOBI decompiler tool for OSX.

G

SteveC100 · 04-29-2011, 11:05 AM

Got it. Thank you very much!

S

illustrata · 05-07-2011, 10:49 AM

I'm attempting to do the same thing...just need to take a look at the .mobi files after Calibre .epub to .mobi conversion.

I downloaded both files from the links provided in the post link above, ran the script that asked me to select the python file, selected mobiunpack.py -- and that's where it ended.

Could I get a bit more insight as to how this program should work? It would be such a boon to be able to take a look at the exploded mobi files.

(I since installed python...still no success...)

travger · 05-11-2011, 04:25 AM

I had the same wish. After digging around I downloaded and installed ActiveState's ActivePython 2.X - don't remember now what it is, just that I needed it.
There is a gui version (i.e no command line needed) called MobiUnpack.pyw, it 'opens up' mobi, but it worked only when I put mobiunpack.py and others into folder 'lib' next to pyw - just like in zip file.

pdurrant · 05-18-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illustrata

I'm attempting to do the same thing...just need to take a look at the .mobi files after Calibre .epub to .mobi conversion.

I downloaded both files from the links provided in the post link above, ran the script that asked me to select the python file, selected mobiunpack.py -- and that's where it ended.

Could I get a bit more insight as to how this program should work? It would be such a boon to be able to take a look at the exploded mobi files.

(I since installed python...still no success...)

Once you've told the Applescript where the unpack python script is to be found, just drag&drop mobipocket files onto the Applescript.

illustrata · 06-16-2011, 01:35 PM

It worked, it worked. Tra la la...

Thanks, pdurrant, and everyone.

osnova · 06-16-2011, 02:26 PM

By the way, my understanding is that mobi is not just an archive or a package, it is a compiled file. All the "unpackers" are based on reverse engineering of the mobi format but do not create 1-to-1 correspondence to the original html source file that was used to create the mobi file. So, you may lose some data if you just unpack the mobi (e.g., dictionary tags will be lost, link anchors will be renamed). I may be wrong but I haven't seen yet tools that keep all these data.

illustrata · 06-16-2011, 02:41 PM

I just wanted to see what was in there because the Kindle navigation isn't working and I would like it to. It's curious because there is no .ncx file (thus no navpoints), not an h tag to be found, and nothing but html height= and size= on the <p> tags to control spacing and size.

pdurrant · 06-16-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osnova

By the way, my understanding is that mobi is not just an archive or a package, it is a compiled file. All the "unpackers" are based on reverse engineering of the mobi format but do not create 1-to-1 correspondence to the original html source file that was used to create the mobi file. So, you may lose some data if you just unpack the mobi (e.g., dictionary tags will be lost, link anchors will be renamed). I may be wrong but I haven't seen yet tools that keep all these data.

For non-dictionary Mobipocket, it's pretty good. The HTML export is only tweaked enough to fix the links in the HTML and to add character set metadata. If yo look at the python code, there are some commented out bits if you really want to extract the exact raw text.

There are some problems with the metadata. Specifically, the code currently only handles one instance of each EXTH type, while there can be more than one, e.g. more than one author.

But yes, it's a compiled up file, not just a zipped up file like ePub. The current tools get you something that you can recompile with minimal metadata losses using Kindlegen.

pdurrant · 06-16-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illustrata

I just wanted to see what was in there because the Kindle navigation isn't working and I would like it to. It's curious because there is no .ncx file (thus no navpoints), not an h tag to be found, and nothing but html height= and size= on the <p> tags to control spacing and size.

Mobipocket was designed to be used on early PDAs with limited processing power and metadata. There's no CSS and limited formatting of the HTML, which most closely resembles HTML 3.2, but with many modifications.

04-28-2011, 11:37 AM	#1
SteveC100 Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Decompress Mobi Format I hope this is a basic question, but I can't find the answer anywhere. All I want to do is take a non-DRM'd mobi file and decompress it. Then I'll make some changes in the css. When that's done, I want to recompress it back to mobi format. I'm using a Mac. I can do this easily with epub files, but I can't see how to do it with mobi files. I'm not eager to convert mobi to epub. I don't want to convert anything or rewrite any of the files. Just decompress, so I can edit. Then recompress. Is there a way to do this? Thanks to anyone who can help, Steve

05-07-2011, 10:49 AM	#6
illustrata Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Venice, Italy Device: iphone, ipad, kindle	I'm attempting to do the same thing...just need to take a look at the .mobi files after Calibre .epub to .mobi conversion. I downloaded both files from the links provided in the post link above, ran the script that asked me to select the python file, selected mobiunpack.py -- and that's where it ended. Could I get a bit more insight as to how this program should work? It would be such a boon to be able to take a look at the exploded mobi files. (I since installed python...still no success...) Last edited by illustrata; 05-07-2011 at 01:52 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
mobi format on the Boox	Purple Lady	Onyx Boox	16	08-25-2010 07:30 PM
ePub to Mobi Format	greeny	Bookeen	10	02-24-2009 02:54 PM
Mobi format limitations	wmaurer	Workshop	15	01-09-2009 02:16 PM
new books in mobi format	sassanik	IMP	11	09-08-2008 09:40 AM
mobi format	sassanik	Sony Reader	7	09-04-2008 01:52 PM

04-28-2011, 12:00 PM	#2
user_none Sigil & calibre developer Posts: 2,487 Karma: 1063785 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida, USA Device: Nook STR	https://dev.mobileread.com/trac/mobiperl

04-28-2011, 04:09 PM	#3
SteveC100 Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Thanks very much. I'm working on a Mac. OSX 10.6.6 I downloaded it and tried running mobi2html. Terminal opens and tells me that it "Can't locate GD.pm" I wish I were a little more savvy with Terminal, but this isn't for the faint of heart. Got any suggestions? Thanks again, Steve

04-28-2011, 04:16 PM	#4
GRiker Comparer of the Ephemeris Posts: 1,496 Karma: 424697 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad	Try this MOBI decompiler tool for OSX. G

04-29-2011, 11:05 AM	#5
SteveC100 Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: kindle	Got it. Thank you very much! S

05-11-2011, 04:25 AM	#7
travger Evangelist Posts: 485 Karma: 270594 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: palm tx, Windows7, Galaxy A5	I had the same wish. After digging around I downloaded and installed ActiveState's ActivePython 2.X - don't remember now what it is, just that I needed it. There is a gui version (i.e no command line needed) called MobiUnpack.pyw, it 'opens up' mobi, but it worked only when I put mobiunpack.py and others into folder 'lib' next to pyw - just like in zip file.

06-16-2011, 01:35 PM	#9
illustrata Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Venice, Italy Device: iphone, ipad, kindle	It worked, it worked. Tra la la... Thanks, pdurrant, and everyone.

06-16-2011, 02:26 PM	#10
osnova Kindler of the Flame Posts: 582 Karma: 646016 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US of A Device: K DX,3,KT,KP,KF, KFHD; Nook C, PRS600, iPad, Xoom, N900, N810, Zaurus	By the way, my understanding is that mobi is not just an archive or a package, it is a compiled file. All the "unpackers" are based on reverse engineering of the mobi format but do not create 1-to-1 correspondence to the original html source file that was used to create the mobi file. So, you may lose some data if you just unpack the mobi (e.g., dictionary tags will be lost, link anchors will be renamed). I may be wrong but I haven't seen yet tools that keep all these data.

06-16-2011, 02:41 PM	#11
illustrata Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Venice, Italy Device: iphone, ipad, kindle	I just wanted to see what was in there because the Kindle navigation isn't working and I would like it to. It's curious because there is no .ncx file (thus no navpoints), not an h tag to be found, and nothing but html height= and size= on the <p> tags to control spacing and size.