Is MOBI still synonymous with PRC?

FizzyWater · 06-16-2012, 05:27 PM

Forgive me if this has been asked or explained to death.

I thought I read here on Mobileread that newer versions of MOBI ebooks are combined with the "old" MOBI and the newer KF8 formats. So it will display differently, depending on which Kindle you own?

I convert books for a friend of mine who still has one of the early generation Bookeen readers, but it's the 512 MB memory version. From what I read, it's really not enough memory to convert it to read ePubs (even thought that would be so much easier for me!)

Anyway, I've always used Calibre to make MOBI files, then changed the extension to PRC for her reader. Does anyone know if that will still work? Is there a way to create a MOBI file that isn't a combined version, to avoid using up the space for formatting/data her reader will not use?

AnemicOak · 06-16-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I convert books for a friend of mine who still has one of the early generation Bookeen readers, but it's the 512 MB memory version. From what I read, it's really not enough memory to convert it to read ePubs (even thought that would be so much easier for me!)

FWIW, according to the Bookeen firmware download page the ePub firmware (ver. 2.1) will run on both the 200MHz and 400MHz 512MB Gen3 (it will even run on the older 64MB version).

FizzyWater · 06-16-2012, 06:17 PM

I know I downloaded the firmware upgrade to make it read ePub, but I thought I'd read there were memory issues, because it's the one with the lowest memory (maybe that's 64KB - I thought it was 512KB). It's a Cybook Gen3, but it's the first version with lower memory.

I talked to her about upgrading it, but when I read about the memory issues, I didn't want to risk it. She bought it from me - I actually hated it. I thought turning pages was way more work than it was worth, but she'd never had a different reader, so she never had anything to compare it to.

Anyway, she's in a different state now. I'm afraid if I got her to upgrade and it didn't work well, it would end up in a drawer unused. She's totally "not a techie". She wouldn't figure it out, and we'd have to wait until she came through Ohio again to fix it!

kovidgoyal · 06-16-2012, 11:53 PM

calibre does not currently create combined MOBI files unless you tell it to via a tweak in preferences->tweaks. And in the future, if it does become default there will be an option to create plain jane mobi files.

FizzyWater · 06-17-2012, 01:59 AM

Thanks, Kovid!

Manichean · 06-18-2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I know I downloaded the firmware upgrade to make it read ePub, but I thought I'd read there were memory issues, because it's the one with the lowest memory (maybe that's 64KB - I thought it was 512KB). It's a Cybook Gen3, but it's the first version with lower memory.

I talked to her about upgrading it, but when I read about the memory issues, I didn't want to risk it.

I have that same reader, and I haven't had any issues with the update to ePub at all.

kamanza · 06-21-2012, 08:54 AM

Kovid, I'm running 0.8.56 & I could not find a KF8 option in the tweaks.
Does it appear only from 0.8.57?

kovidgoyal · 06-21-2012, 08:59 AM

To turn on this feature, go to Preferences->Tweaks and click Plugin Tweaks. In the box add:
test_mobi_output_type = 'both'

calibre will now produce MOBI files that have both the old MOBI format and the new KF8 format in them.

kamanza · 06-21-2012, 10:05 AM

Kovid,
Thanks for the speedy reply.
Just tried this option and it works, but with 1 disappointment (for me).
Unlike KindleGen, Calibre paints the links blue, which completely spoils the looks (at least for me).
Would it be possible to have an option to turn this default off (including the simple MOBI conversion) ?

JSWolf · 06-21-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamanza

Kovid,
Thanks for the speedy reply.
Just tried this option and it works, but with 1 disappointment (for me).
Unlike KindleGen, Calibre paints the links blue, which completely spoils the looks (at least for me).
Would it be possible to have an option to turn this default off (including the simple MOBI conversion) ?

In a lot of ePub, the publisher puts in a CSS style for <a that makes it blue. You'll have to fix the source so <a is not blue.

dwig · 06-21-2012, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamanza

...
Unlike KindleGen, Calibre paints the links blue...

This may well be the default behavior of the ereader software/device showing rather than any explicit color spec'd in the file.

There is a lot of behavior that is the result of the default display "style" used by the ereader. If you don't explicitly define an attribute the reader must decide for itself what to do.

If you don't set the <A> tag's color the reader will use its pre-programed "style". Try specifically setting the <A> tag's color to black; most ereaders will obey.

kamanza · 06-21-2012, 11:28 AM

I make the CSS files myself & I have a standard entry:

Code:

a:link { color: #663300; text-decoration: none; }

KindleGen keeps the color in conversion. but whatever I have tried in Calibre, like convert MOBI to MOBI with S&R :Search: color="blue"; Replace:color="red", etc. - the result is the same: links are blue.
If the chapter heading is red & a part of it is a link to TOC, the style is ruined.
And i don't have any ereader - i read on my PC with either Mobipocket or Kindle apps.

JSWolf · 06-21-2012, 03:58 PM

Most publishers do put the links in as blue in the CSS. That has to be changed to whatever color you want even if it is black. If you don't have an ePub and just have a mobi, it's going to be a lot harder to fix.

JSWolf · 06-21-2012, 04:01 PM

This is what I found in unpacked Mobi...

Code:

<font color="blue"><a href="http://www.LUNA-Books.com">www.LUNA-Books.com</a></font>

So yes, the publisher is forcing the links to be blue.

Of course, the reading software could be using blue as a default when no color as specified for a link. So even if there is no color specified, you might have to specify a color to get the links not to be blue.

kamanza · 06-21-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Most publishers do put the links in as blue in the CSS.

JSWolf, apparently, you haven't noticed that I write my CSS myself as the books I'm talking about are epubs that I have compiled from some external source: HTML, text, rtf, etc. & that I always specify the link color in the CSS.
Which Calibre invariably turns to blue in MOBI conversion. So, obviously, blue is Calibre default color for links & it overrides whatever is there in CSS.
And this is what I would like to be able to switch off.
But i probably should not have started this discussion in this thread, sorry, I got carried away.
I'll post it as a feature request in a couple of days.

06-16-2012, 05:27 PM	#1
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Is MOBI still synonymous with PRC? Forgive me if this has been asked or explained to death. I thought I read here on Mobileread that newer versions of MOBI ebooks are combined with the "old" MOBI and the newer KF8 formats. So it will display differently, depending on which Kindle you own? I convert books for a friend of mine who still has one of the early generation Bookeen readers, but it's the 512 MB memory version. From what I read, it's really not enough memory to convert it to read ePubs (even thought that would be so much easier for me!) Anyway, I've always used Calibre to make MOBI files, then changed the extension to PRC for her reader. Does anyone know if that will still work? Is there a way to create a MOBI file that isn't a combined version, to avoid using up the space for formatting/data her reader will not use?

06-16-2012, 11:53 PM	#4
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,359 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre does not currently create combined MOBI files unless you tell it to via a tweak in preferences->tweaks. And in the future, if it does become default there will be an option to create plain jane mobi files. Last edited by kovidgoyal; 06-17-2012 at 12:14 AM.

06-21-2012, 11:28 AM	#12
kamanza Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	I make the CSS files myself & I have a standard entry: Code: a:link { color: #663300; text-decoration: none; } KindleGen keeps the color in conversion. but whatever I have tried in Calibre, like convert MOBI to MOBI with S&R :Search: color="blue"; Replace:color="red", etc. - the result is the same: links are blue. If the chapter heading is red & a part of it is a link to TOC, the style is ruined. And i don't have any ereader - i read on my PC with either Mobipocket or Kindle apps. Last edited by kamanza; 06-21-2012 at 11:38 AM.

06-21-2012, 04:01 PM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	This is what I found in unpacked Mobi... Code: <font color="blue"><a href="http://www.LUNA-Books.com">www.LUNA-Books.com</a></font> So yes, the publisher is forcing the links to be blue. Of course, the reading software could be using blue as a default when no color as specified for a link. So even if there is no color specified, you might have to specify a color to get the links not to be blue.

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06-16-2012, 06:17 PM	#3
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I know I downloaded the firmware upgrade to make it read ePub, but I thought I'd read there were memory issues, because it's the one with the lowest memory (maybe that's 64KB - I thought it was 512KB). It's a Cybook Gen3, but it's the first version with lower memory. I talked to her about upgrading it, but when I read about the memory issues, I didn't want to risk it. She bought it from me - I actually hated it. I thought turning pages was way more work than it was worth, but she'd never had a different reader, so she never had anything to compare it to. Anyway, she's in a different state now. I'm afraid if I got her to upgrade and it didn't work well, it would end up in a drawer unused. She's totally "not a techie". She wouldn't figure it out, and we'd have to wait until she came through Ohio again to fix it!

06-17-2012, 01:59 AM	#5
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Thanks, Kovid!

06-21-2012, 08:54 AM	#7
kamanza Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	Kovid, I'm running 0.8.56 & I could not find a KF8 option in the tweaks. Does it appear only from 0.8.57?

06-21-2012, 08:59 AM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,359 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	To turn on this feature, go to Preferences->Tweaks and click Plugin Tweaks. In the box add: test_mobi_output_type = 'both' calibre will now produce MOBI files that have both the old MOBI format and the new KF8 format in them.

06-21-2012, 10:05 AM	#9
kamanza Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	Kovid, Thanks for the speedy reply. Just tried this option and it works, but with 1 disappointment (for me). Unlike KindleGen, Calibre paints the links blue, which completely spoils the looks (at least for me). Would it be possible to have an option to turn this default off (including the simple MOBI conversion) ?

06-21-2012, 03:58 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Most publishers do put the links in as blue in the CSS. That has to be changed to whatever color you want even if it is black. If you don't have an ePub and just have a mobi, it's going to be a lot harder to fix.