Side loading KEPUB to ipad

Stingo · 11-23-2014, 03:28 PM

Sorry for what is probably a dumb question but I have been searching for an answer for a while without success. I connected my ipad to the computer, went to apps section in Itunes. Found the kobo reader app and transferred some kepubs to it. When I synced and disconnected and opened the kobo app it said that the library was empty. In Itunes the Kepubs were clearly there. What am I doing wrong? Since I can't sync my side loaded, calibre generated kepubs over the cloud I want a copy of the device. Thanks.

Stingo · 11-23-2014, 09:13 PM

I thought this was a simple question but so far no answers? Is there no way to read side loaded kepubs on an ipad without converting it to epub or mobi?

meeera · 11-23-2014, 09:13 PM

Convert them to epub first.

PeterT · 11-23-2014, 09:38 PM

Unfortunately, most of us don't use the Kobo app on an iPad. What I did find from https://github.com/kobolabs/epub-spec was

Quote:

iOS

Connect the device to your computer with the iOS cable.
Open iTunes and navigate to iPad -> Apps.
Select the Kobo app from the box on the left.
Drag the ePub to the box in the bottom right of your iTunes window. The file will then automatically import and display in your library.

(The Kobo iOS app is registered among apps that open ePub and pdf files. Users can use the standard “open in…” menu from Safari, Dropbox, or any other app that supports it to view their files.)

It's possible that sharkus might be able to share more with us.

As far as using calibre with it goes..... your guess is as good as mine!

DNSB · 11-23-2014, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingo

I thought this was a simple question but so far no answers? Is there no way to read side loaded kepubs on an ipad without converting it to epub or mobi?

When I played with Calibre generated kepubs on my iPad, I had Calibre create the kepubs saving to disk then renamed the files to .epub before copying them to the iPad.

Also remember for the most part, a kepub is an epub with a mass of spans added.

eschwartz · 11-23-2014, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingo

I thought this was a simple question but so far no answers? Is there no way to read side loaded kepubs on an ipad without converting it to epub or mobi?

You waited a whole 6 hours...

Stingo · 11-23-2014, 10:10 PM

So call me impatient. :-)

I'm surprised that there is no way to sideload kepubs without manipulation or converstion. That is a big negative since I opted to use kepub when I switched recently from Kindle to h2o. Darn.

DNSB · 11-23-2014, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingo

So call me impatient. :-)

I'm surprised that there is no way to sideload kepubs without manipulation or converstion. That is a big negative since I opted to use kepub when I switched recently from Kindle to h2o. Darn.

Personally, I prefer the epub renderer for ebooks that do not make much use of epub3 features but à chacun son goût. The only conversion required is to change the file name from whatever.kepub.epub to whatever.epub. Not much of a conversion since a bulk rename takes care of it. If you use the Kobo Touch Extended driver, it will leave the books on your computer as .epubs and rename and convert them during the transfer to your H2O -- that was my preferred technique when I was playing with kepubs.

Sharkus · 11-24-2014, 10:21 AM

...and as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared

Please forgive me if I skip over any other information previously mentioned.

Peter is quite correct with the explanation of how to side-load files into the iOS app.

It's also possible to use email / dropbox / other things, and utilize iOS' "open with..." functionality to then select the Kobo iOS app as the app to open the content with.

Now onto the meat of the thing.
Stingo, you mention you have kepub files. Where did you get them from? Did you generate them from / with something, perhaps from an ePub file.

In the normal course of things, kepub files are not typically accessible from outside of the the apps / desktop application. If you want a file to use for another platform, or have a copy of the file, you'd use blue download buttons in the purchase list via the website. That would get you an ePub file (ok, ok, usually an .acsm file which is then authorized by ADE - I'm trying not to be overly verbose at the moment).

KePub files aren't some mythical creature. They are ePub files that have been through our CMS system, and a few things happen to them (one day I'll try and see if I can get chapter and verse on what is (not) so special about KePub files, and why there aren't really "a thing" as it were.)

Let us take an example of a KePub file that you have obtained from the iOS application - by this I mean you have found where we keep the KePub files.

You copy that off, and then decide to side-load it to another iOS device running the Kobo app. That file *might* appear in the library of the app - it's been a long time since I tried side-loading one - , but even if it does, trying to open it won't do much at all, it may display a "content error" message. But I seriously doubt it'll render.

The reason? It's encrypted, and needs to be decrypted. The iOS app does not currently support decrypting side-loaded KePub files. Why not? It does not need to do so. It downloads the kepub files from the server, and that's how the app is meant to function.

Stingo · 11-24-2014, 01:46 PM

Hi Sharkus and thanks for the reply.

I have been a Kindle user for years. I just tried the H2O a few weeks ago and preferred the experience. I have numerous books from other sources (not Kobo) that I have purchased and removed the DRM for personal archival purposes. These files are in either mobi, azw3 or epub format. I am able to convert format using Calibre to other formats. I tried kepub and preferred the look on the H2O so I converted all of my books to kepub. Now I want to put a copy on my iphone or ipad since Kobo will not synchronize my sideloaded books over the cloud (big mistake. Kobo should for a small price). It was when I tried to sideload these kepub books into the Kobo app for ios that I ran into the problem that it does not see them. I tried a few other apps but they only take epubs. It looks like I will have to continue using kepubs on the H2O but only epubs on the ipad.

Sharkus · 11-24-2014, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingo

Hi Sharkus and thanks for the reply.

I have been a Kindle user for years. I just tried the H2O a few weeks ago and preferred the experience. I have numerous books from other sources (not Kobo) that I have purchased and removed the DRM for personal archival purposes. These files are in either mobi, azw3 or epub format. I am able to convert format using Calibre to other formats. I tried kepub and preferred the look on the H2O so I converted all of my books to kepub. Now I want to put a copy on my iphone or ipad since Kobo will not synchronize my sideloaded books over the cloud (big mistake. Kobo should for a small price). It was when I tried to sideload these kepub books into the Kobo app for ios that I ran into the problem that it does not see them. I tried a few other apps but they only take epubs. It looks like I will have to continue using kepubs on the H2O but only epubs on the ipad.

Thanks for detailing what you did and why.
What was the exact extension you gave your converted files?
I've not had a chance to give side-loading an KePub file a try. I also want to look at the app and determine what extensions we support. It's possible we don't support .kepub as a valid extension, which would make sense in regards to the app not displaying the file.

As to sync of side-loaded files. There are a few reasons why we don't do this, and a search on here will likely throw up a few threads and posts indicating the reasons.

Sharkus · 11-24-2014, 03:21 PM

I've just tried taking a .epub file, rename it to .kepub and side-loading via iTunes. App does not display it. I also tried emailing myself the file, and when trying to open it, the "open with..." screen did not display Kobo as an option.

Not too shocking, we don't support .kepub as a valid extension for the iOS app.

DNSB · 11-24-2014, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stingo

Hi Sharkus and thanks for the reply.

I tried a few other apps but they only take epubs. It looks like I will have to continue using kepubs on the H2O but only epubs on the ipad.

That is why I suggested the Kobo Touch Extended plugin. Kepub to your H2O with as close as possible -- given that Kobo's epub is not documented and has changed over time -- Kobo epub output, standard epub left on your computer for transfer to other devices.

To use the ACCESS renderer for your sideloaded files, the best technique is to rename the file to whatever.kepub.epub not to whatever.kepub -- your H2O will use the ACCESS renderer for .kepub.epub while other devices will just see the .epub and use their preferred renderer.

Stingo · 11-24-2014, 08:42 PM

Thanks for the invaluable info.

11-23-2014, 03:28 PM	#1
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	Side loading KEPUB to ipad Sorry for what is probably a dumb question but I have been searching for an answer for a while without success. I connected my ipad to the computer, went to apps section in Itunes. Found the kobo reader app and transferred some kepubs to it. When I synced and disconnected and opened the kobo app it said that the library was empty. In Itunes the Kepubs were clearly there. What am I doing wrong? Since I can't sync my side loaded, calibre generated kepubs over the cloud I want a copy of the device. Thanks.

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11-23-2014, 09:13 PM	#2
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	I thought this was a simple question but so far no answers? Is there no way to read side loaded kepubs on an ipad without converting it to epub or mobi?

11-23-2014, 09:13 PM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,815 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Convert them to epub first.

11-23-2014, 10:10 PM	#7
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	So call me impatient. :-) I'm surprised that there is no way to sideload kepubs without manipulation or converstion. That is a big negative since I opted to use kepub when I switched recently from Kindle to h2o. Darn.

11-24-2014, 10:21 AM	#9
Sharkus Evangelist Posts: 444 Karma: 2269648 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo: Original, WiFi, Touch, Aura, Aura H20, MiniGloHD ;) iOS app	...and as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared Please forgive me if I skip over any other information previously mentioned. Peter is quite correct with the explanation of how to side-load files into the iOS app. It's also possible to use email / dropbox / other things, and utilize iOS' "open with..." functionality to then select the Kobo iOS app as the app to open the content with. Now onto the meat of the thing. Stingo, you mention you have kepub files. Where did you get them from? Did you generate them from / with something, perhaps from an ePub file. In the normal course of things, kepub files are not typically accessible from outside of the the apps / desktop application. If you want a file to use for another platform, or have a copy of the file, you'd use blue download buttons in the purchase list via the website. That would get you an ePub file (ok, ok, usually an .acsm file which is then authorized by ADE - I'm trying not to be overly verbose at the moment). KePub files aren't some mythical creature. They are ePub files that have been through our CMS system, and a few things happen to them (one day I'll try and see if I can get chapter and verse on what is (not) so special about KePub files, and why there aren't really "a thing" as it were.) Let us take an example of a KePub file that you have obtained from the iOS application - by this I mean you have found where we keep the KePub files. You copy that off, and then decide to side-load it to another iOS device running the Kobo app. That file might appear in the library of the app - it's been a long time since I tried side-loading one - , but even if it does, trying to open it won't do much at all, it may display a "content error" message. But I seriously doubt it'll render. The reason? It's encrypted, and needs to be decrypted. The iOS app does not currently support decrypting side-loaded KePub files. Why not? It does not need to do so. It downloads the kepub files from the server, and that's how the app is meant to function.

11-24-2014, 01:46 PM	#10
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	Hi Sharkus and thanks for the reply. I have been a Kindle user for years. I just tried the H2O a few weeks ago and preferred the experience. I have numerous books from other sources (not Kobo) that I have purchased and removed the DRM for personal archival purposes. These files are in either mobi, azw3 or epub format. I am able to convert format using Calibre to other formats. I tried kepub and preferred the look on the H2O so I converted all of my books to kepub. Now I want to put a copy on my iphone or ipad since Kobo will not synchronize my sideloaded books over the cloud (big mistake. Kobo should for a small price). It was when I tried to sideload these kepub books into the Kobo app for ios that I ran into the problem that it does not see them. I tried a few other apps but they only take epubs. It looks like I will have to continue using kepubs on the H2O but only epubs on the ipad.

11-24-2014, 03:21 PM	#12
Sharkus Evangelist Posts: 444 Karma: 2269648 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo: Original, WiFi, Touch, Aura, Aura H20, MiniGloHD ;) iOS app	I've just tried taking a .epub file, rename it to .kepub and side-loading via iTunes. App does not display it. I also tried emailing myself the file, and when trying to open it, the "open with..." screen did not display Kobo as an option. Not too shocking, we don't support .kepub as a valid extension for the iOS app.

11-24-2014, 08:42 PM	#14
Stingo Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1334691 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami Device: KH2O, KPW2, KDXG, KPW1, K3, S505	Thanks for the invaluable info.