epub file to mobi, but some caracters appear as question marks

abatsukh · 01-15-2011, 02:10 PM

I have downloaded some epub files and converted them to mobi and added them to my kindle.

however many letters in the book appear as question marks on calibre and blank squares as on my kindle.

how can i fix this, can anyone help me please?

wallcraft · 01-15-2011, 02:34 PM

The ePub is probably declaring the wrong character encoding. See converting epub to mobi for kindle 3 weird hyphens for a few suggestions of what to do.

kovidgoyal · 01-15-2011, 02:36 PM

http://calibre-ebook.com/user_manual...r-smart-quotes

Belle2Be · 02-20-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

http://calibre-ebook.com/user_manual...r-smart-quotes

This doesn't help. It just took out all the punctuation except periods. (using the Cp### and checking the Transliteration box) from Epub to mobi.

ldolse · 02-21-2011, 01:39 AM

For all intensive purposes, your file is corrupted. You need to do some digging to figure out what encoding it was using if you have any hope of fixing it. In some cases there isn't much to be done except use manual find/replace in text editor. Especially for something which is already epub, as there is a good chance there the file is now using multiple encodings - UTF-8 plus whatever the original encoding was before the epub was created.

HarryT · 02-21-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldolse

For all intensive purposes, your file is corrupted.

Just so you know, the correct expression is "for all intents and purposes", not "for all intensive purposes"

kovidgoyal · 02-21-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just so you know, the correct expression is "for all intents and purposes", not "for all intensive purposes"

That looks to me like a predictive input system at work.

ldolse · 02-21-2011, 07:15 PM

A correction I wasn't actually aware of, unlike other times where my fingers seem to do the spelling instead of my brain. That said, I think I'll join the side of the debate that says that the english language has moved on, and 'intents' is the archaic/formal form of the phrase

Anyway I really did sort of mean 'intensive' vs. 'intents', in the sense that the OP is going to probably have to bang their head against a wall or its' virtual equivalent to fix their file.

DoctorOhh · 02-21-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just so you know, the correct expression is "for all intents and purposes", not "for all intensive purposes"

You explained it in public, I gave him karma in private for the good laugh. I've made these types of errors more then once.

Heck I was just typing "You're Welcome" to a thank you and realized I must have typed "Your Welcome"

too many times to count.

ResultantVector · 01-27-2021, 04:34 PM

Hello all just joined the forum. I have seen written "I would of" instead of "I would have" as in "I would have posted your Christmas card before it was too late". In speech have and of can sound similar unless the speaker is careful to make the words distinct.

FDPuthuff · 01-28-2021, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

http://calibre-ebook.com/user_manual...r-smart-quotes

404 Not Found

FDPuthuff · 01-28-2021, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldolse

...That said, I think I'll join the side of the debate that says that the english language has moved on, and 'intents' is the archaic/formal form of the phrase

Cute...There really is not a logical debate. Yes, language, especially English, evolves. But, this does not happen to phrases like this. This from me, an editor and proofreader, who studies the English language and linguists' findings as a form of relaxation. Me, who rails at the fact that "irregardless" has actually made it into the English dictionary. I can assure you though, "For all intents and purposes" is still the only correct version of this phrase.

That being said, I do not play the grammar police on Facebook or forums as people are usually there for help, not grammar. (Don't get me wrong, all posts are being judged, but only in my head.) You will most likely find errors in my own posts as I am human and moving fast. But, when an excuse like this shows up, I must protest.

PeterT · 01-28-2021, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FDPuthuff

404 Not Found

See https://manual.calibre-ebook.com/faq...r-smart-quotes

DNSB · 01-28-2021, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FDPuthuff

404 Not Found

Oh shock and horror. A 10 year old link is broken.

Try this link instead of How do I convert my file containing non-English characters, or smart quotes?.

About a 2 second Google search to find the replacement link

01-15-2011, 02:10 PM	#1
abatsukh Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: kindle	epub file to mobi, but some caracters appear as question marks I have downloaded some epub files and converted them to mobi and added them to my kindle. however many letters in the book appear as question marks on calibre and blank squares as on my kindle. how can i fix this, can anyone help me please? Last edited by abatsukh; 01-15-2011 at 02:14 PM.

02-21-2011, 07:15 PM	#8
ldolse Wizard Posts: 1,337 Karma: 123457 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Malaysia Device: PRS-650, iPhone	A correction I wasn't actually aware of, unlike other times where my fingers seem to do the spelling instead of my brain. That said, I think I'll join the side of the debate that says that the english language has moved on, and 'intents' is the archaic/formal form of the phrase Anyway I really did sort of mean 'intensive' vs. 'intents', in the sense that the OP is going to probably have to bang their head against a wall or its' virtual equivalent to fix their file. Last edited by ldolse; 02-21-2011 at 07:39 PM.

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01-15-2011, 02:34 PM	#2
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	The ePub is probably declaring the wrong character encoding. See converting epub to mobi for kindle 3 weird hyphens for a few suggestions of what to do.

01-15-2011, 02:36 PM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,604 Karma: 28548974 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	http://calibre-ebook.com/user_manual...r-smart-quotes

02-21-2011, 01:39 AM	#5
ldolse Wizard Posts: 1,337 Karma: 123457 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Malaysia Device: PRS-650, iPhone	For all intensive purposes, your file is corrupted. You need to do some digging to figure out what encoding it was using if you have any hope of fixing it. In some cases there isn't much to be done except use manual find/replace in text editor. Especially for something which is already epub, as there is a good chance there the file is now using multiple encodings - UTF-8 plus whatever the original encoding was before the epub was created.

01-27-2021, 04:34 PM	#10
ResultantVector Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2021 Device: Kindle paperwhite 3	Hello all just joined the forum. I have seen written "I would of" instead of "I would have" as in "I would have posted your Christmas card before it was too late". In speech have and of can sound similar unless the speaker is careful to make the words distinct.