New version of DRM removal tools ("DeDRM")

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by indago

Hello I'd like to keep a pdf backup copy (or any other free format) of all my kindle's books "just in case" something could go wrong with kindle in the future.
I made some tests using Calibre (latest version) with DeDrm 10.0.2 plugin and I was able to save a pdf copy of some books (AZW files), but not all of them. There's a book that can't be converted (neither viewed since it takes long for opening the viewing window and at the end is displayed with a mess of unreadable characters) so I'm looking for advice.
I was not able to convert that book using Mac versions of both Kindle and Calibre, neither with Windows versions...(but same DeDrm plugin version 10.0.2)
I don't realize why ONLY that book (till now at least, since I tried with just a few books...) can't be converted

First, I suggest that you rethink using PDF as your archival format. PDF locks you into a single screen size, font, and font size. You will be unable to change things later if your device or eyesight changes. EPUB is probably the best archival format for ebooks. Keeping the original format without DRM is also a good idea.

Second, there are several variations of MOBI format. It is likely that the garbled appearing book is actually a PDF with a MOBI wrapper. The KindleUnpack plugin can extract the PDF from it if this is the case. (Calibre handles this variant only if it has a AZW4 extension. DeDRM sets the wrong extension when run under calibre 5.x)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by jhowell

First, I suggest that you rethink using PDF as your archival format. PDF locks you into a single screen size, font, and font size. You will be unable to change things later if your device or eyesight changes. EPUB is probably the best archival format for ebooks. Keeping the original format without DRM is also a good idea.

I agree PDF is a bad choice. But DRM free mobi is as good a backup choice as any. Sure, it might be better to obtain the more open epub format in the first place, but why bother converting? There's plenty non Amazon software support for mobi, and I'm trying to envision the bizzarely specific future apocalypse scenario where mobi could not be read, but epub (or PDF) could. Stranded on a desert island with no software but 7zip and a text editor?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by ApK

I agree PDF is a bad choice. But DRM free mobi is as good a backup choice as any. Sure, it might be better to obtain the more open epub format in the first place, but why bother converting? There's plenty non Amazon software support for mobi, and I'm trying to envision the bizzarely specific future apocalypse scenario where mobi could not be read, but epub (or PDF) could. Stranded on a desert island with no software but 7zip and a text editor?

I agree that keeping the original MOBI is fine as an archival format. That is what I do.

I suggested EPUB for use in the scenario proposed in the question of converting everything to a single open format. I wouldn’t choose MOBI for that.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by ApK

I agree PDF is a bad choice. But DRM free mobi is as good a backup choice as any. Sure, it might be better to obtain the more open epub format in the first place, but why bother converting? There's plenty non Amazon software support for mobi, and I'm trying to envision the bizzarely specific future apocalypse scenario where mobi could not be read, but epub (or PDF) could. Stranded on a desert island with no software but 7zip and a text editor?

Perhaps the existence of multiple editors for epub format ebooks? Even Amazon no longer supports .mobi as a format for uploading reflowable ebooks to KDP. The lack of features in .mobi?

[ownedbycats]

Also, ePub isn't proprietary. mobi is.

[alansplace]

<DELETED>

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Recently I had to reinstall Windows 10 and also had to reinstall Kindle for PC and Calibre. This Calibre (I reinstalled 4.23 and the DeDrm plugin 6.8.1) imports an .azw that is not recognized by Calibre.

What you really want is Calibre 5.38 and DeDRM 10.0.2. 5.39 has a problem losing column sizes and 10.0.2 is the latest DeDRM with fixes.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Perhaps the existence of multiple editors for epub format ebooks? Even Amazon no longer supports .mobi as a format for uploading reflowable ebooks to KDP. The lack of features in .mobi?

But it's for archival protection, not editing, and they are already mobi so they only have the features they have. I'm not arguing for mobi over epub, just opining that once they are DRM free, I see no compelling reason to convert at all, if the need is just to have Kindle-free backups. It's not like you'll lose access or be unable to use open software like Calibre if Amazon and Kindle go away.

oh, and I guess indago better start a new thread if they want to continue archive format discussions before someone else posts about the thread drifting from tool news.

[indago]

Originally Posted by jhowell

First, I suggest that you rethink using PDF as your archival format. PDF locks you into a single screen size, font, and font size. You will be unable to change things later if your device or eyesight changes. EPUB is probably the best archival format for ebooks. Keeping the original format without DRM is also a good idea.

Second, there are several variations of MOBI format. It is likely that the garbled appearing book is actually a PDF with a MOBI wrapper. The KindleUnpack plugin can extract the PDF from it if this is the case. (Calibre handles this variant only if it has a AZW4 extension. DeDRM sets the wrong extension when run under calibre 5.x)

You rock! Thanks very much for the advice! Converting to epub or mobi didn't work for that specific book, but finally installing the KindleUnpack plugin and using it for extracting directly the PDF worked like a charm. So I couldn't convert to epub or mobi but at least I have a printable-like pdf of the book.
And I think you're right... the book itself doesn't look like an e-book strictly speaking, but just a pdf encapsulated into a kindle mobi format.

I also read the following "sub-discussion" regarding the preferable format to keep the drm-free copies of the books and yes... you're right again, I think EPUB is the way to go.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What you really want is Calibre 5.38 and DeDRM 10.0.2. 5.39 has a problem losing column sizes and 10.0.2 is the latest DeDRM with fixes.

5.39.1 fixes the problems.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

5.39.1 fixes the problems.

Yes it does, but my advice was pre-5.39.1.

[frankob]

In my experience, the Obok tool works great, but the main DeDRM, for liberating books opened by ADE, never worked for me. Do I keep doing something wrong?
I simply install the plugin from file in Calibre, restart Calibre, get the file either from my e-book reader or from ADE, and import it normally -- the e-book remains DRM-ed.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by frankob

In my experience, the Obok tool works great, but the main DeDRM, for liberating books opened by ADE, never worked for me. Do I keep doing something wrong?
I simply install the plugin from file in Calibre, restart Calibre, get the file either from my e-book reader or from ADE, and import it normally -- the e-book remains DRM-ed.

You have to configure the DeDRM plugin. You cannot use it without configuration. If you get stuck, got to https://github.com/noDRM/DeDRM_tools and select discussions and ask how to configure DeDRM.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You have to configure the DeDRM plugin. You cannot use it without configuration.

?? I've never configured anything in DeDRM for Adobe DRM books. But, as you say, this isn't the place to discuss it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

?? I've never configured anything in DeDRM for Adobe DRM books. But, as you say, this isn't the place to discuss it.

You've had to at least once configure it to get the key.