[Conversion Output] KFX Output

[tomsem]

I'm trying to convert a Czech language ePub to KFX (have tried a few of them), and am getting 'Internal Error'. Indeed Kindle Previewer (3.65.0) gives same error, without further elaboration, directs me to KPR Help menu to Send Feedback. I've done this, but wondered if you have any idea what the problem might be.

In meantime, MOBI convert works fine.

I downloaded these from pocketbook-int.com:

https://support.pocketbook-int.com/c...ks/u/Czech.zip

Russian language books from the same site convert fine FWIW.

Thank you

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by tomsem

I'm trying to convert a Czech language ePub to KFX (have tried a few of them), and am getting 'Internal Error'. Indeed Kindle Previewer (3.65.0) gives same error, without further elaboration, directs me to KPR Help menu to Send Feedback. I've done this, but wondered if you have any idea what the problem might be.
...
Russian language books from the same site convert fine FWIW.

The Kindle Previewer will usually only convert books that are in a supported language for Kindle eBooks. Russian is an odd exception in that it is allowed even though it is not supported.

One workaround is to set the language in the metadata of your book to a supported language, such as English, before conversion. The main downside of doing that is language-dependant features, such as dictionaries, won't function correctly.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jhowell

The Kindle Previewer will usually only convert books that are in a supported language for Kindle eBooks. Russian is an odd exception in that it is allowed even though it is not supported.

One workaround is to set the language in the metadata of your book to a supported language, such as English, before conversion. The main downside of doing that is language-dependant features, such as dictionaries, won't function correctly.

"One would think" Previewer would yield a message like 'unsupported language'.

Unfortunately I need to use a dictionary, so that's that (unless I muck with the dictionary as well). MOBI will do.

Note Russian is 'unsupported' only for purposes of KDP. Kindle platform supports Russian (Russian UI in all of the apps, and translation dictionaries for Kindle), and there are thousands of Russian language books in the Kindle Store, but I guess you have to establish a 'publisher' relationship with Amazon to get them in there.

One of my peeves about the Kindle Store Russian language ebooks is that most (or at least the ones I have purchased) seem to disallow TTS. What is the point of that?

Polish is also 'unsupported' but Previewer does not complain about it, either.

So it's as if Czech has been singled out for this 'punishment'.

IIRC, 'unsupported' means Amazon does not have staff fluent enough in that language to do whatever minimal curation they want to be able to do. Apparently they have people with literacy in Manx, though.

And what's with 'paperback only' support mean? hardcover and ebook is okay but not paperback?

or in the case of Latin, 'paperback and hardcover only)? What have they got against having Latin texts in Kindle Store?

Weirdos.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by tomsem

"One would think" Previewer would yield a message like 'unsupported language'.

Hopefully they will fix the bug someday.

Originally Posted by tomsem

Note Russian is 'unsupported' only for purposes of KDP. Kindle platform supports Russian (Russian UI in all of the apps, and translation dictionaries for Kindle), and there are thousands of Russian language books in the Kindle Store, but I guess you have to establish a 'publisher' relationship with Amazon to get them in there.

I see. That explains why Russian is supported in the Previewer.

Originally Posted by tomsem

Polish is also 'unsupported' but Previewer does not complain about it, either.

Actually Polish is not supported by the Previewer and fails to convert. That is one of a handful of languages that the KFX Output plugin handles by switching it to English so that conversion by the Previewer will function. I will add the same handling for Czech in the next plugin release.

Originally Posted by tomsem

Unfortunately I need to use a dictionary, so that's that (unless I muck with the dictionary as well).

I am also going to have the plugin restore the original language in the resulting KFX book. That will hopefully allow dictionary lookup to function if a dictionary for the proper language is present on the device. (I have been unable to test this because I cannot locate a Czech Kindle dictionary so it might not actually work.)

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by tomsem

One of my peeves about the Kindle Store Russian language ebooks is that most (or at least the ones I have purchased) seem to disallow TTS. What is the point of that?

Apparently publishers are worried about TTS taking away sales from audiobooks.

I'll note in passing that the DeDRM plugin also resets the flag that blocks TTS.

[VoodooGod]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

Yay, it works

I've managed to edit "extract_cover_thumbs.py" (from "ExtractCoverThumbs" app) code to process only files with .kfx extensions and dump images with correct filename (cover_ASIN.png) to needed location (/mnt/us/linkss/cover_cache) folder and to save them as PNG and resize even smaller cover images to 1072 x 1448. Luckily ScreenSaver hack doesn't redo cover extraction if it finds already cached file for that book.

And I've created KUAL extension to run that script

Would you mind sharing that extension? I'm digging through the code too, but it would save me some time.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Apparently publishers are worried about TTS taking away sales from audiobooks.

I'll note in passing that the DeDRM plugin also resets the flag that blocks TTS.

These are tiny (probably one person) publishers nobody has heard of, with minuscule ebook sales, and they don't do audiobooks. I just think they ticked the box and didn't really think about it.

And yes, thankfully it is not an issue for me thanks to the plugin.

TTS flag is also ignored by screen readers (SpeakScreen, VoiceView etc).

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Hopefully they will fix the bug someday.



I see. That explains why Russian is supported in the Previewer.



Actually Polish is not supported by the Previewer and fails to convert. That is one of a handful of languages that the KFX Output plugin handles by switching it to English so that conversion by the Previewer will function. I will add the same handling for Czech in the next plugin release.



I am also going to have the plugin restore the original language in the resulting KFX book. That will hopefully allow dictionary lookup to function if a dictionary for the proper language is present on the device. (I have been unable to test this because I cannot locate a Czech Kindle dictionary so it might not actually work.)

Great, thank you!

I have Czech-English and Polish-English translation dictionaries so I could test something. For some reason these are no longer available for sale in US Kindle Store.

I searched 'Kindle Default Dictionaries' for 'Czech' and looks like there are some that go from English to Czech. And one that goes from Czech to Vietnamese (available via Kindle Unlimited)! I borrowed it and it does work.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tomsem

MOBI will do.

Why not go with KF8 instead as it gives you more features and better support for more advanced features?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by tomsem

These are tiny (probably one person) publishers nobody has heard of, with minuscule ebook sales, and they don't do audiobooks. I just think they ticked the box and didn't really think about it.

And yes, thankfully it is not an issue for me thanks to the plugin.

TTS flag is also ignored by screen readers (SpeakScreen, VoiceView etc).

But what do you do with DRM free Kindle eBooks where DeDRM will not reset the TTS flag?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by tomsem

And one that goes from Czech to Vietnamese (available via Kindle Unlimited)! I borrowed it and it does work.

I have Kindle Unlimited so I borrowed that dictionary and was able to make it work.

I plan to release a new version of this plugin within a few days.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But what do you do with DRM free Kindle eBooks where DeDRM will not reset the TTS flag?

There are several programs that can change the metadata of Kindle books. Java Mobi Metadata Editor for example.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jhowell

There are several programs that can change the metadata of Kindle books. Java Mobi Metadata Editor for example.

Is there such a program that works on KF8 that doesn't break it? Mobo2Mobi and the one you recommended break KF8.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is there such a program that works on KF8 that doesn't break it? Mobo2Mobi and the one you recommended break KF8.

I just used Java Mobi Metadata Editor to change the TTS flag on a KF8 book from Amazon and it worked without damaging the file.

Can you give an example where it fails?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I just used Java Mobi Metadata Editor to change the TTF flag on a KF8 book from Amazon and it worked without damaging the file.

Can you give an example where it fails?

Actually, I was mistaken about this one. It's mobi2mobi that fails to work properly with KF8.