AZW3 converted from EPUB has pages in reverse order.

C Alberga · 01-07-2026, 05:03 PM

A book which is in EPUB format and has been converted to AZW3 by Calibre is (in an odd way) completely reversed when viewed on a Kindle or with the Calibre viewer. The original EPUB displays correctly in the Viewer, and when converted to a HTML file does so in FireFox. The AZW3 opens to the table of contents. If one goes to chapter 1 it opens to that, but to progress one must give a "previous page" signal (left side of Kindle, left arrow in the browser). The pages display correctly, regardless of font size or browser window size.

I am attaching the EPUB format, which works. Converting it to AZW2, for me, produces the backwards version. Should I attach my "bad" copy as well?

Any ideas how to fix this?

C Alberga · 01-07-2026, 05:09 PM

I thought I had attached the EPUB to this but it dosen't appear to be there. I'll try again.

C Alberga · 01-07-2026, 05:13 PM

Second attempt at uploading a file. First time the window for "Manage Attachments" was was too narrow for the "upload" button to show when the file name was inserted.

JSWolf · 01-07-2026, 05:13 PM

If this is a book that's in copyright, try the ScrambleEBook plugin and see if the KF8 (AZW3) comes out backwards. If it does, then post both. If the ePub is not in copyright, post the ePub as is as well as the KF8.

JSWolf · 01-07-2026, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Alberga

Second attempt at uploading a file. First time the window for "Manage Attachments" was was too narrow for the "upload" button to show when the file name was inserted.

You need to remove this as it's in copyright. Read my post on what to do to post it.

BetterRed · 01-07-2026, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Alberga

Second attempt at uploading a file. First time the window for "Manage Attachments" was was too narrow for the "upload" button to show when the file name was inserted.

Moderator Notice

Attachment removed - see Posting Guideline #8

And JSWolf's posts.

BR

JSWolf · 01-07-2026, 06:43 PM

What OS (and version) are you using and what version of calibre?

C Alberga · 01-07-2026, 09:15 PM

First: Windows 10, Calibre 8.16.1

I have scrambled both the .epub and the .azw3 versions. I'm not sure what you mean by "comes out backwards." I am attaching the two files, with the file names changed. The .epub is the original, the .azw3 the conversion.

theducks · 01-07-2026, 09:44 PM

Well those are different. (and both wrong)
The AZW starts out 1,2,3 then ???
The EPUB has a different chapter # order When opened from the TOC
Someone has messed about because the filenames are in order, the OPF has those pretty much in order. But the file contents is not matching the file order or the TOC entry pointing TO that file.

jhowell · 01-08-2026, 11:27 AM

I took a look at those scrambled books.

The reversed page direction is caused by the primary language of the book as listed in the OPF of the EPUB being Arabic. That is causing the conversion to AZW3 by calibre to indicate that the book reads right-to-left causing the progression of pages to be reversed.

C Alberga · 01-09-2026, 05:59 PM

Thank you, that seems to have fixed things. I still can't quite get my head around the result. The text still ran from left to right, only the order of the pages flipped. Although, looking at the pseudo-html I note that each paragraph is entered as a single line, so I can see how the text could have wound up as it did. I should check the old AZW3 file and see if the paragraphs are indented on the right.

Anyway, I've never paid attention to the "language" value in the metadata, so it never occurred to me to look at it. Again, thank you.

01-07-2026, 05:03 PM	#1
C Alberga Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: none	AZW3 converted from EPUB has pages in reverse order. A book which is in EPUB format and has been converted to AZW3 by Calibre is (in an odd way) completely reversed when viewed on a Kindle or with the Calibre viewer. The original EPUB displays correctly in the Viewer, and when converted to a HTML file does so in FireFox. The AZW3 opens to the table of contents. If one goes to chapter 1 it opens to that, but to progress one must give a "previous page" signal (left side of Kindle, left arrow in the browser). The pages display correctly, regardless of font size or browser window size. I am attaching the EPUB format, which works. Converting it to AZW2, for me, produces the backwards version. Should I attach my "bad" copy as well? Any ideas how to fix this?

01-07-2026, 05:13 PM	#3
C Alberga Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: none	Second attempt at uploading a file. First time the window for "Manage Attachments" was was too narrow for the "upload" button to show when the file name was inserted. Last edited by BetterRed; 01-07-2026 at 05:38 PM. Reason: remove copyrighted work

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01-07-2026, 05:09 PM	#2
C Alberga Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: none	I thought I had attached the EPUB to this but it dosen't appear to be there. I'll try again.

01-07-2026, 05:13 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 81,524 Karma: 150265873 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If this is a book that's in copyright, try the ScrambleEBook plugin and see if the KF8 (AZW3) comes out backwards. If it does, then post both. If the ePub is not in copyright, post the ePub as is as well as the KF8.

01-07-2026, 06:43 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 81,524 Karma: 150265873 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What OS (and version) are you using and what version of calibre?

01-07-2026, 09:44 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,407 Karma: 62500208 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Well those are different. (and both wrong) The AZW starts out 1,2,3 then ??? The EPUB has a different chapter # order When opened from the TOC Someone has messed about because the filenames are in order, the OPF has those pretty much in order. But the file contents is not matching the file order or the TOC entry pointing TO that file.

01-08-2026, 11:27 AM	#10
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,214 Karma: 94593129 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	I took a look at those scrambled books. The reversed page direction is caused by the primary language of the book as listed in the OPF of the EPUB being Arabic. That is causing the conversion to AZW3 by calibre to indicate that the book reads right-to-left causing the progression of pages to be reversed.

01-09-2026, 05:59 PM	#11
C Alberga Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: none	Thank you, that seems to have fixed things. I still can't quite get my head around the result. The text still ran from left to right, only the order of the pages flipped. Although, looking at the pseudo-html I note that each paragraph is entered as a single line, so I can see how the text could have wound up as it did. I should check the old AZW3 file and see if the paragraphs are indented on the right. Anyway, I've never paid attention to the "language" value in the metadata, so it never occurred to me to look at it. Again, thank you.