Is it easy to remove DRM protection? - Page 12

FF2 · 12-10-2010, 01:18 PM

All 26 "topaz" books were initially downloaded on my k3. Yesterday I downloaded the archived versions to my win-pc. They all have the same extension as everything else - azw. I looked into each with a file viewer and saw the identifier at the beginning of the file. None had READABLE metadata in the viewer.

I renamed all of them to azw1. MOST (except 2) were then dragged back into calibre and it added them based on (obviously hidden non-human readable) metadata.

Rather than immediately wade through the calibre forum, does anyone know if the programmer might be addressing the files that while named xxxx.azw are actually topaz? Obviously this would slow down the parsing if he had to look at the first 4 characters to determine, ah, Topaz, then then treat them like topaz to get at the metadata.

Great discussion if we are not treading too far into forbidden topics or disclosures.

DiapDealer · 12-10-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Rather than immediately wade through the calibre forum, does anyone know if the programmer might be addressing the files that while named xxxx.azw are actually topaz? Obviously this would slow down the parsing if he had to look at the first 4 characters to determine, ah, Topaz, then then treat them like topaz to get at the metadata.

You'd definitely get more (and probably more complete) responses in the Calibre forum, but in short, I doubt something like you're proposing would be taken up by the developers. All of the current metadata reader plugins are called based on the extension of the file being imported. While it may be possible to modify the mobi metadata reader plugin to test for topaz -- and then subsequently defer to the topaz metadata reader -- I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble. Metadata reading and modifying is currently the only thing you can do with Topaz files in Calibre, anyway.

You could always request a feature enhancement (on Calibre's bug-tracker website). The worst they can say is no.

Illinifan · 12-10-2010, 10:46 PM

I've been using the batch convert scripts for both ePub and pdf files.

Based on what I read here, I dowloaded and installed tools_v2.3. I got a DRMed ePub file to load into Calibre without a problem, but I couldn't do the same for a DRMed pdf file. I got a pop-up telling me that it was DRM encrypted and that I need to open it in ADE.

What did I do wrong?

speedlever · 12-10-2010, 10:54 PM

Nothing. The plugin for pdf is not yet out.

Leep · 12-10-2010, 10:56 PM

PDF files are handled by one of the scripts that was in your tools folder. The pdf script is not a Calibre plugin, but is a python file. You can run it from within Windows, if you have python and a windows utility called pycrypto installed, or it can be run from a command prompt with just python installed.

cheers

speedlever · 12-11-2010, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leep

PDF files are handled by one of the scripts that was in your tools folder. The pdf script is not a Calibre plugin, but is a python file. You can run it from within Windows, if you have python and a windows utility called pycrypto installed, or it can be run from a command prompt with just python installed.

cheers

That is my understanding too.

Just to clarify, there are two ways that I know to deal with DRM:

1) use Calibre with the appropriate plug-ins (none yet for pdf). This does epub, B&N epub, and some others, but not yet pdf.
2) use the manual scripts with python and pycrypto. This method handles epub and pdf. I haven't seen scripts for anything else.

Leep · 12-11-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Just to clarify, there are two ways that I know to deal with DRM:

1) use Calibre with the appropriate plug-ins (none yet for pdf). This does epub, B&N epub, and some others, but not yet pdf.
2) use the manual scripts with python and pycrypto. This method handles epub and pdf. I haven't seen scripts for anything else.

There is a plugin for epub files, but PDF files must be run through a separate script. While there are standalone scripts for epub, mobidedrm, & K4PC, they have also been incorporated in a plugin.

cheers

KevinH · 12-11-2010, 10:10 AM

Hi,
Actually there are standalone scripts for B&N epub, B&N eReader pdb, Adobe epub, Mobi, Kindle for PC /Mac, And Topaz all with GUI frontends all in the Tools v2.3 zip archie.

All of these have been modified so that PyCrypto is no longer needed if you have OpenSSL installed (Mac OSX and Linux already have both Python and OpenSSL preinstalled so users of those systems are good to go).

For Windows users they recommend ActiveState Active Python 2.6 or 2.7, 32 bit version. There is a readme which tells Windows users where to get OpenSSL as well. All of these are free downloads.

The only tool not part of tools v2.3 is the ineptpdf version. Alf has links to it on his site. Mac OS X /Linux users should download the ineptpdf 7.6 .pyw script as it has been modified to use OpenSSL as well. Windows users have achoice of that script or a later script that supports FileOpen PDFs as well.

Catlady · 12-11-2010, 12:07 PM

Stupid question: is the tools package what you mean by the Calibre plug-in?

I've used the tools, but not through Calibre.

KevinH · 12-11-2010, 12:11 PM

Hi,

The tools package (version 2.3) is a zip archive of many "tools" needed to deal with DRM. It includes folders with tool organized by book type with ReadMe to explain their use plus a folder for all of the Calibre plugins, and the DeDRM tool for Mac OSX users, etc.

Catlady · 12-11-2010, 12:51 PM

Thanks--hmm, guess I should've read the readme file!

Illinifan · 12-11-2010, 11:47 PM

Thanks. I thought that was the answer: no plugin for .pdf files yet.

Christmas is coming soon. Maybe it'll show up in our stockings.

ApK · 12-21-2010, 12:54 PM

The pdf plug in is now out there!

It's a different file than the other tools.

Also, I think tools is up to at least 2.4 now.

mark1529 · 12-21-2010, 01:59 PM

i have been following this thread because i had some of the same questions
i just downloaded calibre and i must say what a great program
i highly recommend it

thanks all

mark

KevinH · 12-21-2010, 03:09 PM

If you have a standalone Kindle device (Kindle 1, 2, or 3) and want to help test things, you can google for a certain blog (that has been discussed here before) and go to the last blog on the page and look in the comments for that blog (see comment #11) for a new experimental tool that is supposed to work for standalone Kindles even those with firmware >= 2.5.

Testers are needed. So if you can help out and report back to that blog I am sure it would help.

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12-10-2010, 01:18 PM	#166
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	All 26 "topaz" books were initially downloaded on my k3. Yesterday I downloaded the archived versions to my win-pc. They all have the same extension as everything else - azw. I looked into each with a file viewer and saw the identifier at the beginning of the file. None had READABLE metadata in the viewer. I renamed all of them to azw1. MOST (except 2) were then dragged back into calibre and it added them based on (obviously hidden non-human readable) metadata. Rather than immediately wade through the calibre forum, does anyone know if the programmer might be addressing the files that while named xxxx.azw are actually topaz? Obviously this would slow down the parsing if he had to look at the first 4 characters to determine, ah, Topaz, then then treat them like topaz to get at the metadata. Great discussion if we are not treading too far into forbidden topics or disclosures.

12-10-2010, 10:46 PM	#168
Illinifan Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 210032 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dayton, OH Device: iPad 4, iPhone 4, iPod touch, Sony PRS 300	I've been using the batch convert scripts for both ePub and pdf files. Based on what I read here, I dowloaded and installed tools_v2.3. I got a DRMed ePub file to load into Calibre without a problem, but I couldn't do the same for a DRMed pdf file. I got a pop-up telling me that it was DRM encrypted and that I need to open it in ADE. What did I do wrong?

12-10-2010, 10:54 PM	#169
speedlever Fanatic Posts: 592 Karma: 138200 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: PW2014, PW2012, iPad Pro	Nothing. The plugin for pdf is not yet out.

12-10-2010, 10:56 PM	#170
Leep Guru Posts: 739 Karma: 1018859 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Near Seattle Device: kindle1, K3, K3G (thanks MR), iTouch, Kindle Touch	PDF files are handled by one of the scripts that was in your tools folder. The pdf script is not a Calibre plugin, but is a python file. You can run it from within Windows, if you have python and a windows utility called pycrypto installed, or it can be run from a command prompt with just python installed. cheers

12-11-2010, 10:10 AM	#173
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,837 Karma: 6120478 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Hi, Actually there are standalone scripts for B&N epub, B&N eReader pdb, Adobe epub, Mobi, Kindle for PC /Mac, And Topaz all with GUI frontends all in the Tools v2.3 zip archie. All of these have been modified so that PyCrypto is no longer needed if you have OpenSSL installed (Mac OSX and Linux already have both Python and OpenSSL preinstalled so users of those systems are good to go). For Windows users they recommend ActiveState Active Python 2.6 or 2.7, 32 bit version. There is a readme which tells Windows users where to get OpenSSL as well. All of these are free downloads. The only tool not part of tools v2.3 is the ineptpdf version. Alf has links to it on his site. Mac OS X /Linux users should download the ineptpdf 7.6 .pyw script as it has been modified to use OpenSSL as well. Windows users have achoice of that script or a later script that supports FileOpen PDFs as well.

12-11-2010, 12:07 PM	#174
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Stupid question: is the tools package what you mean by the Calibre plug-in? I've used the tools, but not through Calibre.

12-11-2010, 12:11 PM	#175
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,837 Karma: 6120478 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	Hi, The tools package (version 2.3) is a zip archive of many "tools" needed to deal with DRM. It includes folders with tool organized by book type with ReadMe to explain their use plus a folder for all of the Calibre plugins, and the DeDRM tool for Mac OSX users, etc.

12-11-2010, 12:51 PM	#176
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,419 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Thanks--hmm, guess I should've read the readme file!

12-11-2010, 11:47 PM	#177
Illinifan Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 210032 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dayton, OH Device: iPad 4, iPhone 4, iPod touch, Sony PRS 300	Thanks. I thought that was the answer: no plugin for .pdf files yet. Christmas is coming soon. Maybe it'll show up in our stockings.

12-21-2010, 12:54 PM	#178
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,389 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	The pdf plug in is now out there! It's a different file than the other tools. Also, I think tools is up to at least 2.4 now.

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12-21-2010, 01:59 PM	#179
mark1529 Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: kindle	i have been following this thread because i had some of the same questions i just downloaded calibre and i must say what a great program i highly recommend it thanks all mark

12-21-2010, 03:09 PM	#180
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,837 Karma: 6120478 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	If you have a standalone Kindle device (Kindle 1, 2, or 3) and want to help test things, you can google for a certain blog (that has been discussed here before) and go to the last blog on the page and look in the comments for that blog (see comment #11) for a new experimental tool that is supposed to work for standalone Kindles even those with firmware >= 2.5. Testers are needed. So if you can help out and report back to that blog I am sure it would help.