Problem putting a book from calibre into Kindle

[DNSB]

I also grabbed the EPUB 3 version, did some cleanup in Sigil and then converted it to azw3. It display happily on my PW4. Since it is a PD book, I've attached the converted azw3 to this message,

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I downloaded the Kindle format of that book from Project Gutenberg. I then sideloaded the file (pg38497-images-kf8.mobi) to my Oasis 2 running the latest 5.15.1 firmware via USB. Attempting to open it produces the "Unable to Open Item" error as previously reported.

The internal metadata shows it to be in KF8 format, created using calibre version 4.17.0 on October 17, 2022. Looking at the file shows the typical minor structural errors that calibre produces for Kindle formats. I will look into this further to see whether I can determine what specifically in that file leads to this error.

Originally Posted by jhowell

Although this file is in KF8 format it downloads with an incorrect .mobi extension.

I found that renaming the file from pg38497-images-kf8.mobi to pg38497-images-kf8.azw3 allows my Kindle to open the book without error.

Originally Posted by DNSB

For what it may be worth, I downloaded the Kindle version of this ebook ( filename was pg38497-images-kf8.mobi ) which calibre happily imported as a KF8/azw3 ebook. I then opened it with calibre's editor and clicked on the bug icon. It came up with quite a few errors. Most of the errors were "The linked resource '1256390145133242086_cover.jpg' does not exist" in the html files plus an Invalid id:73721-2dc923c5fc2b4a448ba58a66306d939e in part0041.html. That and an unused 00004.jpeg image which seemed to be a thumbnail for the cover image.

I clicked on the Try to correct all fixable errors automatically option and it correct all the errors except the 00004.jpeg file not being referenced error. After this I sent the fixed ebook to a PW4 with frirmware 5.15.1 and it opened happily. Though I'm not sure about a table of contents with overlength chapter titles shown in narrow columns.

Edit: attached a screenshot of one of the pages around chapter XI.

Sounds like that uploader and maybe Project Gutenberg in general has serious toolchain/workflow issues.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I also grabbed the EPUB 3 version, did some cleanup in Sigil and then converted it to azw3. It display happily on my PW4. Since it is a PD book, I've attached the converted azw3 to this message,

Too bad there is probably no easy way to get the EPUB and azw3 to Project Gutenberg.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Although this file is in KF8 format it downloads with an incorrect .mobi extension.

I found that renaming the file from pg38497-images-kf8.mobi to pg38497-images-kf8.azw3 allows my Kindle to open the book without error.

It seems noteworthy that kindle firmware depends so heavily on filename extension.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Sounds like that uploader and maybe Project Gutenberg in general has serious toolchain/workflow issues.

That's not unusual for Gutenberg. Their ebook structure generally sucks and their CSS is idiosyncratic.

The epub3 version has 5 html files for the text of the ebook with chapters being split between different files. I merged all the text files into one and then used a bit of regex to insert split markers, cleaned up the CSS, etc. Sigil's saved searches come in very handy for this type of repetitive cleanup (Gutenberg's one grace is that they are pretty consistent in how they screw up the structure and CSS).

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I also grabbed the EPUB 3 version, did some cleanup in Sigil and then converted it to azw3. It display happily on my PW4. Since it is a PD book, I've attached the converted azw3 to this message,

Why not post the ePub and KF8 in the library?

[jamesemu]

I want to thank all, for finding a solution to my "Problem" The book is opening now in my Kindle, without any error. To DNSB (David) for teaching my how to,"attach a file to a posted message". To jhowell for checking the metadata and for helping me in eliminating the incorrect .mobi extension and replacing it with one that allowed me to sideload the book to my Kindle, and open it to read, with that error popup. Also to DNSB, for finding the errors from the bug icon in Calibre. In summary it is great to have "help" available from MobileRead forum.

[Scarsuna]

Ran into this issue with Gutenberg downloads today and wondered why the .mobi files I downloaded there weren't working. Same error as OP which is how I found the post.

I was able to fix my files by converting to .azw3 with Calibre but will definitely look into Sigil. Thanks to DSNB for the detailed info on the editing process.

[Flaviocc]

hi Guys, sorry to bump an old thread.

I'm facing this issue since yesterday when I loaded a few books I bought.

I always convert to azw3 to use the font configuration and to get larger margins.

The bug is very strange.

If I load the book and open just that book, everything is ok. But if I open another book the message: "unable to open item, If you purchased it from Amazon, delete the item and download it from the cloud on home" pops up to both books.

I put the kindle to default (factory reset), loaded with just 2 books and I got the same error.

My device is Kindle PW 5.

Yesterday I updated Calibre to the last version, don't know if it was the problem. I will downgrade now to see.

Any opinions where I need to look?

Tks.

EDIT.: same thing with calibre 5.44

EDIT 2.: If the file is KFX, the bug don't pop up, but I will lose the font ramp option...

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Flaviocc

hi Guys, sorry to bump an old thread.

I'm facing this issue since yesterday when I loaded a few books I bought.

I always convert to azw3 to use the font configuration and to get larger margins.

The bug is very strange.

If I load the book and open just that book, everything is ok. But if I open another book the message: "unable to open item, If you purchased it from Amazon, delete the item and download it from the cloud on home" pops up to both books.

I put the kindle to default (factory reset), loaded with just 2 books and I got the same error.

My device is Kindle PW 5.

Yesterday I updated Calibre to the last version, don't know if it was the problem. I will downgrade now to see.

Any opinions where I need to look?

Tks.

EDIT.: same thing with calibre 5.44

EDIT 2.: If the file is KFX, the bug don't pop up, but I will lose the font ramp option...

I don't know what the problem is. But I know it's not an issue with calibre. I've put eBooks converted from ePub with calibre on a PW5 and there has been no problem.

What format(s) are these eBooks? Where did these eBooks come from?

[Flaviocc]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I don't know what the problem is. But I know it's not an issue with calibre. I've put eBooks converted from ePub with calibre on a PW5 and there has been no problem.

What format(s) are these eBooks? Where did these eBooks come from?

Hi John,

I have epubs from Kobo and others from Amazon (I don't remember what type of file).

I never had this issue before. I have books that I did the same process and open ok, the problem is with certain ebooks and I'm trying to identify the root of this.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Flaviocc

Hi John,

I have epubs from Kobo and others from Amazon (I don't remember what type of file).

I never had this issue before. I have books that I did the same process and open ok, the problem is with certain ebooks and I'm trying to identify the root of this.

Take some of the eBooks that are giving you problems and use the ScrambleEbook plugin to scramble the ePub. Then put the scrambled copies into calibre and convert to KF8 and load them on your Kindle and see how it goes. If any fail, you can attach in this message so we can take a look.

[Flaviocc]

Jon,

Tks.

The problem is azw3. KF8 is the same ??

I’ll try later.

I’m trying some clean with sigil to have a better ePub.

I have some books from google books too.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Flaviocc

Jon,

Tks.

The problem is azw3. KF8 is the same ??

I’ll try later.

I’m trying some clean with sigil to have a better ePub.

I have some books from google books too.

KF8 is the official name of the eBook format.

[JSWolf]

Check your ePub with the epubcheck plugin and if you have any errors, fix them. Then convert to KF8 and if any fail, scramble and post so we can have a look.