What an idiot - I just bought a book without an ePub file!

[ficbot]

Jes, this has been discussed elsewhere but some books do not have the epub download option. The only way to read them is on the web or on a Kobo device using sync, in which case it gets embedded into the SQL database and there is no file to drag and drop, either to download or to liberate or what. He can sync it using the desktop app and get it into the Kobo, but there is no way to back it up as a file onto a computer.

[HarleyB]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

Ah! Now this thread makes sense.

You can get the native kobo app from:
http://download.kobobooks.com/desktop/0/KoboSetup.exe (Windows)
http://download.kobobooks.com/desktop/0/KoboSetup.dmg (Mac)

Unfortunately, it does NOT peacefully coexist with the Borders app. One will overwrite the others sync to the kobo.

Ha! Sorry I did originally include the info that I don't have the Kobo desktop app but the Borders app but then I decided that it was too much information and so I deleted that before I posted.

Thanks for the download links but a few questions first.
What is the NATIVE kobo app?
Should I delete the Borders app before I download the Kobo app?
All the books I have purchased through Borders (that are in the Borders app) are also in ADE. I don't use the Borders app normally as I really don't like it so it's not a big deal either way.

[zoran]

I read this thread and still cannot say what format original
poster bought the book in. When becomes clear, I assume it
might be possible to advice further steps.
Since I do not use desktop app, my help is nothing but futile.
The reason I write this is the need to put short tutorial in
"sticky" for people still having problem with it. Like "push the
<color> button and save the book in file etc".
Finally, how much the book was? Nobody should die for few
bucks, right?

[ficbot]

zoran, he didn't buy the book in ANY format. That's the problem. The three 'formats' for Kobo books are epub (a file you can download and do as you please with like any normal file), web (no file to sync or download---you read it off the website) or mobile (no file to download, but if you sync it, it embeds the book into the built-in SQL database which powers the Kobo. There is no way to get it off there because it is basically hard-wired into the firmware at that point. There is no file you can see or manipulate). So the book he bought had the latter two options but no epub. Therefore there is no format he bought it in and no file to work with. There is only reading it off the website or using the Kobo desktop software to embed the book into the SQL engine so he can read it on the device.

[3d0g]

You can run both apps on your computer but when you sync your kobo, whatever's in the app you use will replace what's on the kobo. By native, I mean the one that's tied to kobobooks.com, not borders.com.

If you can get EPUBs for all your Borders purchases, you could certainly switch over to the native app permanently. That's what I did as I had lots of pre-existing purchases with kobobooks.com and none with Borders, outside of the eReader itself.

[HarleyB]

Thanks for your advice 3d0g.
I have now downloaded the kobo app, downloaded my books from the kobobooks library and synced my kobo. The book is finally ON my kobo which means that if I hadn't wasted the entire day trying to work out how to get there I could read it!
The process took much longer than I expected.
In retrospect I should have deleted everything from my library except the one new book that I needed to transfer. As I don't normally use the Borders or Kobo apps I had forgotten that they like to download and sync EVERYTHING!
Anyway I now have 2 copies of all the books (bar the one difficult one!) I have purchased from Kobo. My Borders books are all still there as are the ones I only have in ADE.
In all a good result.

[JCKobo]

Originally Posted by HarleyB

I can't actually read it on my Kobo.

All our books work on the Kobo Reader, ePub or no. You just have to sync with our PC/Mac Desktop application if there is no ePub rather than sideloading via Adobe Digital Editions.

[JCKobo]

And reading the full thread it looks like the awesome MobileRead community has beaten me to the answer already!

[HarleyB]

Originally Posted by JCKobo

All our books work on the Kobo Reader, ePub or no. You just have to sync with our PC/Mac Desktop application if there is no ePub rather than sideloading via Adobe Digital Editions.

Hi JC Kobo my problem was that as an Australian I had the Borders desktop app NOT the Kobo desktop app which meant until 3d0g gave me the link I couldn't get the ebook.

On kobobooks.com it says this <<The Kobo Desktop Application comes preloaded on every Kobo eReader. Plus, the application will be available for free download from kobobooks.com starting Summer, 2010!>> but it's not on Kobo eReaders purchased in Australia.
I'm not really sure when Summer 2010 is (maybe they mean the Australian summer which starts in December?) but I couldn't find it anywhere. I could see the apps for mobile phones and tablets but not for PCs or Macs.
Was I just not seeing it? Is it hidden somewhere on the site?
Thanks

[SameerH]

Originally Posted by 3d0g

Every book purchased on kobobooks.com can be read on the kobo. The three formats available are:

WEB: Read online on kobobooks.com
MOBILE: Kobo's proprietary internal format (stored in the built-in sqlite database)
EPUB: For other eReaders like Sony and Nook via Adobe Digital Editions (yes the kobo supports this too)

You simply need to update the library on your kobo desktop app and then sync the kobo. Your purchase will be there.

ding ding ding ding

ePub is how we allow everyone to be able to read on any device that has epub and adobe DRM support. you're not tied to the Kobo eReader. Buy from Kobo, read on a Kind... ah.. i mean Nook.