Hosting a file for direct Kindle download?

[jphphotography]

I asked my web host about this and they said the .htaccess file method will work. I'm unfamiliar with how these files work though, is it as simple as just dropping that line into a text file and naming it .htaccess?

ie all the file would contain is:

AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .mobi

And I can put this either in the folder with the ebooks OR the root of the website?

Thanks for all of the info everyone, I really appreciate it!

[DiapDealer]

You have it correct.

Just make sure that you're not overwriting an existing .htaccess file. Depending on how you're accessing it, it may be there, but hidden. Most ftp clients can be configured to show hidden files. If you have ssh access, the 'ls -la' command will show hidden files. If one already exists, just add the AddType line to it somewhere.

You may have to make sure the .htaccess file is saved with unix-style line termination.

[jphphotography]

YAY IT WORKED!!! I used notepad++ to make the .htaccess file just to be safe regarding the unix line termination issue.

Ok just for the sake of completeness here is what needs to be done

1) You need to make sure your server is running apache (if you're not sure ask your web host)

2) You need to create a file called .htaccess (I used notepad++, regular notepad might not handle the line terminations properly) and inside this file the place the following line:

AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .mobi

Save the file and make sure to choose "all file types" as the option when saving, in the end just make sure it didn't append a .txt extension to the end of the file.

3) In your FTP program make sure you enable "show hidden files", this way you can back up your previous .htaccess file just in case. Then copy the new .htaccess file to the directory you want to host the ebooks in.

4) Copy your .mobi files to the directory. If you want to create a simple menu page you can do so, standard hyperlinks will work when clicked on via the Kindle.

NOTE: As mentioned by other people in this thread it is advisable to just drop this .htaccess file into the directory you're hosting the ebooks and not to touch the .htaccess file in the root directory of your site.

Example:

www.mywebsite.com/ebooks/
In this directory you'd have all of your .mobi books and .htaccess file


Thanks for the help everyone!!!!

[Amalthia]

Originally Posted by jphphotography

YAY IT WORKED!!! I used notepad++ to make the .htaccess file just to be safe regarding the unix line termination issue.

AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .mobi

Thanks for the help everyone!!!!

Do you think it's possible to do something similar for epub ebooks?

[jphphotography]

I didn't think the Kindle supported epub

[DiapDealer]

IF the Kindle supported epub you could do the same thing with something like:

AddType application/epub+zip .epub

[Amalthia]

Originally Posted by jphphotography

I didn't think the Kindle supported epub

I was thinking more along the lines of other devices that are coming out with wi-fi/3G that do support epub.

[jphphotography]

FYI I just tried this with a pdf and it did not work, I got an error message on my kindle that says:

" Web Browswer cannot download this kind of file. Only files with the extension .azw, .prc, .mobi, or .txt can be downloaded to your Kindle."

@DiapDealer
If I wanted to make the .htaccess file cover all the bases would this work or should the application be different for the other formats (ie the x-mobipocket-ebook part)

AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .mobi
AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .azw
AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .prc
AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .txt

@Amalthia
I'm not sure if the type portion of the mimetype would be the same for another type of reader. Also since this thread is just for Kindle I'm not sure if this is the right place to pose your question I'd wait until a reader like the one you're talking about comes out and then determine how to get it to work, I think it would depend heavily on the device itself.

[DiapDealer]

If I wanted to make the .htaccess file cover all the bases would this work or should the application be different for the other formats (ie the x-mobipocket-ebook part)

Actually, you should combine them into one line:

AddType application/x-mobipocket-ebook .mobi .prc .azw

The txt format could be tricky. I won't swear that adding the .txt extension to the x-mobipocket-ebook mime type would make the browser automatically download it, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try.

BTW, if you create a mobi book that contains the proper links to the books on your server, you can open that 'catalog' mobi on your Kindle... click the link and it will automatically download as well (just like Gutenberg's Magic Catalog). No need to open the browser and surf to your website.

[jphphotography]

Ok so I can confirm that this is working for .mobi .azw and .txt

I don't have any .prc books to try but since the others work I think it's fair to assume that .prc books should work as well.

Thanks for all the help DiapDealer!

[MrPLD]

DiapDealer,

Perhaps for when handling the .txt situation, one could use a specific directory wherein the .txt files are explicitly for the reader, hence you can safely apply the MIME type directive using a .htaccess in that directory.

Paul.

[Amalthia]

Originally Posted by jphphotography

@Amalthia
I'm not sure if the type portion of the mimetype would be the same for another type of reader. Also since this thread is just for Kindle I'm not sure if this is the right place to pose your question I'd wait until a reader like the one you're talking about comes out and then determine how to get it to work, I think it would depend heavily on the device itself.

Yeah, sorry for posting in the Kindle forum. I didn't realize it was possible to download from the web to the Kindle and I figured if the Kindle can do it, so can other devices. Though you're right, they probably do use different methods.

But the main reason I'm reading the Kindle forums is because I host hundreds of mobipocket formatted fan fiction stories on the Ebook Library so for me I do have an interest in the mobipocket format and the Kindles because I don't have one so I have to rely on other users to learn what it can and cannot do. I'm also hosting epub files so I was hoping to offer the option to both sets of users at the archive.

This thread was interesting to me because if I can get it to work on the website then it may be possible for Kindle owners and other ebook device owners to browse and download the mobi formatted stories to their device.

I'm just not sure if the browser can go to the website...

[diokdin]

Umm...is there a step by step way (with layman terms) of how to do this? So people who are not tech savvy like me knows how to do this thing? Screenshot would be nice too if it's not a bother. Thanks!

[jphphotography]

@diokdin Look at post #18, let me know if that works for you and if not then specify which part(s) you need explained in simpler terms.

@Amalthia
No worries about the posting in the kindle section, I'm new here and just wasn't sure if they were sticklers or not I see where you're coming from, it's really too bad there isn't just one standardized format so that people don't have to host a million different versions.

[Amalthia]

Originally Posted by jphphotography

@Amalthia
No worries about the posting in the kindle section, I'm new here and just wasn't sure if they were sticklers or not I see where you're coming from, it's really too bad there isn't just one standardized format so that people don't have to host a million different versions.

I'm also not sure if there are sticklers...but yes it would be great if there was just one format. It would make archiving so much easier.