Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The FAQ should say that once you get the keys in one instance calibre/DeDRM, you can export them to import to other computers running calibre/DeDRM.

You should create a Pull Request on noDRM's GitHub. If you do that, you can update the whole thing so it's exactly the way you think it should be for noDRM to review. (I do mean a opening Pull Request where you do the work, not posting an Issue.)

You can even create your own GitHub with complete DeDRM instructions just the way you think they should be. You don't have to fork or include a plugin — your GitHub can just be the written instructions with links back to noDRM's plugin.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by odamizu

You should create a Pull Request on noDRM's GitHub. If you do that, you can update the whole thing so it's exactly the way you think it should be for noDRM to review. (I do mean a opening Pull Request where you do the work, not posting an Issue.)

You can even create your own GitHub with complete DeDRM instructions just the way you think they should be. You don't have to fork or include a plugin — your GitHub can just be the written instructions with links back to noDRM's plugin.

Too much work for too little gain.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Too much work for too little gain.

... and there it is ...

[meeera]

Originally Posted by maddz

I could if I can find one locally at Cash Converters.

Cashies are still charging $70 for a ten year old Kindle

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I think it's in the first post of the thread (that first post is constantly updated).

The first post says to "Look for ebooks in User > Library > Containers > Kindle > Data > Library > eBooks." None of these folders are on my Mac Sonoma. Any other ideas?

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

The first post says to "Look for ebooks in User > Library > Containers > Kindle > Data > Library > eBooks." None of these folders are on my Mac Sonoma. Any other ideas?

What version Kindle for Mac are you using?

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by odamizu

What version Kindle for Mac are you using?

7.22 Amazon wouldn't let me download any books until I updated to their newest version from the Mac store.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

7.22 Amazon wouldn't let me download any books until I updated to their newest version from the Mac store.

Yes, 7.x is the only version you can download with. If you don't see any of the folders, you may have hidden your Library folder.

Click on your Desktop, then in the Finder menu bar select Go > Home. Then, in the Home window, right-click to open the contextual menu, select Show View Options, then check "Show Library Folder" at the bottom.

That should reveal your Library folder. Inside that Library folder you should find Containers > Kindle > Data > Library > eBooks.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Yes, 7.x is the only version you can download with. If you don't see any of the folders, you may have hidden your Library folder.

Click on your Desktop, then in the Finder menu bar select Go > Home. Then, in the Home window, right-click to open the contextual menu and check "Show Library Folder" at the bottom.

That should reveal your Library folder. Inside that Library folder you should find Containers > Kindle > Data > Library > eBooks.

I must have really hidden it! I can get to the contextual menu (where it lists my name at the top and shows a list of various system folders?). But there is no "Show Library" folder at the bottom. Thanks so much for your help.

[peaceridge]

Originally Posted by peaceridge

I must have really hidden it! I can get to the contextual menu (where it lists my name at the top and shows a list of various system folders?). But there is no "Show Library" folder at the bottom. Thanks so much for your help.

I did not follow your directions about right clicking - found it!! So appreciate your help!

[maddz]

Now that's interesting, a azw8 novel imports from K4Mac as a KFX file if you use import as archive, but a graphic novel doesn't. If you import as All files it imports as an archive...

Selecting Archive in the import wizard doesn't 'see' the awz8 archive file as an archive even though the file type is a Stuffit Expander file. Weird. I wonder if it's a function of size.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by maddz

Now that's interesting, a azw8 novel imports from K4Mac as a KFX file if you use import as archive, but a graphic novel doesn't. If you import as All files it imports as an archive...

Selecting Archive in the import wizard doesn't 'see' the awz8 archive file as an archive even though the file type is a Stuffit Expander file. Weird. I wonder if it's a function of size.

I am not understanding how you are importing and what it means to "import as archive". Usually, I just drag-and-drop the azw8 file into the calibre window.

When I tried the Add Books button and clicked "Add multiple books from archive", the azw8 is not selectable, presumably because it's a single file and not an archive.

How are you "importing as archive"?

[NJTECHGUY]

I have k4mac and all my books are in that zip format is there a work around at this point

[maddz]

I'm wondering if it's a publication date issue - anything published since Jan 2023 is importing as zip? The books I successfully imported were published prior to that date...

Either way, I'll stick to purchasing from Kobo, price matching if necessary.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by maddz

Now that's interesting, a azw8 novel imports from K4Mac as a KFX file if you use import as archive, but a graphic novel doesn't. If you import as All files it imports as an archive...

There is definitely some confusion here. KFX format uses a set of files for each book instead of a single file as most other formats do. When a azw8 file is imported into calibre the KFX Input plugin locates the rest of the files that make up the book and places them into a ZIP archive with the extension ".kfx-zip". That is then passed to the DRM removal plugin for processing.

If DRM removal is successful the KFX Input plugin then combines all of the components of the book into a single KFX file and changes the extension to ".kfx". If the DRM removal fails then that will not happen. So seeing KFX in calibre after import indicates success and seeing KFX-ZIP indicates failure.

Originally Posted by maddz

I'm wondering if it's a publication date issue - anything published since Jan 2023 is importing as zip? The books I successfully imported were published prior to that date...

I doubt that the publication data is a factor in this case. It is more likely a question of whether a particular book has DRM that is locked to a specific Kindle app/device or not. Books obtained from the new Kindle for Mac app that are not locked in that way should be able to have their DRM removed.