Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Baloo_Bruinwald

Thank you to the author of the guide and the creators of Calibre, the NoDRM and KFX-input plugins.

Exported all my ebooks into epub. Now I need to find a managed "cloud ebook locker provider" and find a way to export all books on Google Books.

I use Dropbox to back up all my stuff, not only ebooks. I do have a paid account, as no cloud provider has a free plan with enough space for my files.

[Baloo_Bruinwald]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I use Dropbox to back up all my stuff, not only ebooks. I do have a paid account, as no cloud provider has a free plan with enough space for my files.

I have a paid cloud storage, I was thinking more along the lines of managed cloud service with a web UI and other things. But now that I think of it, having a simple cloud folder also has it's benefits. I just need good clients.

[JSWolf]

The problem I have with cloud storage is the apps they use are CRAP!

I want apps that allow a one-way sync instead of a forced two-way sync.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem I have with cloud storage is the apps they use are CRAP!

I want apps that allow a one-way sync instead of a forced two-way sync.

GoodSync has a Storage option.

GoodSync does everything FFS does and then some, like Block Level Transfer, IOS and Android clients. But GoodSync itself isn't free nor is its Storage option.

BR

[PaulBenn]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The thread in Sirtel's link lists all the ways to get files.

After 26th Feb they will be:

• Kindle for PC v2.4.0
• Kindle for Mac v7.24 if you can get it
• An E-Ink Kindle
• Kindle for Android

Personally, I'm moving to buying from Kobo.

I believe I have an e-ink Kindle (10th Generation Paperwhite with Firmware 5.17.1.0.3 registered on 26th August 2019). I have found a kfx file that I wanted to use as a test (a book recently downloaded via USB and converted on my partner's computer). I added it to my books in calibre and tried to convert it and got a message that no supported source format was found. I cannot find a KFX plugin either Am I looking at the right file on my Kindle? What is my way forward?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by PaulBenn

I cannot find a KFX plugin either Am I looking at the right file on my Kindle? What is my way forward?

You need to have the KFX Input and DeDRM alpha release plugins installed and configured.

[BetterRed]

@jhowell - should this thread be merged into this ==>> Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

BR

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@jhowell - should this thread be merged into this ==>> Dealing with Kindle ebooks in calibre

BR

Makes sense to me.

[BetterRed]

↑ ↑ ↑ ✔

Done

BR

[aubreyfairlop]

Originally Posted by jhowell

You need to have the KFX Input and DeDRM alpha release plugins installed and configured.

Thanks for keeping this thread up to date. It's long, and goes off-topic, I've tried to read through most of it looking for answers to these questions, but haven't found definitive answers:

Do I need the KFX plugin if I only get AZW3s from Amazon? It's only for KFX files right?

Is the file format related to your device type? (I've got a Paperwhite 11th gen, so AZW3 is my format correct?)

When I import the AZW3 to Calibre and convert to an EPUB, have I effectively removed the DRM? I was able to do this before adding the DeDRM plugin.

The Readme for DeDRM says to add your Kindle serial in the customisation dialog. Is this necessary?

I'm assuming if it works on the non-Kindle device I'm trying to send it to the DRM has been removed. Does DRM ever contain any identifying info (like serial numbers e.g.)? How can I check if this has all been removed?

Sincere thanks for you guidance.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

Thanks for keeping this thread up to date. It's long, and goes off-topic, I've tried to read through most of it looking for answers to these questions, but haven't found definitive answers:

Do I need the KFX plugin if I only get AZW3s from Amazon? It's only for KFX files right?

Is the file format related to your device type? (I've got a Paperwhite 11th gen, so AZW3 is my format correct?)

When I import the AZW3 to Calibre and convert to an EPUB, have I effectively removed the DRM? I was able to do this before adding the DeDRM plugin.

The Readme for DeDRM says to add your Kindle serial in the customisation dialog. Is this necessary?

I'm assuming if it works on the non-Kindle device I'm trying to send it to the DRM has been removed. Does DRM ever contain any identifying info (like serial numbers e.g.)? How can I check if this has all been removed?

Sincere thanks for you guidance.

You do not need the KFX Input plugin if you have no KFX format eBooks. But you will need the KFX Input plugin because you have a PW5 and when you download eBooks they will come as KFX.

You need to get the Alpha release of DeDRM.

The Readme is correct.

If you had not removed the DRM of your KF8 eBooks, you would not have been able to convert to ePub.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If you had not removed the DRM of your KF8 eBooks, you would not have been able to convert to ePub.

Unless the books had no DRM. Quite a lot of books don't, even at Amazon (only mobi/azw3, of course)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Unless the books had no DRM. Quite a lot of books don't, even at Amazon (only mobi/azw3, of course)

This is true. It could have been sans-DRM. If it was KFX, it would never never be without DRM.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

Thanks for keeping this thread up to date.

Thank odamizu for keeping the first post in this thread updated with the latest information.

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

Do I need the KFX plugin if I only get AZW3s from Amazon? It's only for KFX files right?

Right, only for KFX.

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

Is the file format related to your device type? (I've got a Paperwhite 11th gen, so AZW3 is my format correct?)

An 11th generation PaperWhite uses KFX for most books on the device. You will only see AZW3 if you use Download & Transfer from Amazon's website. But that capability is being removed as of next Wednesday.

After that you can still import books directly from the device into calibre over USB. At least until Amazon updates their KFX DRM again, which could happen at any time.

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

When I import the AZW3 to Calibre and convert to an EPUB, have I effectively removed the DRM? I was able to do this before adding the DeDRM plugin.

That would only have worked if the book did not have DRM to begin with. You need DeDRM for most books sold by Amazon.

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

The Readme for DeDRM says to add your Kindle serial in the customisation dialog. Is this necessary?

Yes. If the book was obtained from an e-ink Kindle over USB or downloaded from Amazon's website for transfer to one you need to configure the serial number for DRM removal to work. Of course if the book happens to not have DRM it won't matter.

Originally Posted by aubreyfairlop

I'm assuming if it works on the non-Kindle device I'm trying to send it to the DRM has been removed. Does DRM ever contain any identifying info (like serial numbers e.g.)? How can I check if this has all been removed?

The DeDRM plugin removes all user identifying information during the DRM removal process. Methods for verifying that are beyond my ability to explain here.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If it was KFX, it would never never be without DRM.

That is almost true. One case where KFX does not have DRM are books sent to a device using one of the various send-to-kindle methods. That might come in handy if you send a book and then lose the original copy, since Amazon does not provide any method for retrieving the file you sent originally.

[aubreyfairlop]

Thank for the detailed and very helpful reply (and previous replies). Sincerely appreciated.