[Conversion Plugin] KFX Input

[yoshi]

I read the limitation mentioned in the first message of this thread:

> Limitations:
> The KFX format is undocumented and has changed over time. Books containing new or unknown features may fail to convert or result in incorrect content or formatting.

I appreciate that the creator of the KFX input plugin is updating it to address these issues.

I have a question: Will the latest version cover all the previous KFX files which could be converted in the past? If not, should I convert a KFX file as soon as the plugin can handle it?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by yoshi

I have a question: Will the latest version cover all the previous KFX files which could be converted in the past?

I attempt to maintain compatibility with older versions of KFX. It is possible that I could make a mistake but if so I will correct the problem once it is reported.

Originally Posted by yoshi

If not, should I convert a KFX file as soon as the plugin can handle it?

I personally would remove DRM and convert files as I acquire them, just in case.

[yoshi]

I got the AZW3 (Download & transfer via USB) and KFX (Kindle for PC 2.4.0) versions of "Quiz Game Book: Trivia Questions With Answers" from Amazon Japan and converted them to EPUB using "KindleUnpack" and "From KFX". The JPEGs of the cover page differ significantly:

[AZW3]
File size: 122,376 bytes
Image size: 1439 x 2290 pixels
JPEG compression: Quality 40
Number of colors: 41,390

[KFX]
File size: 297,173 bytes
Image size: 1207 x 1920 pixels
JPEG compression: Quality 100
Number of colors: 9,992

The picture quality from the AZW3 file looks better than from the KFX file. Is it possible to restore the original JPEGs?

Otherwise, is it possible to reduce the JPEG compression quality to reduce the file size? The file size becomes less than half if 100% is changed to 85%.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by yoshi

I got the AZW3 (Download & transfer via USB) and KFX (Kindle for PC 2.4.0) versions of "Quiz Game Book: Trivia Questions With Answers" from Amazon Japan and converted them to EPUB using "KindleUnpack" and "From KFX". The JPEGs of the cover page differ significantly:

Amazon uses different image sizes and compression levels for the same book when delivered in different formats or to different device classes.

The cover image file you get using From KFX is whatever is contained within the KFX file you converted.

Originally Posted by yoshi

The picture quality from the AZW3 file looks better than from the KFX file. Is it possible to restore the original JPEGs?

Not using this plugin.

You can change the cover image using calibre if you find one that you like better.

Originally Posted by yoshi

Otherwise, is it possible to reduce the JPEG compression quality to reduce the file size? The file size becomes less than half if 100% is changed to 85%.

If you want that done it is up to you to accomplish it using something other than this plugin.

[yoshi]

Thank you for your reply.

It seems that the graphic files embedded in AZW3 and KFX formats can differ for the same book. Your plugin extracts the original files. Is my understanding correct?

I can edit EPUB files myself and will do so when necessary.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by yoshi

It seems that the graphic files embedded in AZW3 and KFX formats can differ for the same book.

Yes, definitely. It can even differ for the same format delivered to different devices.

Originally Posted by yoshi

Your plugin extracts the original files. Is my understanding correct?

It extracts whatever was present in KFX format. That is likely different from the original files provided by the book publisher.

[yoshi]

EBUB-based KFX files can be opened in Calibre, but PDF-based ones can't.
Is this an issue with Calibre?

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by yoshi

EBUB-based KFX files can be opened in Calibre, but PDF-based ones can't.
Is this an issue with Calibre?

By default the KFX Input plugin blocks conversion of print replica books to EPUB because the results are generally inferior to using From KFX to produce PDF. Because viewing in calibre requires conversion to EPUB that will not work for those books.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by yoshi

Thank you for your reply.

It seems that the graphic files embedded in AZW3 and KFX formats can differ for the same book. Your plugin extracts the original files. Is my understanding correct?

I can edit EPUB files myself and will do so when necessary.

You have to be very careful with graphics in an Amazon eBook. If you buy a graphics heavy eBook that's supposed to have hi-resolution graphics, you may not get them at the full size.

In another thread it was found out that Amazon was not delivering one of Brandon Sanderson's eBooks with the graphics in tact. The resolution was reduced.

So if you are wanting to buy a graphics heavy eBook from Amazon and it's also available to buy in ePub, buy the ePub as you will definitely get the graphics as they should be.

I don't know what you have to do to get the original graphics (And not the Amazon diddled graphics) from a Kindle eBook.

[yoshi]

The attached KFX file is a free book of a Japanese public domain novel published by Amazon.

When I convert it to EPUB with Calibre, I can see it correctly with the Calibre viewer. However, when I convert it to EPUB with "From KFX", there is a blank line between the paragraphs.

Some viewers show it correctly while others do not.

I think the margin setting in the CSS file is not optimal for vertical text.

Could you modify the KFX input plugin?

[yoshi]

I clicked "Manage Attachments" button and select a zip file in my PC, but no attachments found in my above post.

Please let me know how to attach the file.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by yoshi

I clicked "Manage Attachments" button and select a zip file in my PC, but no attachments found in my above post.

Please let me know how to attach the file.

It might be that the book was too big. zip file attachments can only be up to 40MB.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by yoshi

The attached KFX file is a free book of a Japanese public domain novel published by Amazon.

Can you provide the 10-character ASIN of the book or a link to its listing on Amazon?

Originally Posted by yoshi

I think the margin setting in the CSS file is not optimal for vertical text.

Could you modify the KFX input plugin?

I will look into it once I can obtain a copy of the book.

[yoshi]

The zip file I tried to upload was 6MB including 1 KFX and 2 EPUBs.

I got the book from Amazon Japan. The ASIN is B01EUC17SW.

Caliber creates the pargraph tag like theis:


<p class="class_sf">

.class_sf {
display: block;
margin: 0;
}


"From KFX" creates the paragaph tag like this:

<p class="class_sF">

.class_sF {margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0}


I changed "margin-bottom" to "margin-left" and "margin-top" to "margin-right". After these changes, the EPUB was displayed correctly.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by yoshi

The zip file I tried to upload was 6MB including 1 KFX and 2 EPUBs.

ZIP each eBooks separately and upload all three as single ZIP files. That may make then small enough to be able to be posted.