ePub to mobi metadata page help please

[AlexBell]

The background to this request is that I'm preparing an ebook for a small publisher who wants both ePub and Kindle versions, I don't have a Kindle, and when I look at the Kindle conversion from ePub there is an ugly metadata page at the front of the mobi version. It certainly is not in the ePub original version, but I don't know whether the metadata page is produced by calibre or by Kindle for PC. I have attached files containing the front matter and the first four of 52 chapters.

So my questions are
- Is there any way I can prevent the metadata page from appearing in the mobi version?
- If I can't prevent the metadata page from appearing is there any way I can format it to make it less ugly - so that the subject is not superimposed on the description?
- Apart from that how does the mobi version work on Kindles or other mobi based reading devices?

The XHTML in the ePub version validates according to W3C standards, and the ePub version validates with ePubCheck.

Regards, Alex

[DoctorOhh]

Check Preferences - Common Options - Structure Detection and ensure that the Insert metadata as page at start of book is not checked.

For checking/creating mobi for the Kindle check the Kindle Publishing Programs page for the Kindle previewer and Kindlegen programs.

[dwig]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

...
So my questions are
- Is there any way I can prevent the metadata page from appearing in the mobi version?
- If I can't prevent the metadata page from appearing is there any way I can format it to make it less ugly - so that the subject is not superimposed on the description?
- Apart from that how does the mobi version work on Kindles or other mobi based reading devices?...

1: The "extra page" is generated by a feature in Calibre. If you don't want it you need to uncheck the "Insert metadata as page at start of book" option on the Structure Detection page in Output Options (either as a new default by doing this in Preferences or as a one-time change in the Convert dialog).

2: It can't be reformatted AFAIK

3: You should use Kindle Previewer for proofing conversions. Its a very decent previewer for the Kindle. You'll find that your conversion fails to support the Kindle's 5-way controller for jumping chapters. Other than that and the metadata page, it seems fine.