Sideloading and Whispersync - Page 5

DiapDealer · 01-05-2011, 10:06 AM

The problem with doing this via a calibre plugin is the way in which metadata writing is handled in calibre. The ASIN (EXTH record type 113) is not one that calibre maintains. So while it's certainly possible to write a plugin that inserts the correct metadata... anytime that you do a "Convert", "Save to disk" or "Send to device" procedure, calibre will replace the ebook's metadata with its own that's saved in its db... effectively nullifying those changes.

While it's possible to configure calibre to NOT modify the metadata when saving/sending/converting, that would severely reduce its functionality, wouldn't it?

It would be better for calibre to maintain the ASIN metadata from the get-go, but I'm pretty sure Kovid has indicated that he has no interest in doing that, at this time.

DiapDealer · 01-05-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

In my understanding you cannot sync the prc/mobi files. Only the "Furthest Point Read" mark. So if you start reading on your kindle, and reach location 1234, then if you open K4PC, it asks you if you want to jump to loc 1234.

Kerenon is correct. The ebook file itself will not be synced to alternate devices. In order for this to work.. the altered ebook file must be manually placed on each of the devices that you want to read it on. After doing that, the "Furthest Page Read" will be maintained across the devices, but that is all.

NoWorthWhile · 01-05-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerenon

In my understanding you cannot sync the prc/mobi files. Only the "Furthest Point Read" mark. So if you start reading on your kindle, and reach location 1234, then if you open K4PC, it asks you if you want to jump to loc 1234.

Yes, that's what I meant. I might have been unclear.

@DiapDealer

How about mobi2mobi? Isn't it capable of batch fetching data of amazon.com and save the exth?

Kerenon · 01-05-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It would be better for calibre to maintain the ASIN metadata from the get-go, but I'm pretty sure Kovid has indicated that he has no interest in doing that, at this time.

A week ago, I've written a small program to automagically manage my collections on the kindle, and to do that I've "recycled" a few parts from calibre, and I had to add the ASIN handling functionality to those parts. I don't think it would be too hard to write a patch that does exactly this... but I think I'll stick with my scripts

.

daffy4u · 01-05-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoWorthWhile

EDIT2 @ Daffy, there is an app called iPhoneExplorer for your PC that lets you add books on the iShit (sorry, my tongue slipped xD)

Snagged it, thanks!

EDIT: I downloaded Phone Disk instead because I can use Windows Explorer with it.

daffy4u · 01-05-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

It would be better for calibre to maintain the ASIN metadata from the get-go, but I'm pretty sure Kovid has indicated that he has no interest in doing that, at this time.

I think I'm going to put in a request. Maybe Kovid will change his mind based on the information in this thread.

Kerenon · 01-05-2011, 10:32 AM

I've done some research, and it seems there is a workaround for the android book cover problem I've mentioned before. The problem is that the device needs to be rooted, otherwise you don't have access to the required folder.

If you have a book with the ASIN "B000000001", then put a png formatted image in /data/data/com.amazon.kindle/files with the filename "cover_B000000001.png" and it will show up instead the downloaded garbage.

Hope it helps someone

.

aproudlove · 01-05-2011, 10:41 AM

Found this old hint on macosxhints that details where the file needs to go within the IOS file structure, if its any help?
http://hints.macworld.com/article.ph...90306160800380

daffy4u · 01-05-2011, 11:18 AM

I opened a feature request ticket which was closed with the following message:

Quote:

AS far as I know, calibre does maintain EXTH records it does not know
about when setting MOBI metadata. If that's not the case, please re-open this
bug and attach a MOBI file demonstrating the problem.

Maybe, I didn't explain it well. I'm not sure how to respond.

Kerenon · 01-05-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Maybe, I didn't explain it well. I'm not sure how to respond.

I'm not sure either. I will take look at Calibre, but I won't promise anything

.

EDIT: I've been looking at the source of Calibre and it seems, plugins can't access all of the EXTH records. So it's true, Calibre does maintain EXTH records, just not all of them. You have access to the publisher, author, title, etc, but the two crucial ones, the 113 and the 501 are inaccessible.

DiapDealer · 01-05-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

AS far as I know, calibre does maintain EXTH records it does not know
about when setting MOBI metadata. If that's not the case, please re-open this
bug and attach a MOBI file demonstrating the problem.

This is still good news, though. If you manage to add the EXTH Records, calibre will maintain them, even if it doesn't know how (or refuses) to manipulate them. I'll have to do some testing of "conversions" and "saves" or "sends" to verify that the data will persist.

Loosheesh · 01-06-2011, 10:13 PM

I have Windows 6 (64-bit) - can I use the Mobi2Mobi GUI? I downloaded the zip file and in there are 5 application files and 1 TAR (???) file. I tried opening 2 of the application files but other than a command prompt window opening and closing, nothing else happens.

daffy4u · 01-06-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

I have Windows 6 (64-bit) - can I use the Mobi2Mobi GUI? I downloaded the zip file and in there are 5 application files and 1 TAR (???) file. I tried opening 2 of the application files but other than a command prompt window opening and closing, nothing else happens.

I am running the Mobi2Mobi GUI on a Win7 64-bit desktop. If you follow the instructions on the wiki page Kindle Mobi2Mobi GUI Vista/XP (the Vista install is similar to Win7), you should be good to go.

Be sure to check the first page of this thread to get the most current version of the GUI.

Loosheesh · 01-07-2011, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the help, daffy4u. I followed the instructions and was able to try a book on 3 devices: Kindle 2i, Kindle4PC, and my Blackberry. The sync between K4PC and the Blackberry works fine, but I am unable to sync to the Kindle. I suspect it's my wireless connectivity. We had a hurricane in Oct/Nov last year, and the wireless on my Kindle has not worked the same since.

As I never use K4PC to read, this is kind of useless to me right now, but as soon as I get better connectivity and the Kindle sorts itself out, it'll be a great feature as my reading is spread between my Kindle and my Blackberry.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who put this together - you rock!

(Btw, thanks for realizing that I meant to say Windows 7, and not Windows 6

)

daffy4u · 01-07-2011, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

(Btw, thanks for realizing that I meant to say Windows 7, and not Windows 6

)

That 6 and 7 are suspiciously close together.

Sorry that you're having problems with your K2 3G connection. Have given Amazon CS a call so they can help you troubleshoot?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sideloading MOBI files to Kindle for iPad	GRiker	Devices	34	08-31-2012 06:02 AM
Whispersync question	stustaff	Amazon Kindle	11	12-15-2010 08:39 PM
Sideloading with Kindle app?	Maggie Leung	Apple Devices	10	08-01-2010 09:46 PM
Anyone with a U.S. only K2 have whispersync access outside the U.S?	Sheebrook	Amazon Kindle	3	06-10-2010 08:58 PM
Whispersync question	gandor62	Amazon Kindle	3	03-12-2010 03:54 PM

01-05-2011, 10:06 AM	#61
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,968 Karma: 198535232 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	The problem with doing this via a calibre plugin is the way in which metadata writing is handled in calibre. The ASIN (EXTH record type 113) is not one that calibre maintains. So while it's certainly possible to write a plugin that inserts the correct metadata... anytime that you do a "Convert", "Save to disk" or "Send to device" procedure, calibre will replace the ebook's metadata with its own that's saved in its db... effectively nullifying those changes. While it's possible to configure calibre to NOT modify the metadata when saving/sending/converting, that would severely reduce its functionality, wouldn't it? It would be better for calibre to maintain the ASIN metadata from the get-go, but I'm pretty sure Kovid has indicated that he has no interest in doing that, at this time.

01-05-2011, 10:32 AM	#67
Kerenon Member Posts: 11 Karma: 494 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Hungary (Europe) Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	I've done some research, and it seems there is a workaround for the android book cover problem I've mentioned before. The problem is that the device needs to be rooted, otherwise you don't have access to the required folder. If you have a book with the ASIN "B000000001", then put a png formatted image in /data/data/com.amazon.kindle/files with the filename "cover_B000000001.png" and it will show up instead the downloaded garbage. Hope it helps someone .

01-05-2011, 10:41 AM	#68
aproudlove Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 242 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle	Found this old hint on macosxhints that details where the file needs to go within the IOS file structure, if its any help? http://hints.macworld.com/article.ph...90306160800380

01-06-2011, 10:13 PM	#72
Loosheesh Wizard Posts: 1,678 Karma: 3111989 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Jianghu Device: PW1, PW5, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 2021	I have Windows 6 (64-bit) - can I use the Mobi2Mobi GUI? I downloaded the zip file and in there are 5 application files and 1 TAR (???) file. I tried opening 2 of the application files but other than a command prompt window opening and closing, nothing else happens.

01-07-2011, 06:24 PM	#74
Loosheesh Wizard Posts: 1,678 Karma: 3111989 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Jianghu Device: PW1, PW5, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 2021	Thanks for the help, daffy4u. I followed the instructions and was able to try a book on 3 devices: Kindle 2i, Kindle4PC, and my Blackberry. The sync between K4PC and the Blackberry works fine, but I am unable to sync to the Kindle. I suspect it's my wireless connectivity. We had a hurricane in Oct/Nov last year, and the wireless on my Kindle has not worked the same since. As I never use K4PC to read, this is kind of useless to me right now, but as soon as I get better connectivity and the Kindle sorts itself out, it'll be a great feature as my reading is spread between my Kindle and my Blackberry. Thanks to all the wonderful people who put this together - you rock! (Btw, thanks for realizing that I meant to say Windows 7, and not Windows 6 )

Advert

Advert