Batch processing with kindlegen

[eschwartz]

Just saw your edit.

[toancv]

This post really save a lot of time running the kindlegen and kindlestrip in bulk. Thanks Doitsu!

[toancv]

I am just wondering if we can batch coverting epub to azw3 by this similar, without using Caliber as Caliber tend to change the css after conversion?

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by toancv

I am just wondering if we can batch coverting epub to azw3 by this similar, without using Caliber as Caliber tend to change the css after conversion?

Batch file AZW3 conversion would require Python post-processing with KindleUnpack without Calibre.

However, if you install Kindle Previewer and the Calibre KFX Output plugin, you could use the following command to convert all your .epub books to .kfx books.

FOR %%f IN ("*.epub") DO (calibre-debug -r "KFX Output" "%%f" >> conversion.log)

(The KFX Output plugin also uses KindleGen and only changes the original .epub file, if it'd otherwise not compile with KindleGen.)

[toancv]

Thanks Doitsu!

I have Python installed in PC and Kindle Unpacked installed in Calibre. Is there any way to batch converting epub to azw3?

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by toancv

I have Python installed in PC and Kindle Unpacked installed in Calibre. Is there any way to batch converting epub to azw3?

I've attached a simple Python 3.x script that'll convert all .epub files to .azw3 files with KindleGen and KindleUnpack. To use it simply extract convert.py and the kindleunpack folder from the attached .zip file to the folder that contains the .epub files that you want to convert and double-click convert.py.
If you didn't install Kindle Previewer or didn't install it in the default location, you'll also need to copy kindlegen.exe or kindlegen to the folder.

If books fail to convert, have a look at the KindleGen warning and error messages in errors.txt. (If nothing happens after you double-click convert.py, you'll have to manually execute the script in a command prompt/terminal window.)

BTW, the script will also add (fake) ASIN numbers to azw3 files by default. If you don't want it to add ASIN numbers, change the following line in convert.py from:

    add_asin = True

to:

    add_asin = False

[toancv]

Thanks for Doitsu!. Try your script without success. I installed python 3.7.2 and Kindle Previewer latest version. There is no .txt file created when I double click 'converter.py'. When I use command line, the follwoing error show up:

C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub to azw3>converter.py
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub to azw3\converter.py", line 10, in <module>
from mobi_split import mobi_split
File "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub to azw3\kindleunpack\mobi_split.py", line 11, in <module>
from unipath import pathof
File "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub to azw3\kindleunpack\unipath.py", line 29, in <module>
from compatibility_utils import PY2, PY3, text_type, binary_type
File "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub to azw3\kindleunpack\compatibility_utils.py", line 51, in <module>
_h = HTMLParser()
NameError: name 'HTMLParser' is not defined

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by toancv

Thanks for Doitsu!. Try your script without success. I installed python 3.7.2 and Kindle Previewer latest version. There is no .txt file created when I double click 'converter.py'. When I use command line, the follwoing error show up:

The error that you got is only displayed, if converter.py is executed with a Python 2 interpreter.

Open a command prompt window and enter the full Python 3 path before convert.py. For example:

"C:\Python37\python.exe" "D:\books\epub2azw3\converter.py"

BTW, if Sigil is installed on your computer, you should also be able to use the bundled Python 3 interpreter:

"C:\Program Files\Sigil\python3.exe" "D:\books\epub2azw3\converter.py"

(Obviously, you'll need to adjust all paths.)

[toancv]

Hi Doitsu,
I tried many times but still could not succeed. Here is the error:

C:\Users\toancv>"C:\Program Files\Sigil\python3.exe"
Python 3.5.2 (v3.5.2:4def2a2901a5, Jun 25 2016, 22:18:55) [MSC v.1900 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub2azw3\converter .py"
File "<stdin>", line 1
SyntaxError: (unicode error) 'unicodeescape' codec can't decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape
>>>

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by toancv

Hi Doitsu,
I tried many times but still could not succeed. Here is the error:

In the code that you posted there was a space before ".py".

>>> "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub2azw3\converter .py"

You're also not supposed to open converter.py from within the Python interpreter. Use the following command line:

"C:\Program Files\Sigil\python3.exe" "C:\Users\toancv\Downloads\Epub2azw3\converter.py"

[toancv]

Thanks. I successfully managed to create the azw3 file as your instruction. However, with kindlegen plugin in Sigil, I can reserve the mobi-asin in original epub file when creating azw3 file by choosing "Add fake ASIN". For this method, the original mobi-asin has been replaced by the new created mobi-asin. Any way to fix it?

Edit: It works ok with epub2. But it cannot reserve original mobi-asin with my epub3.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by toancv

For this method, the original mobi-asin has been replaced by the new created mobi-asin. Any way to fix it?

Currently the script only supports ASIN metadata entries in epub2 files.
I might add epub3 ASIN support in the next version, if more users ask for it.

[toancv]

Doitsu, thanks for your clarification and help!

[DiapDealer]

Sigil's bundled Python won't really work (reliably) as a standalone Python environment without a lot of environment variables and paths being properly set before-hand. Sigil's plugin-launcher makes certain the environment is correct (and isolated) before running any python scripts.

It may work in most cases, but I wouldn't trust it all that much outside of Sigil's plugin framework.