Applescript Wrapper Application for Kindlegen

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Almamida

... The thing is the Calibre conversion seems random for mobi both sent to the Amazon cloud. I sometimes get an old mobi downloaded on my Voyage ...

I had the same experience. Also WhisperSync problems. All my problems went away when I switched to KindleGen to do all my conversions.

[Almamida]

I wish there was a way to use Kindlegen as a plugin with Calibre. It would be easier

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by Almamida

I wish there was a way to use Kindlegen as a plugin with Calibre. It would be easier

Shameless plug: There is a Sigil plugin.

BTW, jhowell's KFX output plugin uses KindlePreviewer/KindleGen; he might be able to also create a KindleGen MOBI output plugin.

[Almamida]

Thank you for sharing your plugin.
And yes it would be great to have a plugin on Calibre to do the conversion on the fly with Kindlegen before sending it to the Amazon cloud email

[odamizu]

If you don't want to mess with KindleGen, you can have Amazon convert epubs for you with this trick:

1) Make a copy of your epub file and change the extension to .txt

2) Send the .txt file to your Kindle using the Send-to-Kindle app or by emailing it to your Kindle. (I prefer the Send-to-Kindle app as it will allow you to type in the title and author. If you email the file, the title will be the filename.)

3) Amazon will run the txt file through KindleGen for you and deliver a KF8 to your Kindle. Ta da!

[shamanNS]

"Send to Kindle" (STK) option in Android share menu (that is created / added by Kindle Android app) will not appear for .txt files but it will be available if you rename your epub to .png.

.png ( = epub masquerading as png file) works for both desktop STK app and Android share menu option.

[Almamida]

Originally Posted by odamizu

If you don't want to mess with KindleGen, you can have Amazon convert epubs for you with this trick:

1) Make a copy of your epub file and change the extension to .txt

2) Send the .txt file to your Kindle using the Send-to-Kindle app or by emailing it to your Kindle. (I prefer the Send-to-Kindle app as it will allow you to type in the title and author. If you email the file, the title will be the filename.)

3) Amazon will run the txt file through KindleGen for you and deliver a KF8 to your Kindle. Ta da!

Thank you, I'll try that. Would be good to find a way to tweak the calibre "send to email" function to handle the change of extension

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by shamanNS

"Send to Kindle" (STK) option in Android share menu (that is created / added by Kindle Android app) will not appear for .txt files but it will be available if you rename your epub to .png.

.png ( = epub masquerading as png file) works for both desktop STK app and Android share menu option.

That's interesting.

.txt files work in iOS (and macOS). Wonder why it doesn't in Android.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I doubt that kindlegen will be receiving further updates. They might release a 64-bit build of the current version for Mac since that is already present in the Kindle Previewer.

I figured out today that one can easily extract the 64-bit version of kindlegen 2.9 present in Kindle Previewer 3 for Mac with a right-click to Show Package Contents for Kindle Previewer > Contents > MacOS > lib > fc > bin > kindlegen !! Copy it to a new location, and Catalina users have a path forward with the standalone kindlegen

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Almamida

Thank you, I'll try that. Would be good to find a way to tweak the calibre "send to email" function to handle the change of extension

I'm sorry, what's the issue with just dropping your ePUB or what-have-you on KP3? Why all this workaround, just so you can email the file? It seems more brain-damage than it's worth.

Wouldn't it be simpler to drop the source file onto KP3 and then simply click on the output MOBI and use the "Send to Kindle" functionality, if that's important to you? Why tied at the hip to Calibre?

Hitch

[Momo19]

Originally Posted by odamizu

I figured out today that one can easily extract the 64-bit version of kindlegen 2.9 present in Kindle Previewer 3 for Mac with a right-click to Show Package Contents for Kindle Previewer > Contents > MacOS > lib > fc > bin > kindlegen !! Copy it to a new location, and Catalina users have a path forward with the standalone kindlegen

That's brilliant! I just updated to Catalina on my MacBook Pro and 32-bit Kindlegen no longer runs. But your awesome hack works for me!

[odamizu]

[Dabcar]

Hi,

I get the following notification when trying to use the app:

“KindleGen Wrapper 2.2.app” is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Bin." The notification says something about applescripts can sometimes be damaged after signing, which doesn't mean anything to me!

Does this work with Catalina?

I was hoping this would solve other problems I'm having trying to use Kindlegen with Terminal.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Dabcar

Hi,

I get the following notification when trying to use the app:

“KindleGen Wrapper 2.2.app” is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Bin." The notification says something about applescripts can sometimes be damaged after signing, which doesn't mean anything to me!

Does this work with Catalina?

I was hoping this would solve other problems I'm having trying to use Kindlegen with Terminal.

You could try opening and re-saving with the version of Script Editor that's on your computer. Apple's operating systems have become much more reluctant to just run software from unknown sources.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Dabcar

Hi,

I get the following notification when trying to use the app:

“KindleGen Wrapper 2.2.app” is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the Bin." The notification says something about applescripts can sometimes be damaged after signing, which doesn't mean anything to me!

Does this work with Catalina?

Yes, it will work in Catalina if you first open it in Script Editor, then duplicate or export it as Application. The duplicated/exported app will work in Catalina.