08-14-2019, 09:11 AM | #1 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,677
Karma: 86234809
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Device: Kindles
|
Kindle Previewer version 3.32 and KPF
Amazon has released version 3.32 of the Kindle Previewer. The major change is the introduction of a command line interface that can convert source files into KPF format. It also supports batch conversion of multiple files at once. Once a book is in KPF format it can be viewed with the Previewer GUI or uploaded to Amazon for publishing.
This provides a new possible workflow for publishers. It will be interesting to see if there are any differences in the resulting Kindle book if it is published using a Previewer generated KPF instead of a Master MOBI from kindlegen or a source format such as EPUB or MS Word. KPF (Kindle Package Format) is a variant of KFX, the format that enables Enhanced Typesetting. Amazon's Kindle Create and Kindle Textbook Creator software have produced this format for some time. The KFX Output plugin for calibre is capable of converting KPF format into KFX that can be sideloaded to kindle apps and devices, a feature that Amazon does not currently provide. Quote:
Last edited by jhowell; 08-14-2019 at 10:21 AM. |
|
08-15-2019, 01:49 AM | #2 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,086
Karma: 6719822
Join Date: Jul 2012
Device: Palm Pilot M105
|
Doing command line stuff on Windows is so ugly and unpleasant. Why couldn't they implement it with the UI?
|
Advert | |
|
08-15-2019, 02:02 AM | #3 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,086
Karma: 6719822
Join Date: Jul 2012
Device: Palm Pilot M105
|
Converting in Calibre from KPF to KFX blew up with this error:
Spoiler:
I do get errors when I convert it with kindlegen, which I've been blithely ignoring: Spoiler:
|
08-15-2019, 11:52 AM | #4 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,677
Karma: 86234809
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Device: Kindles
|
Quote:
I agree that it would be nice if the export function of the Previewer GUI would allow KPF as an option. Perhaps in a future release. Quote:
I would like to fix this. It would be helpful if you could post the source file you used, as long as the book is not under copyright. (If it is still under copyright you could feed it through the ScrambleEbook calibre plugin to remove the text while retaining the formatting.) If you use the command line interface of the KFX Output plugin it will avoid the step of converting to and from EPUB, which is part of calibre's GUI conversion process. That will repackage the content from the KPF file into a KFX container. |
||
08-15-2019, 02:52 PM | #5 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,086
Karma: 6719822
Join Date: Jul 2012
Device: Palm Pilot M105
|
Quote:
Here's the epub: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=322110 |
|
Advert | |
|
08-15-2019, 04:06 PM | #6 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,677
Karma: 86234809
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Device: Kindles
|
Quote:
I was able to duplicate the problem and will be able to fix it in the next release of the KFX Input plugin. |
|
08-15-2019, 04:43 PM | #7 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,086
Karma: 6719822
Join Date: Jul 2012
Device: Palm Pilot M105
|
If all I want to do is convert an epub file to kfx I'm guessing that I don't need to use the command line interface to kindle previewer 3 to make the kpf and can follow your instructions for generating the kfx using your kfx output plugin?
|
08-15-2019, 06:42 PM | #8 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,677
Karma: 86234809
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Device: Kindles
|
|
08-17-2019, 12:58 AM | #9 | |
just an egg
Posts: 1,652
Karma: 5432100
Join Date: Mar 2015
Device: Kindle, iOS
|
Quote:
Does this new KindlePreviewer not have kindlegen inside? Can one still export a mobi containing KF8 using this new KindlePreviewer? Thank you |
|
08-17-2019, 06:09 AM | #10 | ||
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,677
Karma: 86234809
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Device: Kindles
|
Quote:
Quote:
It is just a guess at where they are headed and may never happen. |
||
08-17-2019, 06:09 PM | #11 |
just an egg
Posts: 1,652
Karma: 5432100
Join Date: Mar 2015
Device: Kindle, iOS
|
Thanks jhowell!!
|
08-18-2019, 01:04 AM | #12 |
just an egg
Posts: 1,652
Karma: 5432100
Join Date: Mar 2015
Device: Kindle, iOS
|
Trying to wrap my brain around this ... what is the point of KPF? What advantage or purpose does KPF have over a KFX bundle of files or a single monolithic KFX? I.e., why wouldn't Amazon simply have KindlePreviewer convert to KFX? Is it the encryption thing? Does KPF have no encryption? Is the idea that publishers convert to KPF then upload KPF to Amazon, where encryption is added as it gets converted to KFX?
Thank you! |
08-18-2019, 03:45 AM | #13 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 6,677
Karma: 86234809
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Device: Kindles
|
Quote:
KPF is designed to meet the needs of the publishing process. It is a single, usually large file. While it is zipped for transport, whe main internal file is an SQLite database designed for fast access, rather than compactness. Images are full resolution. And the original source files are included in case Amazon needs to re-convert the book at a later time. There is no provision for DRM, but there is a fingerprinting mechanism used to make sure that the content produced by Amazon's tools is not altered afterwards. In contrast KFX is designed for delivery and reading. It is tailored to each device type. Images may be downsized and converted to black and white. Content is compressed and split into multiple files, allowing the customer to begin reading while the download to the device is still in progress. And there is DRM. |
|
08-18-2019, 02:39 PM | #14 |
just an egg
Posts: 1,652
Karma: 5432100
Join Date: Mar 2015
Device: Kindle, iOS
|
Thank you jhowell! As always, you are a wonderful source of enlightenment
|
08-28-2019, 04:16 PM | #15 |
mostly an observer
Posts: 1,515
Karma: 987654
Join Date: Dec 2012
Device: Kindle
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Problem converting .kpf file to .epub | Jennifer G | Conversion | 1 | 06-26-2019 02:54 PM |
Looking at the html of a Kindle Create (kpf) file | Notjohn | Kindle Formats | 1 | 01-15-2019 06:43 PM |
Kindle Previewer 3 versus KDP Online Previewer | Contre-jour | Kindle Formats | 3 | 05-29-2018 10:05 AM |
Kindle Previewer | AThirstyMind | Kindle Formats | 5 | 10-11-2012 08:43 AM |
Kindle Previewer 2.51 adds 8 Font Faces for Kindle Touch preview mode | jswinden | Amazon Kindle | 4 | 07-19-2012 05:56 PM |