Reading Adobe ePub EBooks on Kindle 3

wacomme · 12-31-2010, 11:15 PM

First, please spare me the lecture about legalities. I want to check out and read library books on my Kindle. If I have to hack the system to get around Amazon's constraints, so be it. I'll abide by the library's limited duration policy (like any library book I check out), but my view is that file format and methodology for inputting the content into my brain is immaterial when it comes to library usage. And as for breaking laws, well . . . laws are meant to be broken. I have no desire to perpetuate the status quo.

The Tools download is such a geek hack with numerous readme files, it's hard to follow. The Alf blog is too confusing. Is there a simple and straightforward approach to reading downloaded Adobe epub ebooks on my Kindle? I downloaded a file with .acsm file name, and the Calibre program on my Mac can't decipher it. Please help.

FF2 · 01-01-2011, 12:30 AM

The problem is breaking drm cannot be discussed in polite society or on this forum.

But first, that .acsm file is nothing but a link to the actual book. It is generally used by the appropriate READER program to actually download the book. Once you have the book (it gets saved locally by the reader program), you can, well, do what you need to do.

Once you review the hierarchy of those tools and their respective readme's, it can make sense.

wallcraft · 01-01-2011, 02:06 AM

As FF2 says, the .acsm file is a "ticket" to get the actual .epub file from Adobe's (or OverDrive's) servers. So, first you should open it with Adobe Digital Editions (don't forget to register 1st for an AdobeID). This should all be explained on your library's web site.

Once you can read the ePub in ADE, then you can import the .epub file into Calibre and strip the DRM during the import using a 3rd party plugin. Since you already have the required "inept" plugin, read its README and follow instructions.

DiapDealer · 01-01-2011, 04:53 AM

Quote:

The Tools download is such a geek hack with numerous readme files, it's hard to follow.

Yeah, it'd be a real shame if you actually had to read something.

Best of luck.

abookreader · 01-01-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Yeah, it'd be a real shame if you actually had to read something.

Best of luck.

Oh dear.

As others have said begin with installing the Adobe Digital Editions software on your computer and getting an actual readable ebook on your computer. Your library Overdrive site should have instructions for that but, sadly, you might have to read them.

We can however freely help you with this part if you have problems.

Then after that, you can start messing with the geeky overload ReadMe files.

GoSharks · 01-01-2011, 11:28 AM

Between installing Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre and the drm plugin (with all the reading I had to do!!) it must have taken me a half hour before I could read library books.....the pain, the pain!

KevinH · 01-01-2011, 12:05 PM

You have to love people who start by insulting the very people they want/need help from and then have the nerve to actually ask anyway ...

The funny thing is that he is on a Mac so he could even use a drag and drop application but we all know how hard it is to drag and drop things!

FF2 · 01-01-2011, 12:08 PM

Well, to chime in on the OP's side, well, a little bit anyway. The way the zip's contents are displayed by your computer, winzip, windows' native folder treatment, other, it can look like a huge hodge podge of files and a whole series of readme's.

I found the listing much easier to view in the Windows' format whereas when I installed winzip (older version) to this netbook, I get the long confusing listing and not each 'subset' appearing as a discrete folder.

DiapDealer · 01-01-2011, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Well, to chime in on the OP's side, well, a little bit anyway. The way the zip's contents are displayed by your computer, winzip, windows' native folder treatment, other, it can look like a huge hodge podge of files and a whole series of readme's.

That's why you just unzip it first... and then start wading and reading.

I've never liked the fact that Windows allows you to browse zip archives just like you're using the standard Windows file explorer. It leads to too much confusion. Especially when someone invariably tries to run programs from within a zipfile... not even realizing that it needs to be unzipped first.

KevinH · 01-01-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF2

Well, to chime in on the OP's side, well, a little bit anyway. The way the zip's contents are displayed by your computer, winzip, windows' native folder treatment, other, it can look like a huge hodge podge of files and a whole series of readme's.

I found the listing much easier to view in the Windows' format whereas when I installed winzip (older version) to this netbook, I get the long confusing listing and not each 'subset' appearing as a discrete folder.

I never knew that it shows up differently depending on unzip tool used on Windows.

That said, the OP is on a Mac. You just double-click and it unzips. Open the folder and all of the subfolders are organized by type of book or function. I honestly don't know how the structure could be made any clearer?

I guess the README files could be made into html files with images and things but then where to put the images that they do not simply confuse things further.

I am with DiapDealer on this. Opening zip files but not actually unzipping them but making it look like they have been is simply silly from a support viewport.

Oh well.

wacomme · 01-01-2011, 05:25 PM

I'm the OP. Thank you for your help.

As for the process, it should be easier.

I realize the work taken to read library books on a Kindle is all voluntary, and I applaud the people who have written programming to make it happen. However, refinements are needed. A similar situation has happened in the world of cycling. Golden Cheetah (GC) is a freeware program used for tracking and creating training metrics to cyclists using power meters as instruments in their training regime. The GC program competes with a paid program that's the industry standard. However GC was created by a bunch of programmers, and the ease of use just isn't there (not unlike the tool for Kindle). I'm starting to help the GC programmers write help files to explain the components and use of the GC modules and metrics. This way new users don't have to fumble through numerous discussions and readme files to understand how the program works.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to spend the time (even 1/2 hour) to learn how to use the tools. All-in-all, it's underdeveloped. I'm an outsider new to Kindle. It seems to me that the "covert" process for reading library books on a Kindle should be easier than it is now. I was hoping this would be constructive criticism from some "fresh blood" who's not in the know. We at GC always appreciate the "fresh blood" insights. I apologize if I came across as crass; this was and is not my intention.

OtterBooks · 01-01-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

First, please spare me the lecture about legalities.

ok I promise.

Quote:

my view is that file format and methodology for inputting the content into my brain is immaterial when it comes to library usage. And as for breaking laws, well . . . laws are meant to be broken. I have no desire to perpetuate the status quo.

wha-heyyyy

wallcraft · 01-01-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wacomme

A similar situation has happened in the world of cycling. Golden Cheetah (GC) is a freeware program used for tracking and creating training metrics to cyclists using power meters as instruments in their training regime. The GC program competes with a paid program that's the industry standard. However GC was created by a bunch of programmers, and the ease of use just isn't there (not unlike the tool for Kindle). I'm starting to help the GC programmers write help files to explain the components and use of the GC modules and metrics. This way new users don't have to fumble through numerous discussions and readme files to understand how the program works.

Part of the problem is, as you describe, that the average programmer isn't good a making their programs user friendly. However, with DRM stripping an additional issue is that writing and distributing the tools is illegal in the US (it isn't necessarily illegal to use the tools, but it is always illegal to write them). So it has taken a while to put together a team willing to do this on a continuing basis. Is writing a DRM-stripping README also illegal in the US? My guess is that no one would be convicted for doing so, but someone could be charged and a defense would be expensive and a major life complication.

wacomme · 01-01-2011, 06:37 PM

Wallcraft,

Thanks for the reply. That does add an additional element of difficulty to the project.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Part of the problem is, as you describe, that the average programmer isn't good a making their programs user friendly. However, with DRM stripping an additional issue is that writing and distributing the tools is illegal in the US (it isn't necessarily illegal to use the tools, but it is always illegal to write them). So it has taken a while to put together a team willing to do this on a continuing basis. Is writing a DRM-stripping README also illegal in the US? My guess is that no one would be convicted for doing so, but someone could be charged and a defense would be expensive and a major life complication.

abookreader · 01-01-2011, 06:42 PM

Maybe you should contact them and offer your services in writing what you feel is a more understandable set of instructions? Because as you said - they are all pretty much volunteers who all have pretty much put their necks on the line and did that for us.

Or I guess you could always write your own set of DRM removing tools and offer it up as a Calibre plug-in.

12-31-2010, 11:15 PM	#1
wacomme Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle 3 arriving 1/12	Reading Adobe ePub EBooks on Kindle 3 First, please spare me the lecture about legalities. I want to check out and read library books on my Kindle. If I have to hack the system to get around Amazon's constraints, so be it. I'll abide by the library's limited duration policy (like any library book I check out), but my view is that file format and methodology for inputting the content into my brain is immaterial when it comes to library usage. And as for breaking laws, well . . . laws are meant to be broken. I have no desire to perpetuate the status quo. The Tools download is such a geek hack with numerous readme files, it's hard to follow. The Alf blog is too confusing. Is there a simple and straightforward approach to reading downloaded Adobe epub ebooks on my Kindle? I downloaded a file with .acsm file name, and the Calibre program on my Mac can't decipher it. Please help.

01-01-2011, 05:25 PM	#11
wacomme Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle 3 arriving 1/12	I'm the OP. Thank you for your help. As for the process, it should be easier. I realize the work taken to read library books on a Kindle is all voluntary, and I applaud the people who have written programming to make it happen. However, refinements are needed. A similar situation has happened in the world of cycling. Golden Cheetah (GC) is a freeware program used for tracking and creating training metrics to cyclists using power meters as instruments in their training regime. The GC program competes with a paid program that's the industry standard. However GC was created by a bunch of programmers, and the ease of use just isn't there (not unlike the tool for Kindle). I'm starting to help the GC programmers write help files to explain the components and use of the GC modules and metrics. This way new users don't have to fumble through numerous discussions and readme files to understand how the program works. I was hoping I wouldn't have to spend the time (even 1/2 hour) to learn how to use the tools. All-in-all, it's underdeveloped. I'm an outsider new to Kindle. It seems to me that the "covert" process for reading library books on a Kindle should be easier than it is now. I was hoping this would be constructive criticism from some "fresh blood" who's not in the know. We at GC always appreciate the "fresh blood" insights. I apologize if I came across as crass; this was and is not my intention. Last edited by wacomme; 01-01-2011 at 06:00 PM. Reason: Added last sentence

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01-01-2011, 12:30 AM	#2
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	The problem is breaking drm cannot be discussed in polite society or on this forum. But first, that .acsm file is nothing but a link to the actual book. It is generally used by the appropriate READER program to actually download the book. Once you have the book (it gets saved locally by the reader program), you can, well, do what you need to do. Once you review the hierarchy of those tools and their respective readme's, it can make sense.

01-01-2011, 02:06 AM	#3
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	As FF2 says, the .acsm file is a "ticket" to get the actual .epub file from Adobe's (or OverDrive's) servers. So, first you should open it with Adobe Digital Editions (don't forget to register 1st for an AdobeID). This should all be explained on your library's web site. Once you can read the ePub in ADE, then you can import the .epub file into Calibre and strip the DRM during the import using a 3rd party plugin. Since you already have the required "inept" plugin, read its README and follow instructions.

01-01-2011, 11:28 AM	#6
GoSharks SQUIRREL!! Posts: 1,636 Karma: 8400000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Device: K-Fire, PW2, PW3	Between installing Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre and the drm plugin (with all the reading I had to do!!) it must have taken me a half hour before I could read library books.....the pain, the pain!

01-01-2011, 12:05 PM	#7
KevinH Sigil Developer Posts: 8,443 Karma: 5703082 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: many	You have to love people who start by insulting the very people they want/need help from and then have the nerve to actually ask anyway ... The funny thing is that he is on a Mac so he could even use a drag and drop application but we all know how hard it is to drag and drop things!

01-01-2011, 12:08 PM	#8
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	Well, to chime in on the OP's side, well, a little bit anyway. The way the zip's contents are displayed by your computer, winzip, windows' native folder treatment, other, it can look like a huge hodge podge of files and a whole series of readme's. I found the listing much easier to view in the Windows' format whereas when I installed winzip (older version) to this netbook, I get the long confusing listing and not each 'subset' appearing as a discrete folder.

01-01-2011, 06:42 PM	#15
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Maybe you should contact them and offer your services in writing what you feel is a more understandable set of instructions? Because as you said - they are all pretty much volunteers who all have pretty much put their necks on the line and did that for us. Or I guess you could always write your own set of DRM removing tools and offer it up as a Calibre plug-in.

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