? about which version of Kindle Gen to use to convert epub to mobi

[Gregg Bell]

I need to convert my epub,which I made in Sigil, to mobi. I've heard Kindle Previewer is the easiest way to do that, but that to do the conversion via the command prompt saves you money. My question is, if I do the command prompt conversion, which version of KindleGen do I use? (I've heard KindleGen ver.1.2 is the best.) Thanks.

[DiapDealer]

Definitely not a Sigil question. But to answer your question about money... well, the version of kindlegen you use isn't really relevant there either. I certainly wouldn't use anything as old as 1.2, though. You're getting bum info somewhere.

[theducks]

This is definitely Not a Sigil Question.
It is Not an EPUB question.
So it must be a Kindle question.

Moderator Notice
Moved to Kindle

[DreamWriter]

If you decide to use Kindlegen, you can use the latest version (2.8). As the e-book is compiled, in the command window you will see the finished file sizes for the separate KF8 and mobi files. The file you upload to Amazon KDP will be much larger than either of those, but Amazon delivers the smaller KF8 or mobi file to the reader according to device type.

For example, I just converted an ePub file using Kindlegen. The file size uploaded to Amazon is quite large at 3,529 KB, but the actual size of the file delivered to the e-book buyer will be either 338 KB (mobi) or 396 KB (KF8).

[tomsem]

Ditto, just use the latest version available (kindlegen or kindle previewer) to convert.

[DiapDealer]

The command line version does offer a choice of a higher level of compression, but unless your book is enormous (the delivered size, not the uploaded "source"), then the differences are likely to be negligible in terms of bandwidth fees. And again... the version used would still be irrelevant in that regard. The latest version of the command-line kindlegen would do just as well as the earlier versions in terms of compression.

Other than the choice of compression... Kindlegen produces the exact same ouput as the Kindle Previewer.

[AcidWeb]

Kindle Previewer use KindleGen to generate MOBI files.

I personally use newest version + KindleStrip to reduce file size by half.

[HarryT]

What do you mean when you say that the command-line version "saves you money"?

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What do you mean when you say that the command-line version "saves you money"?

I think there's a misperception that the large file that's uploaded to Amazon KDP is what will be delivered to customers. The file is so large because Kindlegen includes the source files within the mobi it creates. That's why some people use Kindlestrip to reduce file size (it removes the source files). Older versions of Kindlegen did not include the source files (there was a command-line switch), so the mobi created was much smaller. An author has to pay a delivery fee based on file size, so smaller files save on that cost.

I don't see any reason to use Kindlestrip for the file that's uploaded to KDP because Amazon will be delivering a much smaller KF8 or mobi file to the customer than what's uploaded. If you're creating the mobi for your own use, perhaps Kindlestrip would be an advantage, though.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Definitely not a Sigil question. But to answer your question about money... well, the version of kindlegen you use isn't really relevant there either. I certainly wouldn't use anything as old as 1.2, though. You're getting bum info somewhere.

I was uncomfortable about using 1.2, but somebody told me it was better.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

If you decide to use Kindlegen, you can use the latest version (2.8). As the e-book is compiled, in the command window you will see the finished file sizes for the separate KF8 and mobi files. The file you upload to Amazon KDP will be much larger than either of those, but Amazon delivers the smaller KF8 or mobi file to the reader according to device type.

For example, I just converted an ePub file using Kindlegen. The file size uploaded to Amazon is quite large at 3,529 KB, but the actual size of the file delivered to the e-book buyer will be either 338 KB (mobi) or 396 KB (KF8).

Thanks for the really good explanation, DreamWriter.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Ditto, just use the latest version available (kindlegen or kindle previewer) to convert.

thanks tom. appreciate it.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

The command line version does offer a choice of a higher level of compression, but unless your book is enormous (the delivered size, not the uploaded "source"), then the differences are likely to be negligible in terms of bandwidth fees. And again... the version used would still be irrelevant in that regard. The latest version of the command-line kindlegen would do just as well as the earlier versions in terms of compression.

Other than the choice of compression... Kindlegen produces the exact same ouput as the Kindle Previewer.

thanks again, diap. I'm just going to do the drag and drop thing, dropping the epub onto the latest version of KindlePreviewer.

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by AcidWeb

Kindle Previewer use KindleGen to generate MOBI files.

I personally use newest version + KindleStrip to reduce file size by half.

Thanks Acid.

[Darth_Bane]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I certainly wouldn't use [KindleGen] as old as 1.2, though.

I still use 1.2 for one simple, purely cosmetic reason. KindleGen 2.x versions seem to add a blank line between paragraphs, while 1.2 leaves paragraphs indented and glued together, with no blank lines in between. I've only tried up to version 2.5 or 2.6 and nothing later, so things may have changed. Note that I never upload books to Amazon.

I'd gladly use 2.x if there were some way of removing inter-paragraph spacing, but I haven't found a way (not that I tried very hard).