epub file works in iBooks but won't convert

Treo Belle · 01-21-2015, 09:52 AM

Hi! I'm new to both this forum and to ebooks so I'm sorry if this is an obvious question.

I'm trying to convert an epub file I got for free with a newspaper to mobi so i can read it on my Kindle. I've done this before thru Calibre but this time I get this error message

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/add.py", line 396, in add_formats
File "site-packages/calibre/db/cache.py", line 1335, in add_format
File "site-packages/calibre/startup.py", line 183, in local_open
IOError: [Errno 21] Is a directory: u'/Users/treobelle/Documents/Books From iPhone/Kristina Sandberg - Att f\xf6da ett barn.epub'

The file works absolutely fine when opened with iBooks but I don't want to have to read it on my iPad... :-(

Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

/T

kovidgoyal · 01-21-2015, 09:56 AM

That's not an actual epub file, ibooks explodes epub files into directories. You need to get hold of the actual epub file to add to calibre, you cannot add it directly from iBooks.

Treo Belle · 01-21-2015, 10:20 AM

Thanks for your answer Kovidgoyal! :-)

I've used iExplorer to find the file on my iPhone and I only see a folder there, when I copied and pasted it into my file directory that epub file came out... .

Any idea how I get the actual epub file from what looks like a folder? Or is the folder with the file ext .epub the actual file?

Sorry I'm so confused!

Treo Belle · 01-26-2015, 03:08 AM

Anyone have any suggestions?

davidfor · 01-26-2015, 03:19 AM

If iBooks is exploding the epub to a folder, and assuming all the necessary files are there, zip the contents of the folder and change the extension to "epub".

gamcall · 09-26-2015, 07:42 AM

An epub in iBooks is a package. That's not a folder technically is it? I tried compressing it in the Finder (after copying it), renaming and importing to Calibre, and it did import, but no metadata came across, bar the title (which was the renamed filename). When I tried to view the file in Calibre it was gibberish.

Is there a way to make the exploded epub container files into an epub that Calibre recognises on import? Is there a conversion I can do if not? Surely this has been addressed somewhere?

JSWolf · 09-26-2015, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamcall

An epub in iBooks is a package. That's not a folder technically is it? I tried compressing it in the Finder (after copying it), renaming and importing to Calibre, and it did import, but no metadata came across, bar the title (which was the renamed filename). When I tried to view the file in Calibre it was gibberish.

Is there a way to make the exploded epub container files into an epub that Calibre recognises on import? Is there a conversion I can do if not? Surely this has been addressed somewhere?

If this eBook has DRM, you are out of luck.

gamcall · 10-02-2015, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If this eBook has DRM, you are out of luck.

It doesn't.

pdurrant · 10-02-2015, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamcall

An epub in iBooks is a package. That's not a folder technically is it?

Yes, it's exactly a folder, that the finder treats as a file. Right click on it and "Show Package Contents". The compress the contents and change the .zip extension to .epub.

gamcall · 10-09-2015, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Yes, it's exactly a folder, that the finder treats as a file. Right click on it and "Show Package Contents". The compress the contents and change the .zip extension to .epub.

Ah - that works on a non-DRM'd ePub. Hmmm - thought I'd tried that before, but must have just zipped up the ePub & then re-named it. Anyway - thanks.

01-21-2015, 09:52 AM	#1
Treo Belle Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	epub file works in iBooks but won't convert Hi! I'm new to both this forum and to ebooks so I'm sorry if this is an obvious question. I'm trying to convert an epub file I got for free with a newspaper to mobi so i can read it on my Kindle. I've done this before thru Calibre but this time I get this error message Traceback (most recent call last): File "site-packages/calibre/gui2/add.py", line 396, in add_formats File "site-packages/calibre/db/cache.py", line 1335, in add_format File "site-packages/calibre/startup.py", line 183, in local_open IOError: [Errno 21] Is a directory: u'/Users/treobelle/Documents/Books From iPhone/Kristina Sandberg - Att f\xf6da ett barn.epub' The file works absolutely fine when opened with iBooks but I don't want to have to read it on my iPad... :-( Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks a bunch! /T

09-26-2015, 07:42 AM	#6
gamcall Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Brisbane Device: iPad mini	An epub in iBooks is a package. That's not a folder technically is it? I tried compressing it in the Finder (after copying it), renaming and importing to Calibre, and it did import, but no metadata came across, bar the title (which was the renamed filename). When I tried to view the file in Calibre it was gibberish. Is there a way to make the exploded epub container files into an epub that Calibre recognises on import? Is there a conversion I can do if not? Surely this has been addressed somewhere? Last edited by gamcall; 09-26-2015 at 07:44 AM. Reason: Capitalising Finder; added copy info

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01-21-2015, 09:56 AM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 45,345 Karma: 27182818 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	That's not an actual epub file, ibooks explodes epub files into directories. You need to get hold of the actual epub file to add to calibre, you cannot add it directly from iBooks.

01-21-2015, 10:20 AM	#3
Treo Belle Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Thanks for your answer Kovidgoyal! :-) I've used iExplorer to find the file on my iPhone and I only see a folder there, when I copied and pasted it into my file directory that epub file came out... . Any idea how I get the actual epub file from what looks like a folder? Or is the folder with the file ext .epub the actual file? Sorry I'm so confused!

01-26-2015, 03:08 AM	#4
Treo Belle Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2015 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Anyone have any suggestions?

01-26-2015, 03:19 AM	#5
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,905 Karma: 47303824 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	If iBooks is exploding the epub to a folder, and assuming all the necessary files are there, zip the contents of the folder and change the extension to "epub".

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